With trade in, head condition shouldn't matter; they will switch them out with floor model heads anyway. When selling them it won't be an issue most of the time either. If someone who knows how to play they will know they will need new heads anyway, if it is a mom buying a set for her kid to learn on they couldn't care less (or know better). As long as the heads aren't busted and have play left you're fine.
As far as drums go I'd avoid Tama. There are just super boomy with little definition from my experience. We had one bought for the studio and the toms were awful and the bass drum was a cannon, no tone what so ever.
Mapex can be really good...if you want to spend A LOT.
I've been a fan of Gretch but it seems they have moved away from having as large of a variety as they use to. But their rock sets are still good if you want that sound no question.
My favorite is Ludwig. You can get one at a decent price with hardware and they sound awesome. I've been happy with my CS Custom Fusion set for years and have gotten them studio quality with ease. Big selling point for me on the set I have is it was a satin finish not a PVC wrap.
What kind of hardware did you get with that last set?
drummers? Need some pricing advice
Re: drummers? Need some pricing advice
My brother has a Mapex and it's been great. He got it used off eBay, just the shell kit, for only a couple hundred ($200-300 maybe). It's a Mars Pro, I think that's the model name.
Anyway, the last time I played on a Tama was a Swingstar years ago. It remember it being decent, though my ears have definitely grown up since then. I have no clue what I would think of it now.
Anyway, the last time I played on a Tama was a Swingstar years ago. It remember it being decent, though my ears have definitely grown up since then. I have no clue what I would think of it now.
Re: drummers? Need some pricing advice
The cymbals that came with the kit were Paiste PST5's. A ride, a crash and hats. The only one I have left is the Ride. I now have a Zildjian Avedis A Custom 17" crash, a Zildjian ZBT 18" crash/ride and a set of ZBT hats.
As far as actual 'hardware' is concerned, they're all Sound Percussion stands, except for one single straight stand, which is made by Pearl that I got from a friend of mine for $10.
I swapped out the stock bass pedal with a Pacific double bass pedal. I love it. I'm thinking of going Pacific/PDP when I upgrade too, since they are basically just DW's with a different branding (GMC/Chevy, Toyota/Lexus, etc).
And now I have some Remo Weatherking heads on my snare/toms.
As far as actual 'hardware' is concerned, they're all Sound Percussion stands, except for one single straight stand, which is made by Pearl that I got from a friend of mine for $10.
I swapped out the stock bass pedal with a Pacific double bass pedal. I love it. I'm thinking of going Pacific/PDP when I upgrade too, since they are basically just DW's with a different branding (GMC/Chevy, Toyota/Lexus, etc).
And now I have some Remo Weatherking heads on my snare/toms.