Buying a new drum set can be a bit intimidating. Especially
if you have not been playing very long. With so many
different brands on the market and so many options and
opinions, it makes choosing a new drum set a bit
challenging.

My advice is to go to severel different music stores or drum
shops and get as many opinions as you can from as many
different drum sales reps as possible. While you are in the
drum shops beat around on the different brands of drum sets
that are displayed and listen for which ones are most
appealing to your ears.

Since different drum sets and drum manufacturers make their
shells out of different types of wood, sounds will vary.
Most entry-level drum kits are made of basswood or mahogany,
which is cheaper wood that does not produce a high quality
sound . Higher-end drums use more expensive wood such as
birch or maple, which produce a more rich, more resonant
tone, but also require a higher price tag.

There is a minor difficulty to overcome about the drum sets
on display, and that is, most display drum sets are not
muted, or not muted properly. So, you will have to bring
some felt or something with you to the drum shop along with
some tape assuming the drum store doesn't have anything you
can use (it happens).

Also, ask the drum rep if you can remove the front bass drum
head so you can insert a pillow, blanket, or your coat in as
a mute if there isn't a mute already in there.

When your shopping for new cymbals be sure to bring your own
sticks with you into the drum shop. When your crashing the
crashes, riding the rides, and splashing the splashes, you
want to get a good feel for them as you will be more
comfortable with the sticks you are used to drumming with.

A quick tip... be sure to write your name on your sticks or
mark them somehow before you take them into the drum store.
Also, inform the drum reps at the store upon entering that
you are bringing in your own sticks. You don't want them to
think you stole them when you leave.

Obviously, one of the first things you need to consider when
contemplating purchasing a new drum set is your budget.
Drums are available in a wide range of prices, but unlike
most other instruments, you can buy drums one at a time and
build your kit as your budget allows.

You can start with as little as a new snare drum for your
old kit, and then some new cymbals, then on to some new
hardware or drum accessories. All of which can be purchased
for less on eBay. I know you will not be able to test
anything on eBay before you purchase it, but that's why you
do your homework first. Go shop around at your local drum
store and then zero in on your purchases.