NWB - Community Blog

08 Dec 2009

Just what I was dreading............

Filed Under : Rants

Posted By : The Old Bank Inn | Comments : 26

Oh NO, my son wants a drum kit for xmas.............

Hey guys, any help appreciated on this one...........I kinda knew this was coming but tried to avoid it big time. My 10 + 11 year old sons started playing the guitar this year, they are both doing really well and love having a little jam together. The 11 year old started high school in september and decided he wanted to take drum lessons as well........yip you've guessed it, now he wants a drum kid........arghhhhh!!!!!! Apart from the obvious noise level debate, I kinda thought it would be a phase that would come and go - he started off with an acoustic guitar then for his birthday he got an electric guitar, now its drums...........is this normal lol. I'd have hoped by now he would have decided either the guitar or drums but he wants to continue with both.......Suppose the question is, should he concentrate on one before I go wasting any money?

Comments

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 08/12/2009, 16:50 (GMT)

Could have been worse. It's not bagpipes at least. ;o)

# Posted by John Wilkinson: - 08/12/2009, 16:52 (GMT)

Hi Jackie.

Three words

Electronic Drum Kit

No noise ( well not much) and keeps value.

Best wishes

John

# Posted by mr.nwb - 08/12/2009, 17:01 (GMT)

Get him Guitar Hero World Tour, or Rockband with the drums.

If he's still bashing away and enjoying it after 3/6 months then get him a wee kit.

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 17:19 (GMT)

Hey Mick, don't laugh hes got em (albeit em little cheap ones that he cant get a note out of lol). Also got squeeze box (don't know what the technical terms is lol - it was handed down by a grandparent) that he keeps trying to learn from internet.....it just seems never ending but I'm banging my head against the wall trying to get him to focus on one thing......the youngest is happy sticking with the guitar (but obviously excited at the prospect of his brother getting drums and them being able to cause havoc.)

Hey the joy of kids eh....at end of day I would rather get him something he wants but I dont want that to cause any problems with what hes already got...

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 08/12/2009, 17:22 (GMT)

i like pauls idea of gettin him guitar hero, if somebody got me beatles rockband thatd keep me quiet for about a year

# Posted by Willow (of somebig™Fish) (Reti... - 08/12/2009, 17:25 (GMT)

why I'd knock his bloody head together ....(wha?? huh??) ... and give him three of your oldest pans and a couple of spatulas. If he's still playing these in 12 months time, AND he's recorded his first album, then maybe, just maybe you can get him that nice red and blue kit from argos!!

willowbloodykidstoday

lololol

:0)

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 17:28 (GMT)

The youngest got rockband when it first came out, they played on it loads (had to replace the drums) and they did really enjoy it. When they started guitar lessons they had a few lessons in a studio with loads of instruments (drums, bass, trumpet etc) and thats when the damage began - rockband is s**t now and they aint interested lol.

I dont have a clue regarding any instruments (as you all may have already gathered lol) but he has said to make sure its not an electronic one and I'd be better getting a proper 2nd hand one rather than a cheap crap one lol......little does he know santa is on a very tight budget this year lol

# Posted by Rob Redfern, Black Rose,more f... - 08/12/2009, 17:29 (GMT)

i used to get a satsuma and a clip round the ear'ole

# Posted by Idle Promise - 08/12/2009, 17:31 (GMT)

Jackie
Can you not put him off for a bit I have got 3 sets new and boxed up starter drum kits sitting at a clients warehouse in storage doing nothing. They are only starter kits but got the cymbals stool etc with them and if he doesnt take to it nothing lost apart from alot of guitar practise. I could bring one over and you could have it for free when we come over to play after you have given us a booking in the new year. Now is that bribery or good salesmanship

Nigel

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 17:34 (GMT)

Hey Nigel, that sounds a bloody fantastic idea!!!!! I'm up for that lol

# Posted by Keef - 08/12/2009, 17:37 (GMT)

Take up the offer Jackie, sounds like win win ( Oooooh and I have Idle Promised booked at The eddy, so you know they are a good band) !!

Large JD and Coke thanks Nigel lol

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 17:37 (GMT)

@ Willow....psml, yeah if i cld get away with it I would! My mum used to wash me dolls for me and if she cld afford it she mite knit em new clothes.....

# Posted by Willow (of somebig™Fish) (Reti... - 08/12/2009, 17:43 (GMT)

er, Nigel, I have two darling kids of indeterminate age who are thinking of taking up music. One of the wants a PRS and the other wants a Fender Deluxe Precision.
I'm thinking of maybe a gig in the Plough & Harrow in the new year .. I have influence in there and you won't have to worry about getting in anyones way as there's always loads of space in there!! I hate all that people crowding out pubs thing, don't you.
I've enclosed a fiver for your consideration.
whaddya say???

Willowroot!

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 17:56 (GMT)

Hahaha........ pmsl @ Willow, just love this guys sense of humour x

# Posted by Idle Promise - 08/12/2009, 17:56 (GMT)

Jackie
Any time just let me know. Unfortunately Willow Im out of stock at the moment of those pity that looked a really good deal for me lol

# Posted by SKP - 08/12/2009, 18:03 (GMT)

er nigel...i want one as well!!! just remember who's giving all these venues the tip offs to book you!!! haha!

# Posted by The Old Bank Inn - 08/12/2009, 18:05 (GMT)

Jeez, you'l be inundated now nigel lol

# Posted by Idle Promise - 08/12/2009, 18:20 (GMT)

Karen
Im not sure they would stand up to the battering you would give them i hear you are quite good at breaking drum kits

# Posted by SKP - 08/12/2009, 18:51 (GMT)

ooh nigel - you can go off someone you know!!! its not my fault you blokes hit drums like they were made of glass!
i was thinkin more for my son - hes quite a drummer himself but my kit is always locked up ready for gigging so he doesnt get chance to practice...except on the chair arms!!!

# Posted by Idle Promise - 08/12/2009, 19:04 (GMT)

Always here Karen if you want one just let me know you have done us loads of favours so if we can do one back it would be a pleasure

# Posted by Willow (of somebig™Fish) (Reti... - 08/12/2009, 20:32 (GMT)

@Nigel ... damn ... these kids are so useless, its out the door for them - don't even know where they come from!!
WtF

# Posted by HAPPY DAIZE - 08/12/2009, 21:07 (GMT)

I spent 2 years playing on cushions before I had a kit! I wouldn't recommend an electronic kit for learning on - too often the pads don't give the response or dynamics of an acoustic kit, and you can't play the cymbals as you would real ones and cheaper ones are quite hard to sell on.
Probably your best bet would be to work out a budget. At that age, you don't want a huge sized kit (avoid the 24" bass drums for example), and perhaps a 2nd hand kit from Ebay might be your best bet. Gretsch make a great little kit (called the Catalina) that if you bought one used, if it didn't work out, you should be able to get your money back on a resale.
FWIW, I just bought my 11 year old daughter a brand new KD Custom kit with an 18" bass drum, and 10 and 13" toms. Ideal for her size, but good enough for me to use ;-)

Rob

# Posted by Northern Riot - 08/12/2009, 21:17 (GMT)

DEFO get a "proper" drum kit Jackie!!! The electric kits are great and the top of the range ones even sound half decent... but they just dont 'feel' the same to me!
If it helps at all, i also started playing at 11. I spent 12 loooong months studying rudiments on a snare drum before being unleashed on a full kit at school and my poor folks then put up with 5-6 years of me bashing away at home pretty much every hour of the day until i moved out!

And here i am today!

John

# Posted by SKP - 09/12/2009, 10:16 (GMT)

haha! it was a tin mop bucket, two wooden spoons and the back door step for me!! no lie!!!

# Posted by Keef - 09/12/2009, 10:24 (GMT)

I guess I was lucky as my dad was a pro drummer during the swing era, so I got to sit behind his practice kit from an early age. That said I started out with the ubiquitous cushion, before moving on to practice pads and the my very own kit (an Eric Delaney Kat Kit)when I was 8. Followed by being handed down my dads old Ludwig 5 piece practice kit. Had to wait till I was 13 before I got my very own 'proper' kit tho.

# Posted by Drum Bloke™ - that bloke that... - 09/12/2009, 16:04 (GMT)

Echo the advice on not getting the Electric kit - Get acoustic.

You need to be Logged in | Registered to add a comment

Blog Search

Follow NWB on Facebook and Twitter

Help Support NWB - Find out how.

Shopping online? - Select your stores, enter search text, and click go!

Cottam Guitars

10% Discount for NWB members, email max@cottamguitars.co.uk

Bakehouse Studio

Accrington's cosy project studio. Book online 24/7. Use code NWB20bc110301 for NWB members special 20% discount.

Pinned Posts

Who's On?

Latest Comments

Hot Posts

Community Blog Guidelines

Be nice: Even if you disagree with someone, you need to keep your tone civil and reasonable.
Keep on topic: Please keep discussions relevant to each topic and avoid multiple topic posts.
Don't Spam: Show restraint with your posting frequency. We're all doing cool stuff on NWB, but if we post about it too much, it can be distracting.
Respect the Moderators: The entire Community Staff were users once, just like you. We try very hard to answer everyone's questions, so please be cool.