I built a kit from buying raw shells and lugs etc from amdrumparts.com. I believe the shells, lugs etc all came to about 800.00, and I went to lowes, got some sandpaper and some minwax colored stain. Now my 8 year old has a great sounding kit, with a 16x16 kit, 7x10 mounted tom, and a 11x14 ft. I just use a 12" pearl piccolo for the snare. Works great and its cheaper then the higher end hip gig, etc. Not to mention it was a blast to build.
If you buy everything at once from AM, they drill it, and edge free, so you can't screw up.