Percussion instruments: how to buy a drum kit at a good price
Acoustic or electronic kit
An acoustic drum kit gives a live sound and feel, but it is loud: in a flat without sound insulation your neighbours will not be pleased. An electronic kit is quiet (the sound goes to headphones), takes less space and has built-in sounds and a metronome. Many beginners in apartment buildings start with an electronic kit, for example the Roland TD-07KV. The downside is that the response of the pedals and pads does not fully match an acoustic kit.
What a kit consists of
A classic five-piece kit has a bass drum, a snare, two or three toms and a floor tom. Stands, pedals, hi-hat and cymbals come separately: a ride (for example 20 inch), a crash and a hi-hat. In ads, “kit” often means only the drums, while cymbals and stands are sold separately, so ask what is included.
What to put in your request
- what exactly — acoustic or electronic kit, a single drum, cymbals;
- model, for example Roland TD-07KV;
- package — how many drums, cymbals, stands, pedals, stool;
- sizes — diameter of cymbals or drums;
- condition — new, or used with no cracks;
- player level;
- budget and city, pick-up or delivery.
Example: “Looking for a Roland TD-07KV electronic drum kit or similar, 5 drums with cymbals and stands, for a beginner, used with no cracks on the pads. Johor Bahru, pick-up, budget up to RM 2,000.”
The room and the neighbours
An acoustic kit needs space, sound insulation and an understanding with the neighbours. For practice there are mute pads and mesh heads that reduce the volume but change the rebound feel. An electronic kit is quiet, but you need headphones or a monitor and a solid floor for the pedals.
What to check on a used kit
On an acoustic kit, check the shell edges: they should be even, with no cracks or deformation, and there should be no corrosion on the hoops and screws. Drum heads can be replaced, but new ones are an extra cost. Cracks near the edge or centre of a cymbal are a deal-breaker: they can spread. On an electronic kit, check that all pad and cymbal zones respond, that no hits are missed, and that the module, pedals and cables work.
Pedals and stands matter as much as the drums themselves: a good stand does not drift under hits, and a pedal should have a smooth action. Cheap ones break quickly.
How BlaBlaPrice helps
Create a request on the home page and music shops and owners send offers in the chat: what is in the package, condition, price, terms. A kit is bulky, so look at offers in your own city and ask about delivery. Sellers can see where they stand among the others and often improve the price. It is free for the buyer and your phone number stays hidden. How it all works is on the “How it works” page.
For drums you will need studio equipment for recording, and accessories: sticks, heads, tuning keys.
