franzbassist Posted June 26, 2018 Posted June 26, 2018 Looking for recommendations. My 15 yo son is gigging regularly with my band now, and we just don't have the space to fit all my stuff, 2 PA subs and a full size kit in the car! Am aware of the Pearl Midtown and Ludwig Breakbeats, but what else is out there? Cheers Gareth Quote
ped Posted June 26, 2018 Posted June 26, 2018 There’s something called a flatkit or something, I remember a friend had one and it was pretty funky. Here we go: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gear4music.com/amp/Drums-and-Percussion/DISC-Arbiter-Flats-Lite-Drum-Kit-Rack-Mount/6OE?source=images Quote
EBS_freak Posted June 26, 2018 Posted June 26, 2018 If you get a compact kit, pay very close attention to the hoop on the bass drum. Theres two designs - the hoop with an indent - and a hoop without. Make sure your son test drives the kit out, paying close attention to what his happening to the the throw and the feedback that he is getting through the bass drum pedal. The placement of the pedal on a small kick drum, changes the geometry of the kick beater compared to a standard kit... most drummers find the kits with the indent in the hoop more natural. I'm all for small kits, they are quieter and when miced up and put through the PA, they can be made to sound as big as you like. Good choice! Have a search for be bop kits. That's where I suspect you are at. Anyway, back to the kick beater... The above highlights the fact - you can see that the angles between kits are open to wide variances. Do not buy blind! Get your son to really try them out - concentrating on the kick and how it feels. Hope this helps. Quote
franzbassist Posted June 27, 2018 Author Posted June 27, 2018 Thanks both. He plays a Midtown kit at school so that has set the benchmark. Quote
bertbass Posted June 28, 2018 Posted June 28, 2018 Our drummer recently got a set of these, https://www.drumshack.co.uk/traps-a400-nc-acoustic-drum-kit/p/10?option=27017&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw6a1gZb22wIV1JTVCh3R4AQ3EAQYASABEgJiTPD_BwE and they are brilliant!!! Light, loud if you want them to be and so easy to transport. They are amazing!!! A couple of videos. Well worth considering. Quote
SubsonicSimpleton Posted June 28, 2018 Posted June 28, 2018 (edited) edit: I noticed just after posting this that Sakae have recently ceased trading, so even though some UK retailers have stock at reduced prices, warranty cover and long term parts availability might be an issue. The Sakae PacD might be worth looking at - looks like the manufacturers put a bit more effort into the bass drum mounting solution. Edited June 28, 2018 by SubsonicSimpleton Quote
franzbassist Posted July 13, 2018 Author Posted July 13, 2018 (edited) Ended up going with a Pearl EX785/C kit with 18x14 bass Edited April 4, 2020 by franzbassist Quote
razze06 Posted March 11, 2020 Posted March 11, 2020 In an attempt to reduce my band's footprint and volume without losing the drive and presence of drums, we bought one of these: https://www.gear4music.com/Drums-and-Percussion/WHD-Portable-Busker-Shell-Kit/2Z2D Of course it needs hi hat and a cymbal and a stool and a kick drum pedal, but the main component folds onto itself, and everything now fits in a backpack and a large cymbal bag instead of several bags. The sound is pretty good, especially once you've swapped out the stock skins with your (or our drummer's) favourite ones. Of course, Pearl's offer would be good too: https://www.gear4music.com/Drums-and-Percussion/Pearl-Compact-Traveler-Shell-Pack/1WTH Quote
Jakester Posted April 4, 2020 Posted April 4, 2020 Back in my freelance writer days, I did a review of a Dixon kit which was great for this sort of thing: https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/drums/dixon-jet-set-plus-630362 Quote
Lucky Luck Posted January 17, 2021 Posted January 17, 2021 Razze06 do you know how the WHD portable busker stands against the Pearl Compact traveler un terms of sound quality? I am thinking about buying one of these but haven't seen ANY review on the WHD one, there's loads on the Pearl but it's doubel the price for what seems to be the same thing... Thanks! Quote
Mykesbass Posted January 18, 2021 Posted January 18, 2021 One of the originators of the small kit was Sonor. I remember them being popular with Jazz drummers when I was a kid (and sounding great). No idea how good their current mini offering (the Martini) is, but probably worth considering with their history. Quote
Jakester Posted January 18, 2021 Posted January 18, 2021 8 minutes ago, Mykesbass said: One of the originators of the small kit was Sonor. I remember them being popular with Jazz drummers when I was a kid (and sounding great). No idea how good their current mini offering (the Martini) is, but probably worth considering with their history. They popularised the modern interpretation with their Jungle Kit, but compact kits have been around for years - the driving force behind smaller bass drums was the New York jazz scene so they could be carted from venue to venue in a cab - impractical with the 26”+ bass drums from the swing era! Quote
Mykesbass Posted January 18, 2021 Posted January 18, 2021 20 minutes ago, Jakester said: but compact kits have been around for years So have I Quote
meterman Posted January 19, 2021 Posted January 19, 2021 6 hours ago, Mykesbass said: One of the originators of the small kit was Sonor. I remember them being popular with Jazz drummers when I was a kid (and sounding great). No idea how good their current mini offering (the Martini) is, but probably worth considering with their history. The Sonor Martini kits are pretty wicked little drums 👍 With the right heads and tuning they sound great. I really wanted one but couldn’t afford it, so I made my own budget version out of some 1980s Pearl toms. The weeny 15” kick drum shouldn’t work but it does. It records ok but I’d still love a Sonor kit. 2 Quote
razze06 Posted January 19, 2021 Posted January 19, 2021 On 17/01/2021 at 15:10, Lucky Luck said: Razze06 do you know how the WHD portable busker stands against the Pearl Compact traveler un terms of sound quality? I am thinking about buying one of these but haven't seen ANY review on the WHD one, there's loads on the Pearl but it's doubel the price for what seems to be the same thing... Thanks! We only used the WHD kit for one gig, and it worked perfectly well for that. Our drummer replaced the kick drum head with a better quality one, and he said that that made a lot of difference. Of course the volume and depth of sound of a kick drum with no shell will always be lower, but it is totally adequate for small gigs. The entire kit fits in a large backpack cymbal carrier and a small gym bag, and the stability is probably better than the pearl's. At the time of buying it was the drummer who insisted we bought the cheaper WHD kit, as he thought the setup looked more stable, and the quality of the drumsheads was probably what made the pearl kit more expensive. As he was going to change them anyway, he recommended we bought that one from Gear4Music. I think he was right Quote
Lucky Luck Posted January 19, 2021 Posted January 19, 2021 6 hours ago, razze06 said: We only used the WHD kit for one gig, and it worked perfectly well for that. Our drummer replaced the kick drum head with a better quality one, and he said that that made a lot of difference. Of course the volume and depth of sound of a kick drum with no shell will always be lower, but it is totally adequate for small gigs. The entire kit fits in a large backpack cymbal carrier and a small gym bag, and the stability is probably better than the pearl's. At the time of buying it was the drummer who insisted we bought the cheaper WHD kit, as he thought the setup looked more stable, and the quality of the drumsheads was probably what made the pearl kit more expensive. As he was going to change them anyway, he recommended we bought that one from Gear4Music. I think he was right Many thanks for your reply!! Funnily enough I do live in Edinburgh as well, so we cannot rule out a WHD drum battle at Meadows haha I have also read that the heads of the Pearl kit are a bit rubbish and people reccomend changing them as well, so I really canot see a point on buying that for double price other than lack of information about the WHD. I can imagine the sound and volume won't be great either as it is so compact and without reso heads, but well that is the point for small gigs jams etc. Anyway, thanks a lot!! Quote
ordep Posted January 21, 2021 Posted January 21, 2021 love my Sonor Jungle kit, can hold its own on gigs. Incoming house move might force me to sell it tho 😞 2 Quote
Jakester Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 (edited) Love the Jungle kits! Nice setup @ordep Edited January 27, 2021 by Jakester Quote
Jakester Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 This was my little 'mini' kit - a lovely little Beverley with an 18" bass drum. It was great, you could pack it up and leave in the boot of a hatchback for a gig that evening and no-one would be the wiser! Sounded great too. I'd love to get another mini kit but don't really have the space, or, sadly, the need for one. 1 Quote
kingforaday Posted January 27, 2021 Posted January 27, 2021 I have a flats lite kit which is great for home practice (I use some little thin pads and quiet cymbals) - however I wouldn't gig with it. The smaller 'normal' looking drum kits listed by others here all look like great options and although it definitely depends on style of music (and the drummer) I reckon any of those would be a good option - although even then I'd probably use my own snare, as although you can tweak the other drums to your taste or dampen them etc the snare is such an important sound and can be tricky to get a good sound, even with a good snare. Quote
Stub Mandrel Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Why has having just two toms become so popular these days? The exact opposite of gear multiplication that applies to other instruments? Quote
paul_5 Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 10 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Why has having just two toms become so popular these days? The exact opposite of gear multiplication that applies to other instruments? Cymbals. More room for cymbals - effects pedals of the drum world! Quote
ordep Posted January 28, 2021 Posted January 28, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said: Why has having just two toms become so popular these days? The exact opposite of gear multiplication that applies to other instruments? In the gigs/jams I have done as a drummer I never felt that having only two toms to be lacking.I am no Terry Bozzio tho. Edited January 28, 2021 by ordep Quote
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