I've been around the music world in many different musicical roles over a few decades. I've recorded and played semi-professionally. My latest endeavor has been as a "hobbiest" drummer. 

I learned about drums from the business standpoint before I began playing, so when I started, I had a good idea which brands were popular and in greatest demand. I simply bought and sold drums, cymbals, stands, and accessories, so I learned about the quality and durability aspects before I picked up a stick. Even though I couldn't tell you what a good piece of equipment sounded like, I sure knew what it looked like, how much it weighed, how well it held it's resale value, and what it wholesaled for.

I learned which brands and product lines to explore and what to avoid. So learning the business aspect allowed me to assemble my first kit with very little "trial and error" purchases that I didn't want or like. I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but it took me less than 6 months to build my first set, and it needs only one minor upgrade to be complete.  I knew so many drummers that spent a fortune trying out "this or that" over a period of many years before they got into the groove with equipment that they liked and wanted. Putting my first set together was a breeze and I spent very little.

Before I get into my own personal preferences, I want to stress to you the single most important lesson I learned that saved me lots of dollars: I didn't purchase any piece of equipment that I didn't want, and I didn't spend any time or money "trading up". If I found a gadget, gizmo, or accessory that looked like fun, but I didn't know anything about how to use it, I just stuck with name brands. I never lost money on anything I lost interest in, as long as it was popular and carried a "logo" that is recognized by professionals. Resale of brand name equipment is a breeze. Let me give you an example.

I could have bought a "generic" 5-piece set with cheapo stands and cymbals for about $250 plus shipping or taxes. When it got time to "trade up" for a name brand, I might luck out and get $150 for the whole "generic" setup, then I'd either start from scratch again, or hold onto junky stands or cymbals as I built my "pro set". What a waste of time, energy, and cash that would have been.

Instead, I bought a bright red set of vintage Tama Swingstar drums. These are the "Japanese" Tama drums which are of a better quality than the "3rd world" Tama drums now on the market. The difference is kinda like choosing a Toyota over a Kia. The Tama kit had a bunch of extra stuff I knew I wouldn't use, but it was Tama branded, so I knew I could sell it. I paid $330 for the entire Tama kit, which included a complete Tama rack system and an extra rack tom. SInce I already knew what kind of hardware I would be purchasing, I turned around and sold the Tama rack and components for $152.00, and the extra rack tom sold for $66.00. Any math majors out here? That means I essentially paid about $112 for a complete 5-piece set of vintage Tama drums, and they are also in mint condition. Everything was done right here on eBay.

So instead of shelling out $250.00 on a "generic" set that I might be lucky to get $150 back for when I upgraded, I paid $112 for a set that I already knew I could resell for at least $350.00. Make sense? The BIG thing here is that I knew I wanted to at least try out Tama drums before I delved into the "vintage" Ludwigs I "knew" every drummer should have. But a funny thing happened...I found out that I'm just a Tama drummer, and I no longer have the "itch" to go with Luds. Here I entered the "end game" at the beginning, and I'm totally sold on Tama. So my "ultimate" first kit cost me a whopping $112.00, and I'll never need to upgrade again.

But you know drummers...one set is never enough! I am putting together a "Rolls Royce" Tama kit for gigging, if I ever get that good. I'll keep the red "fire engine" kit for practice or moving around. And if I never get that good, I'll resell one of the sets and make a few extra bucks. The bottom line is that I love the way Tama drums sound, and I am totally happy with what I have.