Thinking of a studio drumkit, suggestions?

[Lee Cardan]

Mostly to cover pop/rock genres

I'm looking at a current issue kit, I'm heading to billy's to grab an amp or two shortly and thought this might be the right time to drop on a studio kit too.

So, current issue, good resale, nice recording kit that'll live in the studio

Budget, say 7k including cymbals

I'd like two snares, 6.5 and an 8

So, suggestions?

[Kurt]

Roland

[ChrisW]

Buy used. You get a bunch more for your money and (most) drums don't go out of fashion.

[ChrisW]

Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/YAMAHA-RECOR ... 036wt_1141

Generally buy snares and cymbals separately if you can.

[Linear]

For pop/rock sound, I'd get a Yamaha Custom Maple absolute.

I have one, best sounding 'modern' kit by a long way. Plus Yamaha hardware is the smartest hands-down. Made at their motorcycle factory I believe.

Forget cymbals too, drummers can bring their own to smash and crack.

As for snares - get a Black Beauty and an Acrolite or Supraphonic. This will cover 90% of sessions, at least it does for me.

Chris

[Lee Cardan]

thanks fellas

Ok firstly, definitely not roland

Secondly, this kit will be new
I'm sure I could do better things with the money second hand, but firstly it will be a great deal, and I need an invoice because I'm also doing this to help my current tax situation (don't ask, but I'm sure you get it)

I have a growing list of snares that are mostly vintage, I'll get to these in time

so far I'm thinking Yamaha recording custom, but I'm not sure if this may be over budget
I notice they're birch, but a lot of comments regarding recording kits seem to prefer maple..

I also want cymbals as I wouldn't mind to start playing a little myself! I've always wanted to

[ChrisW]

Buying used is a legitimate business expense isn't it?
Well I guess I wont labour the point as you seem set, but for me your spending $7,000 to own a $4000 kit the day after you play it the first time (similar to depreciation of a car).
Birch vs Maple.
Well maple is a bit more lively in my experience. Birch sounds tighter. Both are excellent woods for recording drum kits. Birch is easy to manage for pop/rock/fusion recording. Maple can have a bit extra if you are recording louder rock, or want the drums to sound a little more raw.
As far as new is concerned, you can achieve stellar results with almost any mainstream modern kit (Japanese, American, European, or Aussie). Anyone who claims a certain kit is streets ahead of anything else is just voicing a personal opinion. I don't buy into the single brand that kills all others, except in the rare boutique cases, like handmade, bespoke kits.
Most new kits come with cheap heads, so you are going to have to budget for a complete new set of heads (top and bottom) right off the bat.
The only advantage I can see to buying new cymbals is you can try them in advance in a store. I do find store auditions are not a great pointer as to the cymbal (or drums) worth to your sound palette. Used cymbals often sound better (especially older ones) and are much cheaper.

[Drumstruck]

Yamaha recording custom are an excellent kit - you won't be unhappy with one, but do have a listen to a Sleishman kit before you hand over your $s - I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Birch has a little more top end and a little more bottom than Maple which (obviously) is a bit more middly. Maple tends to be the more popular choice however.

DW are also worth looking at - I'd say they're the flavour of the month atm. As Chris say, any of the name brand kits will be good.

[ChrisW]

I just this minute discovered the Sleishman Omega Series.
They look to be extremely good value.
John Emrich sampled them for BFD (FXpansion) and wrote a glowing review for Modern Drummer (on Sleishman website).

[Alistair]

A mate of mine makes custom drum kits, that I think are pretty good. Quite resonant and loud (great rock kit or even jazz in smaller sizes, but perhaps no good for metal etc). In your price range and he's in Melbourne so you could check them out. I know a couple of guys using them as their main kits now. His site is www.moodydrums.com
Cool guy and im sure he would be more than happy to have a chat.

[Lee Cardan]

yeah used is legit, however new can help with GST, and leasing (they let you claim the full GST credit on lease) is 100% tax deductable whereas any outright purchase can only be depreciated. I'm only really getting a grasp on all this, but I just do what my accountant tells me

very cool, appreciate the input everyone

[Drumstruck]

I just this minute discovered the Sleishman Omega Series.
They look to be extremely good value.
John Emrich sampled them for BFD (FXpansion) and wrote a glowing review for Modern Drummer (on Sleishman website).

The BFD2 Sleishman is a great sample pack - I'd rate them the best of the BFDs - the toms especially are very well sampled. I was playing the sampled kit next to my "real" Sleishman last night - the real ones won

[DrAlienSmith]

+ 1 on the Sleishmans, I have one as my studio kit, maple as well. Very cool sounds, lots of great tone, almost too much for some styles but i'm still experimenting with skin choices to even it out as an allrounder.

(I think I'll start another thread about skins for Sleishmans)

[Simon B]

A little late,

I asked quite a few drummers if they were given a kit as back line what would do if it wasn't their personal kit,

a common one I got was pearl masters, an zildjan k cymbals.

so that is what I got, for all round drum kit I am quite happy with it. being that your in Melbourne you can borrow it if you like. see what you think.

if you are going to spend that much, I would look into supporting the local guy an getting Australian.

cheers Simon

[The Tasmanian]

What Ive been told by a great drummer mate recently is a Gretsch Catalina is a great sounding kit for very little $

[wez]

Just to add another local option to the mix... the drummer in my band plays a beautiful jarrah Brady kit and it is possibly the best sounding kit i've ever heard.

[Adam Dempsey]

Hi Lee,
While I can't rightfully throw into the ring anything like my old 4 pce Maxwin (cheap Pearl) kit (despite the custom bearing edges sanded at Billy Hydes - shells are still cheap plywood), I can highly recommend having a range of cymbals including the Zildjian A Custom series - warmer overtones than most others I've tried. And yes - every single cymbal, even of the same weight, size and model, sounds different. Secondhand is the go there (I've heard nothing like my 19" standard A series crash/ride I picked up circa 1990 for $90).
But yes, it's also a good plan to keep at least two snares of different depths and add to that over time... also I'd add 13" hi hats in addition to regular 14", for projects other than hard rock. Let me know if you need any tuning tips.