I bought a blue Gammon drumset. My family isn't financially equipped for a nice Pearl drumset. It came with heads and cymbals, both of which are complete crap (you can easily bend these cymbals with your hands). We're now considering returning it. I was wondering if you think realistically, new heads and cymbals would be able to save it.

In my opinion, you're probably better off returning it. If you're serious enough about drumming to hang out on these forums, you'll get frustrated by a cheaply constructed no-name beginner set in no time. You can probably find some decent used gear that won't cost a fortune. Even if it's not as nice cosmetically, you'll really appreciate the better shells and hardware.

If you decide to keep the set, new heads and cymbals would make a dramatic improvement in sound. But replacing those heads and cymbals will probably cost more than returning the set for a nicer one, and you're still left with a beginner set.

Your best bet is to return the set you bought and wait a while to save up some cash. Top name brand drumsets don't come with hardware or cymbals, I don't know what your local music store is but Giutar Center always has Pearls on sale for about $450 but with Pearl you would have to buy heads anyway because their stock heads are crap. You might want to check out some Yamaha stage customs too.

I would invest in quality if you can. Here are some things too look for. Double braced hardware, Solid Maple or Birch wood drums, solid brass cymbals. A small quality set is better than a big cheap set.

I have the same lousy set (CB) that I've had since 9th grade. I recently bought all new evans heads for the whole thing and even though it sounds much better, it's frustrating that it still doesn't sound all that great. One of the shells is out of round so that tom never stays tuned. I'd say get a better quality kit now.

That's distressing. The company won't accept it because it's been to long. 1 week is the cut off and my mom kept it from me for 5 days, BDay present. I guess I'll be going with new heads and cymbals. Advice?

Get some remo pinstripe or coated ambassador heads (my personal favorite, but you might like different), and get some GOOD cymbals, preferably big name brand like Zildjian or Sabian, and DON'T get the bottom-line stuff. Stay away from Zildjian ZBTs or ZXTs and Sabian B8s. My personal favorite are the Sabian AAX series. But the Zildjian A customs sound good too. Unfortunately they cost a lot, so you'll probably get the basic hi-hat, crash, and ride with not much room left for effect cymbals. If you're REALLY pressed for money, Sabian B8 pro's aren't too bad for beginning stuff.

as far as heads go, thats completely preference.


cymbals are preference too. remember that because cymbals are very expensive, and you will probably be using them even after you get a new set, i would buy them one at a time.
the order of priority for cymbals is: 1. hihat 2. ride 3. crash 4. alternate / second crash and effect cymbals.
save up, then visit your local drum shop and test out all the cymbals. when you find a cymbal you like, buy it. every cymbal is different, so i wouldnt trust a cymbal you havent heard in person.
good tuning can save almost any set, but cymbals are a terrible thing to waste money on

check out the Pearl drummers forum for more advice if you havent already. I'm not saying the people who posted above me dont know what they're talking about, because they do, but the Pearl forum is the most informative drum set forum on the internet. I'm sure all your questions can be answered there.

For the sake of the thread, check out Sabian AAX, AA, Vault and XS20 series cymbals. The XS20's are made of B20 bronze, which is the same stuff the AAX and AA are made of, but for much less money. Vault crashes are very very nice, comparable to the Zildjian A customs. In time, when/if you have the money you should also check out HH and HHX cymbals.

Some Zildjian cymbals to check out are A , A custom, K and K custom. All are very nice. The K's will cost more than the A's.

As said before, always buy your cymbals in person. No two cymbals sound the same, even if they are the same size and series. You should head to a local drum shop and just hit every cymbal there, find what you like, and if possible buy it/them.

Good heads:
Remo - Ambassador, Emperor, Pinstripe, Powerstroke 3 for bass
Evans - G1, G2, EC2, EMAD for bass
Aquarian - Studio X, Performance 2, Superkick 2 for bass

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.