DU musicians, i need some advice please

[AlCzervik]

my daughter has been taking drum lessons for almost a year, her teacher has been nice enough to loan her his old kit, I'm thinking it may be time to buy her drums of her own. I've waited for awhile to make sure she would stick with and she has. Should i buy her used or new?

[GOPisEvil]

1. Nothing wrong with a quality used set.

Used instruments of any kind are frequently a better deal. If it's a high quality brand, and well-maintained, I see no reason that you shouldn't at least consider used.

[elperromagico]

2. You could just buy a used kit and new drum heads.

Others may be able to tell you more...

[Pepperbelly]

3. You can pick them up pretty cheaply ...

at Guitar Center or online. New kits aren't terribly expensive and I probably wouldn't go buying her a pro set or anything at this stage.

[AlCzervik]

5. yeah, she doesn't need the Neil Pert collection just yet

[Squeech]

7. I don't recommend a cheap kit

The best it will ever sound is barely adequate.

Nor do I think Guitar Center offers real value for money.

I agree with the previous poster: get a good used kit. If it's been used by a real drummer and it's not obviously broken, it'll probably stay good for a long time.

N.B. I'm a guitarist, not a drummer, so I'm not the best authority. But this is substantially what I told Matcom, who's going shopping for a guitar.

[Pepperbelly]

10. what was your guitar advice to Matcom?

Just curious.

[Floogeldy]

4. Probably used

There is usually nothing wrong with used drums, unless they're totally beat up. Nothing wears out except the drum heads, which every drummer replaces on a regular basis. Now, some of the hardware can wear out, i.e., threads getting stripped in the holes or on the "screw" where things get tightened together. But much of that can be replaced, too. So you just don't want a set that is "worn out."

You might also consider electronic drums, which your daughter can play and hear through headphones (the drumsticks hit rubber pads that are not loud at all to anybody else).

Of course, new is always nice.

[AlCzervik]

6. the noise doesn't bother me, i put on my ipod after awhile

she has a small playroom that my husband is thinking of sound proofing.

[johnnie]

8. I would go with a used set

True, you can get a decent new set for fairly cheap these days, but then you have to add hardware (cymbals, stands, throne, probably a snare, ect..) and that can add up. You would be better off finding someone selling a kit w/ hardware for a much better price.
Just my thoughts on it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Go with the Nerf brand. Much quieter.

:-)

Seriously, though, I wouldn't go new until you know for absolute sure that's what she wants. Used drums will be perfectly fine for a few years.