Upgrade to kids drum kit - some advice please...
Discussion
I'm a non-drummer looking for a little help on a new setup for my 10 year old. He's been playing a few years using a Roland TD-1K, and is (I think) ready to move on/up.
He likes to play along with the Rockschool backing tracks (currently working on Plug In Baby...), and is now playing in school productions / ensembles etc. He says that he would like a more precise/responsive kick pedal, and better toms in particular.
He would like an acoustic kit, but I see how much he enjoys the different kit settings on the v-drums, and how easy it is to get the volume right with backing tracks etc. Not to mention sometimes playing with headphones. And space constraints. So I think I am in favour of an upgraded electronic kit.
I think he needs:
- better amplification, with a much fuller sound than the little PM-03 monitor he has now
- a wide choice of kits / sounds (he's 10 so a natural with tech...)
- more responsive/realistic surfaces
I am happy to spend up to £1k for drums + monitor, but I do like a bargain so a "last years" model or demo set etc would be great.
I'd be enormously grateful for the opinions of PH's resident drummers, particularly any with links to great bargains..!
Thank you in advance.
He likes to play along with the Rockschool backing tracks (currently working on Plug In Baby...), and is now playing in school productions / ensembles etc. He says that he would like a more precise/responsive kick pedal, and better toms in particular.
He would like an acoustic kit, but I see how much he enjoys the different kit settings on the v-drums, and how easy it is to get the volume right with backing tracks etc. Not to mention sometimes playing with headphones. And space constraints. So I think I am in favour of an upgraded electronic kit.
I think he needs:
- better amplification, with a much fuller sound than the little PM-03 monitor he has now
- a wide choice of kits / sounds (he's 10 so a natural with tech...)
- more responsive/realistic surfaces
I am happy to spend up to £1k for drums + monitor, but I do like a bargain so a "last years" model or demo set etc would be great.
I'd be enormously grateful for the opinions of PH's resident drummers, particularly any with links to great bargains..!
Thank you in advance.
Watching this with interest.
My 9 YO daughter is grade 6 and I was wondering if she needed anything beyond her beginner Pearl setup. I like the idea of electric because of the cool stuff you can do with it but Mrs Oily is a traditionalist and prefers the noisy variety.
I'd like to see what the PH crew think of your question.....
My 9 YO daughter is grade 6 and I was wondering if she needed anything beyond her beginner Pearl setup. I like the idea of electric because of the cool stuff you can do with it but Mrs Oily is a traditionalist and prefers the noisy variety.
I'd like to see what the PH crew think of your question.....
My 2c as a bass player who's occasionally played drums over the past 30 years.
I think there are stages to this, and some of my thoughts on this are about maintaining a balance of ability, technique and your sanity.
If you have the luxury of a space where a real drum kit can live and be played without annoying anyone, then a reasonable kit and some good cymbals and hardware is a very sensible next step. I would go to a good drum shop and buy modest drums, modest hardware, good snare and good cymbals. Importantly get the drums tuned and have lessons. Buying a not very well used decent kit with decent cymbals is a good way to get value for money, and a drum teacher could give advice on what to buy. Good sounding drums are not as much down to how much they cost, or who makes them but how well they are tuned and a knowledge of how to tune them. Cymbals are a different matter, good cymbals are not cheap, and are a good investment, so invest money there. Acoustic is really the best way to get wrist, finger and feet articulation all sorted and the rubber pads of an inexpensive electronic kit are not good for this, and for some they can cause RSI type injuries.
Acoustic is not always (often!) practical, so the challenge a 'better' electronic kit. There are a few solutions, but sadly they're all relatively expensive. Firstly look for something with 'mesh' heads. These look like little acoustic drum heads and can be tensioned and have more give and rebound than a rubber pad. Roland and Alesis both make kits with mesh heads and there are others now that are less expensive. The next thing is a proper bass drum pedal and associated pad. Again, there are mesh solutions for this, and these can be used with a 'normal' bass drum pedal. That's important. Finally cymbals, these are generally rubber, but there are some half way solutions and it's also a reasonable solution to mix real cymbals and hardware with electronic pads for the main drum kit. The high frequency content of cymbals is easier to make quiet with soft furnishings and well sealed doors and windows, whereas making drums quiet needs proper room isolation, like you'd find in a recording studio.
Arguably, Roland make the best electronic drums, Yamaha probably second. Alesis and others make them, but I've no experience of how good they are, they used to be a bit flimsy. Then there are 'hybrid' solutions, such as those made by Jobeky, these look like real drums, but they are actually electronic and they also make hybrid cymbals. Eventually, I think someone serious has to use an acoustic kit, and this probably needs to happen once the bug has bitten. Mesh head drums are a bit too springy, so they allow someone to progress a bit, but I think if you learned entirely on a mesh head kit then went to a real kit you wouldn't have the strength necessary to play for extended periods of time.
The important thing for learning (IMHO) is that the feel and spring of the sticks in the hands is everything. Finger, wrist and arm technique is all derived from this, and a real drum head and cymbals is the best way to learn this, with a mesh head pad a passable second, I don't think rubber pads really cut it, and I would be worried that the hours of practice it takes could damage a young developing hand with a rubber pad.
As for amplifiers/speakers for electronic drums. Look at a modest keyboard, or PA set-up. Drums have a very wide frequency range, so they need Low frequency woofers and a good high frequency tweeter. Something like a pair of s/h Mackie SRM350s or similar would be fine. Look for either a 12" or 15" big speaker (woofer) and horn for the high frequencies. Again, these can be bought second hand.
I would be very tempted to buy an OK mesh head electronic kit, with a proper bass drum pedal and upright pad for it. Not use the 'electronic' cymbal pads but buy some second hand cymbal and hi hat stands and second hand real cymbals. This is a video about a 'hybrid' drum set, which is not exactly what I'm describing, but it may expand your thoughts on what some next steps might be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_K-mjd1Q8c
All IMHO, of course.
A quick edit to give some perspective!. I have a Roland TD 30 kit and I've just sold my two acoustic kits, but kept my cymbals, as if I ever get another drum gig, I'll use real cymbals and my electronic drums. But in the house, it's all electronic and headphones!
I think there are stages to this, and some of my thoughts on this are about maintaining a balance of ability, technique and your sanity.
If you have the luxury of a space where a real drum kit can live and be played without annoying anyone, then a reasonable kit and some good cymbals and hardware is a very sensible next step. I would go to a good drum shop and buy modest drums, modest hardware, good snare and good cymbals. Importantly get the drums tuned and have lessons. Buying a not very well used decent kit with decent cymbals is a good way to get value for money, and a drum teacher could give advice on what to buy. Good sounding drums are not as much down to how much they cost, or who makes them but how well they are tuned and a knowledge of how to tune them. Cymbals are a different matter, good cymbals are not cheap, and are a good investment, so invest money there. Acoustic is really the best way to get wrist, finger and feet articulation all sorted and the rubber pads of an inexpensive electronic kit are not good for this, and for some they can cause RSI type injuries.
Acoustic is not always (often!) practical, so the challenge a 'better' electronic kit. There are a few solutions, but sadly they're all relatively expensive. Firstly look for something with 'mesh' heads. These look like little acoustic drum heads and can be tensioned and have more give and rebound than a rubber pad. Roland and Alesis both make kits with mesh heads and there are others now that are less expensive. The next thing is a proper bass drum pedal and associated pad. Again, there are mesh solutions for this, and these can be used with a 'normal' bass drum pedal. That's important. Finally cymbals, these are generally rubber, but there are some half way solutions and it's also a reasonable solution to mix real cymbals and hardware with electronic pads for the main drum kit. The high frequency content of cymbals is easier to make quiet with soft furnishings and well sealed doors and windows, whereas making drums quiet needs proper room isolation, like you'd find in a recording studio.
Arguably, Roland make the best electronic drums, Yamaha probably second. Alesis and others make them, but I've no experience of how good they are, they used to be a bit flimsy. Then there are 'hybrid' solutions, such as those made by Jobeky, these look like real drums, but they are actually electronic and they also make hybrid cymbals. Eventually, I think someone serious has to use an acoustic kit, and this probably needs to happen once the bug has bitten. Mesh head drums are a bit too springy, so they allow someone to progress a bit, but I think if you learned entirely on a mesh head kit then went to a real kit you wouldn't have the strength necessary to play for extended periods of time.
The important thing for learning (IMHO) is that the feel and spring of the sticks in the hands is everything. Finger, wrist and arm technique is all derived from this, and a real drum head and cymbals is the best way to learn this, with a mesh head pad a passable second, I don't think rubber pads really cut it, and I would be worried that the hours of practice it takes could damage a young developing hand with a rubber pad.
As for amplifiers/speakers for electronic drums. Look at a modest keyboard, or PA set-up. Drums have a very wide frequency range, so they need Low frequency woofers and a good high frequency tweeter. Something like a pair of s/h Mackie SRM350s or similar would be fine. Look for either a 12" or 15" big speaker (woofer) and horn for the high frequencies. Again, these can be bought second hand.
I would be very tempted to buy an OK mesh head electronic kit, with a proper bass drum pedal and upright pad for it. Not use the 'electronic' cymbal pads but buy some second hand cymbal and hi hat stands and second hand real cymbals. This is a video about a 'hybrid' drum set, which is not exactly what I'm describing, but it may expand your thoughts on what some next steps might be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_K-mjd1Q8c
All IMHO, of course.
A quick edit to give some perspective!. I have a Roland TD 30 kit and I've just sold my two acoustic kits, but kept my cymbals, as if I ever get another drum gig, I'll use real cymbals and my electronic drums. But in the house, it's all electronic and headphones!
Edited by niallf on Sunday 1st October 17:15
Thank you for taking the time to share that niallf - I found it both useful and interesting. His current set has a mesh snare, but rubber pads elsewhere. He says that the pads are physically small compared to the acoustic kit he plays in school. So if we do stick with the electronic route, larger mesh pads sound like a good starting point.
mec - he does have a drum teacher, and I will ask him for his thoughts as well. Judging by his surprise at backing tracks on a 'phone though, I think he is a bit of a traditionalist and may not be up to speed with the latest tech....
mec - he does have a drum teacher, and I will ask him for his thoughts as well. Judging by his surprise at backing tracks on a 'phone though, I think he is a bit of a traditionalist and may not be up to speed with the latest tech....
I have the challenge of playing drums in a terraced house so it had to be electronic for me and having tried out Roland and Yamaha I went for the Roland TD15KV as it just felt closer to a normal drum head - not identical but close enough.
I also decided to go for the higher spec set up to get a proper hi-hat stand hence the KV rather than the standard kit.
The aim was to have something on which I could learn all the techniques required to play a full acoustic kit, as i now do in the rehearsal studios.
There is a difference between the electronic and acoustic kits but it is possible to shift between the two without any great difficulty. The acoustic kit naturally has greater flexibility, in particular on the cymbals but the difference is not really in technique, just in learning what happens when it is applied at a different angle or to a different part of the cymbal.
I have had great fun with the electronic kit and it has allowed me to re-ignite my connection with drumming which was curtailed in my teens by the perils of annoying the neighbours.
Second hand kits would certainly fall within your budget leaving a little over for a decent amp. I feed mine through a Yamaha DBR10 that doubles as the vocal monitor in a live situation and it makes a great sound.
I also decided to go for the higher spec set up to get a proper hi-hat stand hence the KV rather than the standard kit.
The aim was to have something on which I could learn all the techniques required to play a full acoustic kit, as i now do in the rehearsal studios.
There is a difference between the electronic and acoustic kits but it is possible to shift between the two without any great difficulty. The acoustic kit naturally has greater flexibility, in particular on the cymbals but the difference is not really in technique, just in learning what happens when it is applied at a different angle or to a different part of the cymbal.
I have had great fun with the electronic kit and it has allowed me to re-ignite my connection with drumming which was curtailed in my teens by the perils of annoying the neighbours.
Second hand kits would certainly fall within your budget leaving a little over for a decent amp. I feed mine through a Yamaha DBR10 that doubles as the vocal monitor in a live situation and it makes a great sound.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff