The second hand drum market
Are you thinking of buying a set? Here are some tips on buying a good used drum set. Follow this advice and you won't be wasting your money.
First of all take your time in selecting a drum set. Have a look at the general condition of the drums themselves. Are the skins in good condition, no rips or tears, check the snare drum especially for this. Also check the snare release on the drum to see if it is working perfectly. You should be able to release and re apply the snare easily.
One other point, when the snare is released there should be absolutely no buzzing from the snare drum at all. It should sound like a tom tom.
After you have done this then the next thing you want to look at is the drum shells themselves. Ask if you can take off a head to see inside the drum.
See what material the drum shell is made of. If it is made of Maple or Birch timber you will note that these drums are heavier, than those shells made with ply wood or plastic.
Next move on to the drum hardware. Check the the drum lugs ie: the tensioners. Get a drum key and tighten each one. Just check to see if they all turn and are not rusted up.
Make sure that the drum lugs themselves are tight. You can or should be able to tighten each one with a spanner from the inside of the shell.
When you are satisfied that all this is in order now it is time to check more hardware.
This includes the floor stands for the snare drum, the cymbal stands and the high hat stand. If the chrome on them is all nice and shiny, OK your checks are done on this.
Make sure that the high hat pedal works and moves the top cymbal up and down and is nice and easy to use. One tip here is that I have found that some high hat stands tend to move around and sometimes out of reach of your foot. Check the grips on the bottom of the stand. If they have hardly any grip then try placing the stand on a carpet to give more anchor. Some drummers actually place a rubber stop into the floor to overcome this problem.
When you are satisfied with this item, try assembling the drums into kit form and getting them arranged into the playing position you are comfortable with.
One part of the drum kit I have not mentioned yet is the bass drum pedal. Here this is one item you want to spend as much money as you possibly can. The better the quality pedal you buy the better it will perform and will be easier to play.
Just try using the tip of your foot on the pedal to strike it. See how fast you can operate and how easy and less tiring the pedal works. Personal preference is the key to buying a drum pedal.
If you quite satisfied so far, then go ahead and haggle on the price, or get a cymbal case thrown in for good measure. If your funds extend to getting a set of cases to keep your drums in then so much the better. It will pay dividends in the long term. The same thing applies to cymbals, get a case for them.Also get a stick case to hold your drum sticks and brushes. Well worth it.
Drum manufacturers that have excellent reputations are Ludwig, Yamaha, Pearl, Premier, Sonor, Gretch, Trixon ( although not manufactured any more ) but second hand sets are available. Go for the best sounding drums in the best condition and try for Maple or Birch shells. Bets of luck in your search.
