It depends on the style of music that you are playing to decide on what to buy. Sabian AAX are studio cymbals and thin so they dont carry sound very good. AA cymbals are Sabian's version of the A custom which if you could afford then you could have bought a new kit. Don't be afraid to mix match brands and cymbal types, I do it all the time. Do what any real drummer does, go into the store and try out some cymbals and find what you like. Now drumheads, Pinstripes are heavy hitter heads so not the best choice for good sound quality, I use Evans g2's on my toms, ambassator on my snare and emad on bass. The emad only sounds good on deep bass drums such butt 22 by 18. I recomend the Aquarian super kick2 for you. It all really is on you and your taste for sound. I play a dw so this works for me.

since when did AAX become studio only cymbals? I dont know where you get the idea that they're thin. Mine appear to be the same thickness as my A custom and Vault crashes, and they can certainly carry their sound just fine.

I own AAX cymbals and they ARE studio cymbals, you must not play to many gigs because they dont carry the best sound. Feel free to look it up.

straight off the sabian website under the AAX series description, "Ideal in the studio, ideal onstage." It kinda depends on the music you're playing and the micing situation that all tie into whether or not they carry a good sound, but to say AAX cymbals are for the studio only seems a little ridiculous.

On another note, which AAX cymbals do you use?

I own all of them except the plosion and sabor

nice. I have two stage crashes and a dark crash. they're pretty good stuff. I'll agree with you some what. Some models lack the ability to project well, for example the dark crashes. Mine doesn't put out nearly as much sound as my a custom or vault, but it still sounds good.

Which ones do think dont carry their sound well enough compared to other cymbals? Also, what other cymbals do you own? I think I read earlier that you like to mix brands and such, so I just want to see what combo's you use. I'm a fan of my 19 in. Vault and 16 in. A custom crash combo.

16" vault, 22" AA rock ride, full set of AAX cymbals for when I record, 14" hihat A custom, K custum pack for live porformaces. It really depends on what and where i play or what drumkit i use.

ahh the 14 inch a custom hats are money. i use those too

I know this is an old thread, but I feel like posting anyway. There isn't much more for me to say about what you should get, but I want to talk about my drum set.

I have the same drum set that I have had since fifth grade and I am going into my senior year in high school. It's not remotely close to top of the line equipment but it has held up this long and I don't feel like I'll need to get a new kit any time soon. (Until I get a job and finish my marching career, of course!)

All I've done to my crap kit is replace the heads a few times and finally settled on coated heads, which make the set sound real nice for me.

The cymbals are some brand called Headliner and they definitely don't sound half bad, I really kind of like them. I replaced the ride, though, with a 22" cracked Chad Smith signature Crash I stole from my friend, and the hi-hats I replaced with an old friends New Beat (Zildian) 14" hats and a nice stand to go with them, and I have his clear acrylic(?) Pork Pie snare which sounds real nice.

The set doesn't sound amazing, but I like the broken-in and worn-down feel it gives me. It's kind of ghetto and old school and I like it.

So yeah, new heads and cymbals can save a bad drum set, a bit. They definitely won't make it sound new and amazing and top-notch, though.

Okay, I just got 300$. Some of it is going other places but I should have about 230$ for personal spending. I'm thinking about either new heads all around or a ride cymbal and stand. If I get heads I'm getting Evan's heads and if I get a cymbal they'll either be Zildjian or Paiste. The style I've developed is a combination of jazz and funk so keep my style in mind with cymbals and heads. Can someone give me some recommendations? Although I am looking for quality it will be quite a long while until I come across some money again, so less expensive and long-lasting are what I'm looking for. Thanks so much.