Buying drums?

Bartholamue

Basically, is there anything I need to know about buying a digital drumset? I've looked at a few, but I'm a little confused as to what I should be looking for, like, features and things like that. I just wanted to get my first so that I can get really good at the instrument.

Doc

How much are you looking to spend? My old roommate had this setup:
http://www.roland.com/products/en/TD-20K/index.html

It was pretty expensive, though.

Bartholamue

Oh, price range? I'm looking to spend maybe around $1000-$1500, but I could go higher is possible. I saw one at a music store for $500, but I was questioning the quality of it. It didn't look so good.

I don't think I can spend that much on a Roland, (that one you linked is $5600) I'm just looking for one that I can get used to before moving on to a real set. That one does look nice though.

Zifnab

Any particular reason that you want to start on electronic drums? I'm assuming from your posts that you're just starting out at drums in general. I've played both, and I find the difference between them to be significant enough to suggest that you start on a real set and move on from there. You'll be able to find a workable real kit in your price range easy.

If you're set on an electronic kit, though, you're going to want to check a number of things before you buy a used one. Find out how old it is and what condition the triggers are in. If it's the type that has heads on shells for triggers instead of just pads, make sure the heads aren't completely fried and make sure that the foam and trigger assembly under each one is in good condition. There shouldn't be any crumbling or nasty crap. Make sure that the pads work through all dynamic ranges. Play them soft, play them loud, make sure that there's an even slope between loud and soft.

For the most part, price will affect the number and quality of sounds that you get in the 'brain', as well as the quality and features available on the drums themselves. Expensive ones will have things such as separate 'choke' triggers on the edge of the cymbal pads and the ability to detect and respond differently to rolls and normal hits. If you're just starting out, that kind of stuff is going to get pricey really quickly. Roland makes good kits, and I've heard good things about Yamahas, but I don't have any direct experience with the Yamahas.

If you're moving from a real kit to an electonic one, something to remember is that you will probably never be satisfied with the performance and quality of the cymbal pads. Also, the hi-hat will be a completely different experience, even the fancy new Roland one that looks and supposedly feels like a real hi-hat.

Bartholamue

Zifnab wrote: »

Any particular reason that you want to start on electronic drums?

I just want to wail on them without disturbing neighbors, and I don't exactly have the space for real drums in my place, since I'm only in a condo. I'm just starting out with drums too I really just want something that I can learn on, and that is pretty decent, but I don't know where to start in looking for one.

Thanks for your input though, this helps me a lot.

Bartholamue

Sorry to bump my own topic, but I've decided on what I'm getting, and it's this one:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-TD6SXT-VTour-Electronic-Drum-Set?sku=447840

THe drums are amazing and all the sounds in the brain are just too hard to resist. It's really expensive though, but I'm going to be using it a lot so it'll have some value to me in a years time.