Dilemma in choosing a drum kit. Please help!

A

appudds

Junior Member
Hello friends.
I am in a dilemma and would really appreciate your help.
I have been thinking of buying a drum kit for long and I can invest around 1200$ at max (for both drum kit and cymbals)
There are 2 options available to me.

There is a guy who is willing to sell his Mapex meridian birch drum kit (almost new) along with 1 18" Zildjian planet z crash ride, 1 14" Zildjian planet z hi hat, 1 18" sabian aa crash ride, 1 16" sabian aa crash, 1 sabian aa 10" splash, 2 Wuhan splashes (10" and 12"), 1 Wuhan tambourine. He is asking for 1100$.

For that price, I can get a new Tama imperialstar drum kit with a sabian aaxplosion cymbal pack.

Should I go for the second hand Mapex meridian birch with the assorted bunch of cymbals or go for a new Tama imperialstar with a Sabian aax set?

Please help me as this is my first ever investment on a drum kit.
Thanks! :)
 
I am a Tama and Sabian fanboy, so my answer is pretty obvious. However, he is asking WAY too much for that. Meridians are like $700 brand new and as low as $500 used on ebay. The planet Z and Wuhan cymabls are below professional quality and do not make up the other $600 he is asking.

I would really do some more research before buying. For $1200 you can get a used starclassic performer birch (a huge step up from the Imperialstar) and a set of used AA/AAX cymbals. A quick ebay search revealed a few examples (pretty much the first things that came up).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tama-Starcl...pt=US_Drums&hash=item2a445c04d9#ht_203wt_1362

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SABIAN-14-A...ultDomain_0&hash=item23415d2275#ht_598wt_1362

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SABIAN-AA-C...aultDomain_0&hash=item27ec9e046d#ht_25wt_1362

That is a professional set up that will last you for years.
 
eclipseownzu said:
I am a Tama and Sabian fanboy, so my answer is pretty obvious. However, he is asking WAY too much for that. Meridians are like $700 brand new and as low as $500 used on ebay. The planet Z and Wuhan cymabls are below professional quality and do not make up the other $600 he is asking.

I would really do some more research before buying. For $1200 you can get a used starclassic performer birch (a huge step up from the Imperialstar) and a set of used AA/AAX cymbals. A quick ebay search revealed a few examples (pretty much the first things that came up).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tama-Starcl...pt=US_Drums&hash=item2a445c04d9#ht_203wt_1362

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SABIAN-14-A...ultDomain_0&hash=item23415d2275#ht_598wt_1362

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SABIAN-AA-C...aultDomain_0&hash=item27ec9e046d#ht_25wt_1362

That is a professional set up that will last you for years.
Click to expand...

All these sound great.
The only real problem is that I live in India and therefore, we don't have a lot of options. We rarely get a good used drumkit here.
The same Tama Starclassic costs 200000 INR here (around 3000$; due to import & customs)
This is very annoying!
 
It pains me every time we see this question, as it is possible to obtain an awesome kit for $1000, but requires domain knowledge above and beyond what first-time buyers typically have.

For $1000, you could end up with intermediate shells (Catalina/Stage Custom/etc), Pro Cymbals (Zildjian A's) and great hardware. The used market is awesome for buyers right now.

--EDIT, just saw your geographic dilemma. Good luck. Peace and love.
 
Il take a look at some indian stores etc and use a price converter. Most people on here just believe everyone is america where these deals are, and forget everyone else arent in that situation, thats why its good to put a country as part of your profile, then again they still forget im english where the deals are.
 
StaggerLee said:
Il take a look at some indian stores etc and use a price converter. Most people on here just believe everyone is america where these deals are, and forget everyone else arent in that situation, thats why its good to put a country as part of your profile, then again they still forget im english where the deals are.
Click to expand...

Thank you my friend.
My apologies for not mentioning my location.
For the price I can afford, i.e, 70000 INR or 1200$, I can get a Tama ImperialStar (40000 INR) and a Sabian B8 pack (30000 INR)
Nothing much I can do...
 
Im making a judgement that you have 7500-8000rs so heres an idea if your going new:
http://www.saptaswara.in/product-de...nts/exx-hybrid-with-hardware-hwp-830-/41/3664

Thats a great kit and hardware package, and then for cymbals:

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-two-pack-/41/1189

or if you can scratch it

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-pack-/41/1186


Both much better options than he was offering.

Or if you dont have a kit yourself properly yet:

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/riot-/41/2460

with

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-entire-set-/41/1194


Hope this helps
 
StaggerLee said:
Im making a judgement that you have 7500-8000rs so heres an idea if your going new:
http://www.saptaswara.in/product-de...nts/exx-hybrid-with-hardware-hwp-830-/41/3664

Thats a great kit and hardware package, and then for cymbals:

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-two-pack-/41/1189

or if you can scratch it

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-pack-/41/1186


Both much better options than he was offering.

Or if you dont have a kit yourself properly yet:

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/riot-/41/2460

with

http://www.saptaswara.in/product-details/western-instruments/b8-entire-set-/41/1194


Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Thank you for your time and inputs!
But isnt the Sabian B8 a mediocre cymbal series?
I have participated in a discussion in this forum where fellow drummers advised me to invest in a good cymbal pack rather than a good drum kit.. Isnt that more logical?
 
@Stagerlee,
Also, how come the set you are proposing is a better alternative than the used kit in offer?
The used kit is a Mapex Birch kit whereas the Pearl EXX has a hybrid shell only.
And the cymbals he is offering is a mix of Sabian AA and Zildjian Z planet, which are both better than Sabian B8 right?
 
For your "first" drum kit, both options work. My personal vote would be the used Mapex kit. The Planet Z cymbals are bottom of the rung Zildjians. But, The 3 Sabian AA's (info here http://www.sabian.com/en/series/aa ), plus Wuhans, a pretty nice array. But, only if your thinking in terms of those types of cymbals being what you want. 3 splash cymbals aren't gonna help you out, if you don't like splash cymbals.​
The thing (maybe trap) that you'll probably fall into, is you'll wind up buying more stuff. Most every drummer does. Finding out what you like (and don't like) usually takes time. And hands on experience. Plus, over time, your tastes may change.​
 
appudds said:
@Stagerlee,
Also, how come the set you are proposing is a better alternative than the used kit in offer?
The used kit is a Mapex Birch kit whereas the Pearl EXX has a hybrid shell only.
And the cymbals he is offering is a mix of Sabian AA and Zildjian Z planet, which are both better than Sabian B8 right?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didnt realize you were not in a place where online shopping is an option.

You are right. Dont buy B8 cymbals, you will be disappointed. I have played all over the world and cymbals are the one area where you have to spend money to get good quality. I have played on drum sets held together by duct tape that sounded decent, but everytime I hit a ZBT it makes me cringe.

I stand firm with my previous statement that the new Tama and Sabians are a better deal. That is just too much money for a used Meridian and entry level cymbals.
 
​
StaggerLee said:
Better cymbals are a must yes, but i dont know:
1) what situation your in kit wise, if you have one or not at all
2) of any other deals than the one your on about

if you already have a kit, use all the money for cymbals, if the kit still works its fine
Click to expand...

Kit wise, I haven't owned a drumkit before and this is going to be my first purchase.
There are not many good deals available regarding the drum kit.
I am more inclined towards getting the Tama ImperialStar.
It is readily available in india for 650$ (40000 INR)
The only issue for me is getting cymbals. The AAX series of cymbals is what I would love.
(http://www.amazon.com/Sabian-25005X...id=1411876181&sr=8-1&keywords=sabian+aax+pack)
It fits my overall budget. But if I try shipping it from USA to India, what seems to be 650$ turns into a ghastly 950$ !
And it is probably very heavy to ask any of my friends coming from USA to India to buy it in US and bring it as luggage. (Amazon says the product weight is 20 pounds or 9kgs )
 
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