| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| limeydog |
Posted - 28/02/2010 : 13:06:26
Hello, I know nothing about drumming or kits. My son who is nine has started lessons and is ready to get his first acoustic kit (we want full size). We will be buying off of Ebay for around the £200 mark. We have short-listed a bunch of kits in our price range which he likes the look of, can anyone suggest which ones will probably be prove to be the best purchase because 'we know nothing'.
FENDER
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220472636616&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_6020wt_1167
CB
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260432274441&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1216wt_1167
TIGER
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160407283231&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_782wt_941
STAGG
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140386233141&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
SPUR
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270533525197&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_682wt_1167
BOSTON
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320492171389&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_963wt_941
Thank you very much for any help |
| 50 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Prog |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 12:02:50
Loud noises are different when one is producing them oneself. 
As for the neighbours, people are usually very reasonable if things are discussed with them first. Work together to find days/times that are good for everyone and make sure that sessions stop at the agreed time. |
| limeydog |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 11:50:45
He has only really had a go with the dampers on, we need to prep the neighbours first before kicking it up a notch and playing with them off. We seeing if we can come to some arrangement.
I am actually surprised at how good he is... I didn't realise he had such good natural rhythm, I'm not sure I have. He has a good teacher too...
I would love to have a go, but that whole patting ya head rubbing your stomach thing... nah, never could do that. The kit is all his. Funny thing was, as a younger child, he was unusually sensitive to loud noises. Not scared of them or anything, just really didn't like them, hurt his ears I think. Now he's nine he's turned into a mini-animal from the muppets. I hope he sticks to it. He will do if I have anything to do with it. |
| cho_drummer |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 10:03:50
That looks really nice, i'm very late on this thread, but it struck a chord with me. I started playing at the age of 9, my own decision to play drums, as is the case with your son.
The best thing for me is that my parents bought a full sized kit, even though it was probably a little big for me. Unfortunatly my second kit was a FEPOS, my first was actually a nice vintage kit (i forget what exactly, but in retrospect it was considerably better than the FEPOS).
Still, you've had some great advice and its great that he's got a teacher, hopefully a good, encouraging one. |
| Muttzknuttz1 |
Posted - 24/03/2010 : 08:52:15
quote:
And FEPOS is now a term that has entered my son's vocab, and he goes around using it with the same distain that members of this forum do. He loves getting to tell grown-ups what it stand for, he does it in the style of The Who 'Why don't you just f,f,f,... talking about my generation'. "FEPOS, yeah, Far Easter Piece of S,S,S" he says, he is only 9 and knows better to use that word in front of adults.
very funny, congrats on the kit, maybe you could have a go too, bit of father son bonding over the kit?? |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 16:20:04
That seems to be good quality, Have you managed to let him play it yet? |
| limeydog |
Posted - 23/03/2010 : 10:56:57
This is the kit:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250595753337&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123#ht_500wt_1182 |
| D.C. |
Posted - 22/03/2010 : 15:20:34
Limeydog,glad you finally got it sorted and im sure it was worth all the ebay hours and frustration of searching for the right kit for the young fella.Would love to have seen the look on his face the first time he got 'Mental' set up at home.Good luck to the young man-sure seems like he's got the right attitude and good,understanding parents to go with it.Hope you'll keep us all posted on his progress and i look forward to the day when i get hit by that flying stick  !!
Im off now to think of a name for my kit.Somehow now 'the blue Yamaha' dont sound quite right anymore !
All the best |
| monkeythedrummer |
Posted - 22/03/2010 : 13:02:31
Yay!
Specs for the kit? 
|
| 2twentytwo |
Posted - 22/03/2010 : 12:45:06
quote:
Originally posted by Hugs
And don't forget the earplugs - for him that is. Don't want to ruin his hearing at such a young age!
+1 this should be drummed (no pun intended )into every young drummer as early as possible
ive never played without any and never will !! |
| Prog |
Posted - 22/03/2010 : 10:29:54
Excellent news! What's also great is the level of enthusiasm clearly being demonstrated by your young lad.
|
| limeydog |
Posted - 22/03/2010 : 10:23:18
WOW!! This forum is unbelievable. So much advice and help.
UGLYSTIX, my jaw is still on the floor at your generous offer - that was incredibly kind and proactive of you, thanks so much for the offer. Were we not already on the verge of getting a kit that we could fetch ourselves, I would of been very humbled by this offer but taken you up on it.
I wanted to come back to the forum, obviously to say thanks, and to report that we have a kit!!! We managed to win the Mapex kit, the one that was re-listed after no-one including myself bid on it (I couldn't bid as I had computer problems at the end of the auction).
This kit was approved from the drummers here, and we got for what I think is a good price £255, it is in as new condition and came with dampers and a stool and all the cymbals. It was near enough for us to pick it up, just about managed to get it into the back of my Honda Jazz!
As the spare room isn't clear enough yet, it is currently set up in all its glory in where the dining room use to be! And FEPOS is now a term that has entered my son's vocab, and he goes around using it with the same distain that members of this forum do. He loves getting to tell grown-ups what it stand for, he does it in the style of The Who 'Why don't you just f,f,f,... talking about my generation'. "FEPOS, yeah, Far Easter Piece of S,S,S" he says, he is only 9 and knows better to use that word in front of adults. He goes onto to talk proudly about his Mapex which he has given the name 'Mental'.... "Dad, can I play Mental with the dampers off?'.
Anyway, thanks once again for all the help guys, you probably saved us money and certainly got us to the right kit (I had never heard of Mapex before this forum...). Give it about 6 years, and maybe you will see my boy throwing his sticks into the audience, at a gig near you!! |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 21:38:28
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Drum-kit-5-piece-black-premier_W0QQitemZ330415950301QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Music_Other_Music_Formats_ET?hash=item4cee5349dd#ht_500wt_1182
I know you said a strict budget of £250.
But £20 more quid, COME ON!
There very good starter kits in my opinion, so, why not?
|
| Anthra Kx |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 18:33:54
quote:
Originally posted by uglystix
Sorry I'm late! But don't worry about distance and delivery. when you find the right kit send me an email with the details and I'll arrange that through the courrier company I work for, on our account.
Have to help the young ones get started, don't you!
now theres a very generous offer |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 18:02:49
too late... |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 17:40:15
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Remo-5-piece-Drum-Kit_W0QQitemZ290413276790QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item439dfaee76#ht_500wt_1182
Not sure how good this is, but it's a drum kit in your price range.
Anyone played one of these before?
QUICK!!!
|
| uglystix |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 17:13:27
Sorry I'm late! But don't worry about distance and delivery. when you find the right kit send me an email with the details and I'll arrange that through the courrier company I work for, on our account.
Have to help the young ones get started, don't you!
|
| John W |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 00:40:19
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PREMIER-ROYAL-SET-OF-DRUMS-NO-CYMBLES-OR-STANDS_W0QQitemZ230451538889QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item35a7fb6bc9
What about this? No cymbals or stands, but they are very nice kits. I learned to play on one of these. |
| Blakey |
Posted - 20/03/2010 : 00:10:35
Mapex V series is good, that's what I started with. I changed all the heads, used the sound dampening o rings, 4" hole in bass drum head with some blankets inside and gigged it several times... It was brilliant, sounded good! A guy in Northampton bought it and is gigging it in his band now... Fantastic little kit... |
| limeydog |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 13:44:03
Hiya, yes we did, he relisted it :( We literally rebooted our comp as it had locked up, and when we went back on to bid, the auction had finished. I contacted straight-away, but he didn't take me up on the offer. I suspect that actually he wanted more money than his starting bid so felt it worth another try on Ebay. A case of you snooze you lose. If we had bid it would be ours now - doh! |
| Prog |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 10:21:32
Have you contacted the seller of the Mapex kit on which you forgot to bid? If it had no bidders then they probably still have it. |
| limeydog |
Posted - 15/03/2010 : 10:04:20
Hi Guys,
Thanks for forwarding suggestions. We have been looking at them, bidding and failing, and generally managing not to secure a kit yet. Annoyingly I forgot to bid on a Mapex that you guys had cleared that no one bid on and would have been in our price range and travel distance - I'm an idiot. Agree, the Grantham one looks good but really that is 3 hours trip each way and at least £50 of fuel. So I really want to look closer to home. I am watching it though. So we are watching three Mapex kits approved by this forum, and the Premier XPK without cymbals also cleared by this forum. |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 14/03/2010 : 21:15:35
Still nothing?... |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 16:06:28
quote:
Originally posted by thesofa
quote:
Originally posted by finn the drummer
Or,
This one is a complete bargain!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mapex-V-Series-8-piece-drum-kit-in-cherry-red_W0QQitemZ150422354557QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item2305defa7d#ht_500wt_1182
My mate has one of them and doesn't stop going on about how good it is for the price.
For £175 all in you can afford the fuel to go and collect it too, think of the excitement on the trip, "Are we there yet" every 5 minutes all the way to Lincolnshire?
DAMN!!!
I forgot to look at the location......AGAIN!
|
| Drum_of_Beer |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 14:02:17
I would consider this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tama-Stagestar-Drum-Kit-Shellpack-black-shp335_W0QQitemZ370347527320QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item563a6ecc98
Sounds like just the sizes for your boy, although you will need snare+stand, hi-hat stand, HH, crash & ride, bass drum pedal & stool on top.
This seller has a good reputation on here, & his p&p is very reasonable so you don't have to drive anywhere. It might be worth a phone call to him to see whether he could put a package together for you, for the price you have in mind.
Maybe some others can name a few more websites that might be worth a look.
. |
| thesofa |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 09:24:35
quote:
Originally posted by finn the drummer
Or,
This one is a complete bargain!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mapex-V-Series-8-piece-drum-kit-in-cherry-red_W0QQitemZ150422354557QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item2305defa7d#ht_500wt_1182
My mate has one of them and doesn't stop going on about how good it is for the price.
For £175 all in you can afford the fuel to go and collect it too, think of the excitement on the trip, "Are we there yet" every 5 minutes all the way to Lincolnshire? |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 08:28:40
Or,
This one is a complete bargain!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mapex-V-Series-8-piece-drum-kit-in-cherry-red_W0QQitemZ150422354557QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item2305defa7d#ht_500wt_1182
My mate has one of them and doesn't stop going on about how good it is for the price.
|
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 08:26:43
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Premier-APK-Drum-Kit-White_W0QQitemZ300403187720QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item45f16ce008#ht_500wt_1182
QUICK!!!
Try and get this, might go really cheap.
|
| Diesel74 |
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 13:14:45
He's only nine and there is an argument that he won't really care what he's playing. The FEPOS starter kits do come with rubbish cymbals, but at least they come with rubbish cymbals I suppose, and hardware including bass pedals, tom holders, cymbal stands and hi-hats.
It can be quite expensive, certainly compared to guitars, for example. A decent cymbal can and often does cost more than your current drum budget.
Have you factored in cymbals and hardware costs?
It might be your lad doesn't stick to the drums and thus it could be a costly "mistake". But with better quality stuff the chance of resale is better.
|
| limeydog |
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 12:48:14
Such great advice, thank you so much. I will be sure to let you know how it goes. this has given me a very clear steer towards one or two of the kits we short-listed, and a strong steer away from one of them. Also very helpful Ian, for second guessing our hang-up with the XPK kit, we don't know enough about drums to know how hard or cheap it would be to fulfill this kit, but you have helped us with this immensely. Thank you thank you thank you...... |
| John W |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 18:58:11
The XPK is the best choice in my opinion. Premier have been using more or less the same tom mounts and hardware on their kits for a long time. It will last you another 20 years if you treat it right, probably more. The snare drum on that is a good model as well.
If you are really savvy you can probably pick up the rest in your budget. But that XPK wont depreciate, I'm going to stick my neck out and say it's more likely to gain money over time if you keep it in reasonable condition. |
| Ian Savage |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 18:34:47
I'd still be tempted by the XPK (and I'll third don't touch the Pearl Forums, horrid things); for what it's worth these stands will do the job for the time being, they won't stand up (pardon the pun) to heavy playing or gigging but I guess neither will be an issue for a bit:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CB-3-PIECE-DRUM-HARDWARE-PACK-4510-4507-4509-Hi-Hat-etc_W0QQitemZ350218378116QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item518aa45b84
By the sound of it you'd still need to find a snare stand (or be able to fix the one that comes with the kit) but if you can get the hi-hat stand and a couple of cymbal stands for fifty quid delivered that leaves you with £75 for that and cymbals...I'd say JUST about do-able (look at secondhand Staggs for excellent value for money on cymbals)...and amongst the other stuff I've thrown into this thread, you might want to check the Classifieds for a 14" Stagg crash...
EDIT: my maths is crap, sorry :( |
| D.C. |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 17:06:45
id be tempted to agree with finn.
i had the misfortune to find myself sat behind a peral forum kit at a rehearsal studio on friday and felt like crying :( say no more about it.im still upset now tbh.
the xpk would be the one to go for 'cos its the best kit out of those linked but youd have to cough up more hard-earneds for hardware but the Mapex's tend to be pretty robust and are meant to sound pretty good for a cheaper kit and that one looks pretty tidy too.If you can get that for £250 i dont think there would be too much complaining.Happy bidding :) |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 16:36:54
I would recommend the mapex out those four, because the two pearl forums aren't very well made in my experience.
The premier XPK is a very good kit, but it would cost £150 at least for stands and cymbals.
Good luck with winning the mapex.
Hope I helped.
|
| limeydog |
Posted - 09/03/2010 : 10:38:42
Thanks guys, yeah £300 is too much... he'sonly 9 and it's his first kit... Strict limit £250. ANd yes Llandovery is too far... we wont pursue the Tornado. How about any of these...?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170454178248&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_730wt_1167
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120539783964&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120539049462&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320497495382&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182 |
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 21:09:44
I found this if you can pay £300?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Full-Size-Premier-Royal-Drum-Kit-Zildjian-Cymbals_W0QQitemZ230445265906QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item35a79bb3f2#ht_758wt_1165
Looks pretty decent...
Hope he likes this one!
|
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 20:51:19
Sorry!!!
I did't look where the kit was before I posted it.
I'm guessing Llandovery is way too far.
|
| finn the drummer |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 20:42:33
DO NOT GET A MAPEX TORNADO!
It's yet another FEPOS kit, keep on looking for a second hand kit on ebay, you will eventually find a decent kit for £250.
How about this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/premier-apk-drum-kit-zildjian-cymbals_W0QQitemZ290411289173QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item439ddc9a55
APK's are generally regarded as a decent mid-range kit and with decent cymbals that's a bargain!
I hope your son likes that one.
|
| inmate274 |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 20:09:07
The Tornados are Mapex's BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET line. Not sure quite how FEPOS they are, but I wouldn't like to brand them as not!
For 250 beer tokens keep shopping around, second hand is always much more bang for your buck and there have been some amazing deals I've seen! |
| barrydrum |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 20:01:28
I would go for something a little beter, heads will probably be c**p and need changing in a few months. Cant imagine what the cymbals will be like. Try and stick to used as some of the others have reccommended. |
| limeydog |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 19:43:36
We have been looking again on Ebay, and short-listed some second hand ones based on the above recommendations. However, my boy is rathaer taken by this one, which is one of the Brands recommended above. It has the benefit of being brand new, buy it now so we can actually get it, and they deliver. IS it okay or is it as the folks here would say FEPOS?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mapex-Tornado-2-Wine-Red-Drum-kit-Brand-new-boxed_W0QQitemZ280475414044QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item414da32e1c#ht_754wt_912
|
| limeydog |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 13:24:22
Okay, we bid on a couple of the suggested kits, but they both went top high for our budget. If anyone spots and kits on Ebay near to Surbiton/Kingston//London that they think are good value and are likely to finish at or below £250, I would be grateful of any assistance. |
| Prog |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 11:07:44
quote:
Originally posted by limeydog
Okey dokey, will get him sorted out with ear protection, good advice, thanks.
Good stuff. I wish I'd cared about my ears when I was young. |
| limeydog |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 11:06:10
Okey dokey, will get him sorted out with ear protection, good advice, thanks. |
| Jayremedy |
Posted - 02/03/2010 : 19:06:33
WHAT?? Beer guts, WHAT? |
| Brigham |
Posted - 02/03/2010 : 10:28:11
Yep. Earplugs are a MUST.
Elacin Er20s should be ok for him. Or even a set of industrial ear-muffs.
|
| Hugs |
Posted - 02/03/2010 : 08:40:42
And don't forget the earplugs - for him that is. Don't want to ruin his hearing at such a young age! |
| Jayremedy |
Posted - 01/03/2010 : 19:23:45
I think your right with the Tama as first choice if you get it at a good price, you hit the ground running with all he needs to start. If he's anything like my kids growing up, waiting for cymbals, stands etc is the worst thing that could possibly happen in the world ever. Besides they are really good kits and that finish looks great in the flesh. I gigged one of these for 6 years and it was in the same condition when I sold as when I bought it. Only sold it because I got a good deal on a higher end Tama kit (and I still think the rockstar bass drum sounded better). Sorry to harp on I have a real soft spot for Tama Rockstars.
Playing acoustic drums in a terraced house is a nightmare, I know. Playing quietly is great practice it teaches control. But alas this is usually too much for the neighbours as well and you can't blame them really. Maybe ask them if it's ok for him to practice 30 / 45 minutes or so after school on alternate days. Pads really do not bring the fun of drums out and fun=sustained interest. But if it's the only route it's better than nowt. |
| limeydog |
Posted - 01/03/2010 : 19:19:20
Man alive you guys are GREAT!!! Can't believe we getting such good help.
Okay so the Yamaha is off the list, thanks Ian 40.
Ian S. thanks so much, that's great, I have just shown these four to him and he was really into them (helped that I said they were more the real deal - rock band etc). All of these are do'able in terms of pick-up distance. The XPK would be very easy to pic up from where we are. I reckon we might be able to get the stall and cymbals on top of that in our budget - perhaps anyway.
The second one (white Pearl). Wow, looks great... this one is the furthest to pick up, and as you say perhaps brand multiplied by comprehensive set will put it out of league, but we will be watching it just in case... this was his favourite (he likes it when it looks like they have lots of bits to it).
The Silver Pearl (the maybe in your list), would be easy enough to pick up.
The last one, Pearl with bits. Again should be able to pick this one up easily enough.
So we are now watching 5. The four from your list and the Tama Rockstar I previously mentioned. His favourite (quelle suprise) is the White Pearl. The Tama is now in fifth on his list.
Thanks so much |
| ian-40 |
Posted - 01/03/2010 : 17:52:55
quote:
Originally posted by limeydog
Hey guys,
These are the kits we are now watching:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320491241348&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170452186143&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190376679985&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182
2) My boy would dearly like to play them at home too, but if they sound like normal drums, I don't think the neigbours will be having it. I know you can get rubber dampers to put on the drums to quieten them down. Are these any good? Are there other ways (drape T-shirts over the heads?) He's only nine so he doesn't play them as heavily as an adult. Is it possible to practice, hitting the drums more lightly to keep the sound down - or does that just not work in practise?
Thanks for the support everyone, really appreciated.
that 'yamaha' kit isnt what its advertised as. its a generic far eastern piece of junk.
as for playing at home, no matter how hard he hits em, the neighbours will hear them. no mistake! |
| Ian Savage |
Posted - 01/03/2010 : 17:18:41
quote:
Originally posted by limeydog
Actually, as we are talking, perhaps you could enlighten me about a couple of things we are going to have to address:
1) We will have to set the drums up at the hall everytime he practises, we can't store them at the hall. Once we have got the knack of it, how long will it take us to set it up each time?
I've got an old rug that sits under my kit (something well worth having anyway, as on wooden floors drums have a tendancy to 'creep' while you're playing them at best and gouge chunks out of the floor at worst) on which I've marked out where the feet of my stands and the spurs of my bass drum should go; with this I can have my kit set up pretty much exactly as I want it in ten minutes flat.
quote:
2) My boy would dearly like to play them at home too, but if they sound like normal drums, I don't think the neigbours will be having it. I know you can get rubber dampers to put on the drums to quieten them down. Are these any good? Are there other ways (drape T-shirts over the heads?) He's only nine so he doesn't play them as heavily as an adult. Is it possible to practice, hitting the drums more lightly to keep the sound down - or does that just not work in practise?
You can indeed get rubber pads to sit over the heads, which will kill more sound and give you a more realistic feel than putting T-shirts and such over the heads (put them over the cymbals by all means, though); a company called Traps make silencer pads which have triggers built into them too. These incredibly nifty things can then be plugged into a drum 'brain' and produce sounds electronically which you can listen to through headphones - this'll obviously be more expensive than bog-standard rubber pads, but it's something worth bearing in mind for the future, maybe.
As far as kits go, from a quick mooch around eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Premier-XPK-Drum-Kit_W0QQitemZ320492718216QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item4a9edac888
It'd need a little bit of TLC, but the XPK kits were a VERY well-regarded mid-range UK-made kit in the 1990s - you'd have to budget for cymbals and stands on top of that though, which might push it over budget.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Limited-Edition-Pearl-Export-EX-drum-kit_W0QQitemZ120537185970QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item1c10937eb2
Nice, but if it goes within budget I'll be quite surprised...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEARL-EXPORT-EXR-DRUM-KIT-HARDWARE_W0QQitemZ140387107077QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item20afb94105
maybe...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Drum-Kit-in-white-with-black-trim_W0QQitemZ330409496325QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ?hash=item4cedf0cf05
Has everything you'd need, except a practise pad for the bass drum. |
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