idealJOSEPH

Thanks a lot Dom. Is there a way to make the drum set any quieter if thats possible? I heard dampening rings make it a bit quieter. Any suggestions?

Dom

Apart from playing quieter (which sucks) you could try silencer/dampening pads, although make sure you get good quality ones, the ones I used to have were very poor and took almost all the rebound away so it became almost impossible for me to play. Another thing you could try are silencer sticks, like these but I'm not sure how good these are. Apart from that the only other solution I can think of is switching to an electronic kit.

One thing I'd say is try before you buy if at all possible. It sucks to spend loads of money on something which turns out to be crap when you get them.

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Coldhardsteel

Okay, here's the two cents from myself(and my first post on this forum):

Cymbals are important, as they're the most often hit objects on the set. Hi-hats and a ride cymbal should be just as important as getting the drum set itself. If you can afford it, don't skimp on these cymbals, as they could last you a life-time. from each of the big producers:

Zildjian: A or K series are the best they can offer. If you have the cash, go for it. Personally, I like the sound of the K series, as they're a bit 'classier'. If you're into jazz, definitely check out those cymbals.

If you're kinda low on cash, Zildjian does have lower-end lines, but they're... Meh. If you ever see anything called a "Pitch Black", it's closer to the Black Plague than anything else.

Sabian: Sabian is very well-liked for their AAX, HHX, and HH series, not to mention the Paragon series as well. The cymbals they make are generally pretty good in quality, and moderate in price range. They have a reputation for communicating with artists that they endorse, which makes for interesting new cymbal innovations. A sturdy choice.

Be sure to check out the X-celerator hi-hats!

Paiste: Ah, my favorite producer. Paiste is probably gonna be the guys you don't start out with, unless you have hundreds of dollars in your pocket. They're expensive, but my God, they make such awesome cymbals. Signature, RUDE, Twenty, almost all series I would recommend(pending your tastes).

If you're on a budget, they have a beginner line called PST5 and PST3. Next level up from that is Alpha, and another middle-range-priced series from these guys is Giant Beat.

Meinl: Honestly, I haven't had too much experience with these cymbals, but from what I've heard and played, they're just as good as the previous three. They're especially fond of their Byzance series, which is their go-to for a lot of their endorsees. Benny Greb is a notable endorsee, as well as Chris Adler.

That's my little blurb on cymbals. Good heads to start out with would be Remo Ambassador or Emperor X's. New thicker heads are supposed to be sturdier and have better sustain and tonal qualities, and you just can't go wrong with Remo.

And last but not least: Pearl. Pearl Drums.