Drum Dummy Here - Need Recommendations of a Good Electronic Set

DrumShopper · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Hi there!

I'm brand-spanking-new to drums. In fact, I'm probably going to remain that way, as I'm on these forums looking for recommendations for a set for my boyfriend, not for myself. (I'm a piano gal, myself.)

My boyfriend has always, always wanted to play drums, but as we live in an apartment, he's shied away from getting his own set. I would like to surprise him with a decent electric set (along with some lessons) for his birthday this year. Unfortunately, because I know absolutely nothing about drums, I have no idea what I should be looking for in a set!

My price range is between $1000 and $1500. If the set is on the upper end of that scale, I still want to be able to purchase the necessary accessories (drumsticks, etc.) while staying beneath that cap of $1500.

So, here are the basic requirements:

1. Full set with stand
2. $1000 - $1500
3. Able to connect to a PC (USB preferable, but whatever else will work)
4. Volume control

I've seen two sets that've caught my eye so far: the Roland TD3SW V set and the Yamaha DTXpress IV Special. Unfortunately, I'm not even sure if they include the basics above!

Any suggestions/recommendations are welcome... especially if they're dumbed down enough for me to understand. Thanks so much in advance!

oldschool · #2 (**permalink**) 01-28-2009, 01:44 PM

Hi Drum Dummy !, This is oldschool and i think i can save you a whole lotta money today. If i understand you correctly your boyfriend is a beginner? Then do both yourselves a great big favor by saving your hard earned cash and his self esteem,being a well seasoned (i'm old) professional drummer,i'm the hit'em hard,fast and you better keep up type player and have hammered on some of the best acoustic kits made,in a studio and on the road. The biggest mistake of my 30yrs. was letting the studio techs talk me in to trying this top of the line electronic drumset made by Roland because it was space saving and had a volume knob and a pair of headphones so i could play my usual way and not shake things around me loose i guess,anyway after trying to destroy this mechanical contraption for 8 to10 hours it would'nt give in to me,so i called it a night and went home.The next day my hands felt like they were the perfect candidates for an arthritis medication and all because of those hard rubber pads i'd been hitting,there is no flexability to them so the sticks vibrated awfully bad in my grip causing my knuckles to ache enough that i had to postpone my studio tracking for that day. Do what you feel is right for your situation but keep in mind that he may not want what i prefer to call a playschool drumset, just do an oldschool thing and grab your cash and your boyfriend and drive him (unknowingly of course) to a good music store and let him make his own decision about what he could see himself playing with interest,on your projected budget he could get a fantastic kit made of wood and chromed steel with a couple of quality cymbals that sound like brass not plastic,he will be forever greatful to you for it and you won't feel you threw money away if you so happen to trade them in or sell'em god forbid. he's a lucky man, where were you when i was just starting up? Good Luck ! and tell him happy b-day from some dude called "oldschool" who was a bandmate of Glen Buxton,original lead guitarist from the ALICE COOPER BAND. Oh! and one more bit of advice to you,buy some good earplugs you will no doughtedly need them. Take care friend and PEACE OUT !

DrumShopper · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2009, 02:25 PM

Hi, OldSchool,

Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate it. However, your advice isn't going to work for our situation; we're college students and will be living in apartments for years to come -- at least another three or four -- so volume control is an absolute necessity. In addition to that, he's a computer geek, so the ability to record his music directly from the drumset onto his computer and mix it is going to be extremely important to him.

I like the idea of driving him to a store and letting him choose, but I know my guy, and he'd never go for that. He's going to have a hard enough time knowing how much I spent on him when I show him the already-bought gift; there's no way I'd get him to knowingly spend $1500 of my money!

Thanks anyway!

I'm still looking for recommendations, so if anyone else has any, please post!

SkiWeed · #4 (**permalink**) 01-28-2009, 07:11 PM

I highly recommend the Alesis DM5 pro kit.

You can get it with artificial brass cymbals(silenced) for cymbal realism or the rubber pad cymbals. Both pretty much as quiet as each other. Comes with 540 drum sounds and 21 drum set configurations.

All electronic using triggers.

And i think there's a normal one AND a USB one available!

There really good for the price too! 350 GB Pounds which is probably around $750 something in the US.

Seriously, check it out, i highly recommend it.

hope i helped

slingerland59 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2009, 11:03 PM

Hey DrumShopper, don't forget to check out all the archived material here. If you do a search for "electronic kits," for example, you'll pull up some interesting old threads that might help you make a wise decision.

Oldschool, thanks for your valiant defence of acoustic drums. It was heart warming. Rock on bro!

slingerland · #6 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 04:40 PM

DrumShopper I have the perfect solution for you but your going to have to check it out for yourself to convince yourself. I used to live in New York and I had a problem with noise just like you. I lived in an apartment as well and playing was tough. My drum instructor invented something for the problem, their sold at this time by Sabian their called SABIAN QUIET DRUM MUTES the snare drum one sells for around $60.00 and the smaller ones sell for around $55.00
and believe me when you put them on the drums you cannot hear anything at all. If you have a guitar center near you and they have one tell them to put one on the snare drum and throw off the snare sound and you won't hear anything I know this I have been using them for 40 years and they really work. The rest of the money after you pay for the mutes you can buy a nice set for your boyfriend try it before you buy electric drums Good Luck SLINGERLAND PS Let me know how it goes.

yachty · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 06:31 PM

DTXpress ! Taught on one for years, owned it for at least 10, it got a bashing from about 60 students a week, & I still play on it, mostly for recording but it's also a great practice kit. Check out the specs at yamaha's website for other stuff you need to know. Good luck.

tomtbuck · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2009, 08:19 PM

Hi: I have a HD-1 Roland electronic set, plus a full set of non electronic ludwig. Bought it on sale for about $700. Super little electronic set. Best with a good of ear phones. You can play all night and not bother a soul...Excellent snare and toms, cympal could better but still good. I love this set, does not take up much room, very realistic sounds and super fun to play. It makes you sound better than you really are! I would highly recommend this set but I'm sure there are others also out there. I have been playing drums for many years and this set has given me the most pleasure! You can hook up to amps, and computer. Good luck! Tomtbuck

jhall823 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 02:57 PM

You said he is a computer geek, then you might want to consider the Alesis USB pro kit. Comes with Surge Cymbals that look like the real thing. Snare, 3 Toms: Med, High, Floor. Surge Cymbals have Hi-Hat, 13" Crash, and a 16" Ride. Ride and Crash are also Chokeable. Comes with BFD lite software that lets you program your sounds and chose different types of Toms, Kick and cymbals. Will still need to buy kick pedal but it comes with a set of sticks. Easy setup, plugs into computer with USB cord. Has great sound, nice look with the Surge Cymbals (Gold not you black rubber) Snare and Toms look real not rubber pads. Sell at any web site for about $800. I am new to the drum format so my advice may be useless but just started playing so wanted a nice set at a reasonable price so that is why I got the Alesis USB Pro kit. I think I have found my instrument and having a great deal of fun doing it. Also with the money you save may want to jump on Guitar Center's web site during April and grab the Addictive Drum Software to replace the BFD lite software that comes with the Alesis USB Pro Kit. It is nice but a little limited. During April Addictive Drums is only $99. This kit sounds great. Makes me sound better than I know I am. No expert but sounds like the real thing to me. Hey I think I stayed under 1K and you still have some bucs for the lessons.

cartoonfox · #10 (**permalink**) 04-07-2009, 10:49 AM

I second the Alesis recomendation. I've been thinking about getting one myself and from searching around the internet it seems like the best bet for the price range. And if you can afford it, the Surge cymbals are a nice addition too (although a bit pricey for me right now)

Good luck with the search : ]