I think I have asked about this before but I have an new question to add... I have been promising my grand daughter a set of electronic drums for quite a while and it is time to deliver (plus since they will be here I want be able to use them to trigger BFD, EZDrummer, and SD3. I would like to stay in the 700 to 900 range but will spend a little more or less if it makes enough difference. One concern I have is the comments I read about the high hats that seem to be subpar on most kits. I know for about 300 bucks I could add the RHH.
I've been looking at the Alesis and Yamaha kits mostly.
 
Any tips at what I should take a look at? I am not a drummer so it will be fun for me, perhaps more for her. I don't want a crappy HH to ruin it and simply open or closed would be a bummer.
 
Thanks, I promise to not ask this again. Going to order something this weekend.
 
J

Was just at Tom Lee Music buying a guitar for my granddaughter, different instrument, but same situation, Don't buy something you could not use yourself. SO many kids get turned off music for life by having to play junk instruments that are uninspiring. We bought a Canadian made Art and Luther parlor size acoustic. While waiting for my son to close the deal I was drooling over the electric kits they had set up. Under $1000 you might as well use a controller with pads. If any "real" drum sounds are going to happen I'm afraid your looking at $2,000 and up. The best kit there was a Roland for $4,500, It was exactly like playing a real kit. What you need is as many multi zones as you can afford. You could start with a basic $700 kit and then add better components later. Note made, Roland's lower end kit rack system sucks. Yamaha was way better.But Roland has a better Kick feel. It get's complicated. Grab a drummer and visit a store.

Thanks Cactus Music. It is confusing to me... knowing nothing about drums. I will ask questions about the zones (thanks for that). I can always get the best bang for buck at around 800 dollars and then add the Real High Hat. I can't remember if it is a Yamaha, Roland, or Alesis product but it, IIRC, is around 300 dollars anddoes pretty much what the high hat on an acoustic kit does. Only open and closed will drive me nuts, even though I am not a drummer I think a ot of drum expression is in the HH.

Anyway, thanks for the response. I checked out your link. I love the picture with the banjo and harmonica... that is a classic and takes me back.

Julien 

What I was not clear on , is if the different brains  are all capable of translating the input into more complext sounds.
The $5000 Roland set seemed to have no limits to all the variables you could toss at it.
The $800 kits ( all brands) seemed flat and only responded to velocity. In other words, just like triggering with a keyboard.

Example: Ride cymbal. 1 zone= one sound - loud /quiet. 
                                    2 zone= 2 sounds - loud /quiet
Mulit zone seemed to respond like a real cymbal with even a choke feature.
So the queston to ask will be--- if you buy a $800 kit and then upgrade to a multi zone trigger component, will that brain respond the same as the brain that comes with kits with multi zone components.
 
Another item they pointed out was you need to be aware of the brains polyphony.
Example - smack a crash cymbal and do a tom fill,,, is the crash still sustaining??
Like I say, I came away wanting the $5000 kit, damn good saleman I say.. Problem is , like you I could manage $800 someday soon, $5000?? , aint gunna happen.

I use a Roland TD-3 kit that works fine with Sonor / BFD.  I think the price went down a bit after I bought mine for about $1,000.  They also have a less expensive kit out now as well.  I didn't like the high hat. I use a tom pad to trigger the high hat.   The pedal is separate.  I sometimes use real cymbals / H.hat for certain things.

Thanks everyone. I think I am going to go with the Alesis DM8 Studio. The pads are a bit smaller but at least the snare has three zones, it adds rimshots. Cymbals 2 zone. Both the new Alesis and the new Yamaha have better high hats, or so they say. They say they are no longer just open or shut but are more like a real HH... and I can afford it. I'll mostly use it to trigger EXDrummer, BFD, or SD3.. then I can always edit the tracks if something is just bad... or I can get a friend to listen to what I did to get an idea and then lay down a track with acoustic drums. I know a couple of really good drummer in the area... oneos Bob Burns, he lives about a mile away, but he would probably expect royalties... lol. 

J 

J

Julien, check out Sweetwater. They have some special pricing right now on the Alesis kits.
The DM-8 Pro is $499(US).
Mylar heads, all dual zone. Continuous Hi-Hat pedal. Crash w/choke.
I haven't seen a Studio version, so I don't know how it compares to the Pro.

Don't forget the kick pedal. None of the DM8 kits come with one.

Thanks Robert... I meant to say Pro because the one I saved (on Sweetwater) is 499.00 It looks like it will be enough for me. I am going to call and speak with Tim before I buy it.
 
Thanks!!
 
Julien

Cactus Music
SO many kids get turned off music for life by having to play junk instruments that are uninspiring. We bought a Canadian made Art and Luther parlor size acoustic. 

I totally agree. It's unfortunate that so many "starter" guitars are so difficult to play.
That A&L is a nice choice. I have become a big fan of Godin guitars.
During a five hour shootout, when I was on a mission to buy a new acoustic guitar I came away with  a Simon & Patrick Woodland Cedar 6 string.
After all of the others in my price range had fallen away, it was down to the S&P and a comparable A&L with a spruce top.
Ultimately, the warmer tone of the cedar S&P won out, but if I had the money, I would have probably bought them both.
It sounds great, and is a joy to play.
Hopefully, your granddaughter will get many years of enjoyment playing hers.

Were off topic but who cares, Yes for a little extra money we feel we got her a REAL instrument. Came with a super duty gig back too. Not a lot of good choices when looking for small guitars. It even beat out the Taylors which they seem to push these days.  

Hope the kit works out let us know when you fire it up..., I'm in market myself and would sure be happy to get away with under a grand!