Any drummers offer advice on second hand beginners kits?

Hi All,

Heads spinning, with a couple of browsers full of open tabs looking at kits for my 10yr old and hoping someone can at least help clear the water somewhat. Going around in circles at what I should be looking for as I know nothing.

Looking on eBay and Facebook market place I seem to be looking at the following types of kits in my price range:

Mapex Tornado – some with stock Mapex branded Remo heads, some with aftermarket heads from Remo, Evans etc.

CB SP Series – same as above. Mixture with stock CB heads or CB branded Remo heads and others with aftermarket heads. Despite being old now, are these still decent if in good nick?

Pearl Export – mainly stock heads

Pearl Forum – mainly stock heads

There’s also some Peavey International and Premier Olympic kits which I’ve discounted as I seem to think the above kits are better but I could be totally wrong here…should I be looking at these as well?

The Pearl kits go for a bit more but still within budget…is it worth paying the extra for them?

I assume as long as the batter heads aren’t full of dents they’ll do for a start and be replaced/updated in the future?

Am I on the right track with the above? Any of the above I should avoid? Is it just head condition to check or are there things to check on the rings/mounts as well?

He’s been having lessons for a few months and currently has a basic Carlsboro electronic kit which he practices on but would like an acoustic kit as that’s what he uses in his lessons.

Thanks for any help/pointers.

What kit does he use in his lessons? If he likes that then logic suggests get something similar, same sizes and so forth. I’d be asking his teacher maybe. Most low range kits can be made to sound okay with a bit of effort, probably more worthwhile checking the kit is mechanically sound – do the clamps hold things properly, are any tuning bolts seized, that sort of thing. Dented heads is a problem, but I’d far rather buy a kit cheap because of ruined heads and then replace with new ones of my choosing.

He’s been having lessons for a few months and currently has a basic Carlsboro electronic kit which he practices on but would like an acoustic kit as that’s what he uses in his lessons

Have you got any close neighbours? Because the noise from an acoustic kit really travels!

Of course practising on an acoustic kit is preferable, but for your sanity is it worth it? 😆

Maybe a higher level electric kit with full mesh heads, etc. might be better?

Thanks, he’s on a full size kit for his lessons… haven’t checked brand as we sit outside. Briefly spoke to teacher and he said either full size fusion or rock kits are fine.

If you live anywhere near Leamington think I’ve got a kit in the loft.

It’s probably over 10 years old and might be rubbish but you could have it for free!

Wow, that’s very generous @rockbus.

We’re Sth Manchester but would be interested in further details if you have any. Is it just to be shells or including cymbals (can’t believe how much stands and cymbals are on their own).

Thanks

Briefly spoke to teacher and he said either full size fusion or rock kits are fine.

That’s helpful. Thing is, more than a few really good players will tell you the reason they got good was having to learn on terrible gear. I usually advise people to get their kids to play rudiments on a pad before even looking at a kit, nobody wants to do that but it’s the fundimentals on which everything builds.

Incredibly, all though to be fair to him there’s only a couple of minutes between lessons and trying to keep the whole Santa pretence going as well.

Will take a look at pad stuff, thanks

I love proper drums but THEY ARE SO LOUD!

I’ve been pricing up building a studio that’s soundproof enough to not be heard by neighbouring business units. To make it big enough to film a band and soundproof enough to contain the sound from guitars and bass going full tilt with a loud rock drummer, is about £30k in materials alone…

Drums are a particularly technique dependent instrument (speaking as a bassist) so putting the hours in pays back. Electronic drums are so much quieter (the kick pedal will still thud through so needs a bit of thought) that he’s far more likely to get the time in.

Can’t go wrong with a pearl export.

To be fair as long as the drums are all in good condition your son probably won’t be able to tell the difference between any of them. But I will add an additional account of drums are loud, like properly loud levels of really loud.

E-drum is the way to go for some playing unless you are fortunate enough to have deaf neighbours or live in the woods.