4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cooks]

can anyone advise me what drum set accoustic or electronic (we haven't fully decided) to buy a 12 year old.

He's driving me crazy with his wanting a drum set and is banging out a beat or whatever you drummers call it on pots pans, and anything that makes a sound...

I am looking at second hand to be honest so knowing makes to stay clear of or to opt for is great for me as there seems to be a lot around.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Trish]

My youngest is a drummer and we've been down the whole accoustic v electronic thing recently. Electronic has the advantage of being much quiter when they practise (headphones on) but after much visiting of shops we found that there was very little in the "under a mortgage catagory" that really sounded good or looked like it would take the hammer a 14 year old drummer would give it (whilst he is a very talented drummer, at his age enthusiasm often takes over).

Daniel is currently using a set we picked up second hand for £200 - £250 ish with an upgrade on the cymbals we added at later birthdays. Really the best thing is to try and play a set and see what he likes the sound of. Many musical instrument shops will have second hand sets to try out. Drums kits vary from kit to kit, even with what should be the same set, just like any other instrument.

Things to watch out for are the state of the skins, that all the nuts etc tighten easily and things like the kick pedal and other moving parts adjust and move easily.

Oh and understanding neighbours are a real boon

[Egluntyne]

Snowy's son is a drummer too.

[Snowy]

I agree with Trish, a good, second hand acoustic set for around the £200 - £250 mark would be ideal as a starter. We got one for £200 (from Charlie Chuck the comedian, whose 'signature' act is to throw his drum kit around the stage!!!), replaced the skins and upgraded the cymbals for birthdays etc. It lasted him 6 years and he has just invested £700+ in a new kit as he has now decided to give it a go as his career!

 

Ours was a Hohner - not a brilliant make, but it was perfectly adequate for his needs. Make sure you get the key with it (needed to tighten skins and things) and the cymbals are not cracked. See it set up so you know where everything goes. And buy a catering pack of sticks - mine seems to smash a pair of sticks every other day when he's on a roll (you can get 'brushes' which play nice and quietly, but they don't hold the same appeal to a teenager ) If it comes with a stool, even better. All these things cost a small fortune to replace (£80 for a stool, £100 and more for a cymbal, £25 for skins etc) so the more there is with the kit the better.

 

Will he be having lessons? The one proviso for my boy getting drums was that he have lessons. That way, unintelligible bashing soon becomes something bearable to listen to! Good luck!

[Cooks]

Thanks yes his school music teacher has told him he should take up the drums as he has an ability for multi rythym or whatever, so that just egged him on.. (remind me to talk to that teacher!)

His school do lessons, are very expensive IMO though, and there are a few teachers locally that come to the house so I am told.

I didn't know about the 'key' I've seen a few advertised but stayed away as I just dont know what I am buying. I've seen brand new full size kits on Ebay for £150, which to me seems too cheap and that makes me think they must be very cheap in manufacture etc. So for £200-300 that would be fine but how do I know that someone isn't just asking more for the set and it's really a cheapo in disguise??

We did visit a musci store in the centre of cambridge yesterday, very limited amount there for the size of the store I felt, however he did have a 'bash about' on an electric set, I was quite impressed with the sound quality when I got to put the headphones on (picture here me trying to tug them away from younger son)

[Cooks]

is there another really good drum shop, I could try?? I dont mind travelling (I cant yet, but later in the year I can), infact if it's anywhere near skegness that would be great as that's where we're going on holiday soon.

[Snowy]

If you are passing through Leicester on your way to Skeggy, there are two very good drum shops - Sheehans ( http://www.sheehans.com/drums-percussion ) or The Academy of Sound. Makes to look out for are Pearl, Yamaha, Tama, Premier. Although again, you will pay more for them. Also make sure your kit includes stands and bass pedal - it is all the little extras that can make it so expensive!

 

Having said that, I would probably be tempted to just get one of the £150 kits off ebay. Everything is included and they are ideal for learning with and then when he has a bit more experience and knows what kind of drumming he wants to do (ie rock, orchestral, etc) then you can invest in a better kit, more suited to purpose.

 

We pay £15 per hour for lessons - quite reasonable really, but we go to soundproofed studios and the teacher usually has 2 pupils on the go at once.

[Cooks]

he's seen a great electronic one that can be changed to an acoustic in the future if he wanted.. but they are based in Dorset!, a long way from Cambridge.. and have to collect.

 

I think an electronic one like this might be best to be honest, I've read all the reviews and it's highly recommended, and wont scare my neighbours off to live in another village, I like my neighbours..

 

arghhhhhh this is hard work. I thought a drumn kit was a drum kit.. how wrong could I be.

[chelsea]

watching this thread as my lifelong ambition is to own a drumset!

[Cooks]

Chelsea do you want to adopt a 12 year old then?? I am dreading it to be honest! looks like if I buy new (second hand hard to get this model locally) it's the best part of £420 for this set including the stool.. bah humbug is all I have to say!

[Paola]

OH plays the drums but thankfully got rid of his kit before we met Having said that DD1 saved and brought herself an acoustic guitar this week, which in turn has made OH want to take up the drums again

[Cooks]

am back to square one, have just read some poor reviews on this model now aswell!... maybe an acoustic set with a silencer kit for the neighbours at certain times is the way to go??

[Tiggy]

my step son play drums thankfully he is a weekly boarder so uses the school kit - he is very good (biased ME ) I haven' a clue about what to buy I will ask him at the weekend

[Snowy]

We are fortunate to live in an area where several of the neighbours are also drummers, so we've always been aware of others drumming in the street. It is worse when they drum out doors, or in a shed, or a garage with the doors open. Mine drums in his room, doors and windows shut (did try with windows open one day and promptly got a letter from the council!! ) and a ceiling fan on (they do get very hot). It's also worse if they play to loud music (although it does sound good if you like the songs - think of doing housework to a live band! ) J now uses his MP3 player with headphones and an extra set of ear defenders over the top (do make sure he wears defenders or earplugs if you go acoustic or he'll be deaf by the time he's 30 ) The more you can do to soundproof the room the better - double glazing, thick curtains, thick carpet, wallpaper - all help to insulate from the noise.

[The Dogmother]

I'll ask Phil when he comes round - he used to be drummer in a band and is always synchopating on things

 

Can't emphasise the ear defence enough - I used to do that stupid teenage thing of standing in front of the speakers at gigs, then was in a car crash that burst my right eardrum - I'm nearly deaf in that ear now

 

Good luck, I hope he enjoys it.

[Cooks]

thanks for all your help, I am seriously looking at an electronic set, to save on noise and his ears I guess, the traps e450 set to be precise, they seam to have mixed reviews, but then again so does every set it seems

[The Dogmother]

Spoke to Phil about it and he recommends and electronic set - from a noise point of view, but also because as a beginner it is easier to make a professional sounding racket with them, as the programming can be set to do a lot ofr you if that's what you want.

[Cooks]

Thanks Calre, thank Phil for me, yes I have been reading and reading and think an electronic set will be best for him as he's only 12, he can always go to an acoustic in the future.

 

I just have to get one now..

[Cooks]

I think it's probably going to be a yamaha afterall as the reviews for those seem good.. so are the prices though..

[Trish]

Just to add you can buy practise pads (rubber mats for the drums) for the accoustic sets which do soften the noise. Trick is getting a teenager to use them. Oh and I agree with Snowy on the drum stick front, just can't understand why the are sold in pairs, we seem to get through them by the gross!

[Cooks]

yes thanks, I did look into silencer pads for a possible acoustic option, but most people and drum shops I speak to recommend an electronic for him as he's 12 and just wants to basically have fun etc.

[cammy73]

Hi Gary my OH plays the drums he has an acoustic kit and an electric kit, I won't let him play the acoustic kit in the house!!

He paid £250 for the acoustic kit from e-bay and that was second hand.

The electric kit was also from e-bay and he paid £800 ish, but they do tend to hold their money. He has a Roland TD-6V. He would rather play his acoustic kit as he says it feels better to play...but the electric kit is good as he plays it with his headphones so much less noisy!

 

Sharon x

[Cooks]

thanks cammy, I have seen the roland ones also, they are expensive for my pocket though, although if I saw a bargain I wouldn't say no to it.. Yamaha seem to hold their price well and my thought is, if the little blighter gets fed up after a few months (like he did with his electric guitar sitting here not used!) I can sell it again for very little loss.

 

Younger child is happy if you buy him a football kit.. no not older son... bah humbug!