Thanks for the advice. $1500 is not in our budget. So I'll see what we can come up with.
$450-500 is not really going to get you a good kit. At least not brand new with hardware (stands, pedals etc). It may get you a shell pack (drums only) for a mid-range/entry level kit, scratch and dent or a used kit. If you don't have stands, pedals, cymbals already then you are going to have to buy some to goo with the shell pack. here are some links below to help you get started.http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Drums-Catalina-Maple-Fusion-Limited-Edition-Shell-Pack-with-Free-16-Floor-Tom?sku=500904http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tama-Rockstar-5Piece-Shell-Pack?sku=491357http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/ddrum-Dominion-Maple-4piece-Shell-Pack?sku=489718http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pearl-Forum-FZ725-5Piece-Shell-Pack?sku=483277http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/ddrum-Dominion-AMX-4Piece-Shell-Pack-with-22-Bass-Drum?sku=449393
...that don't typically matter to the average drummer who just wants to play and sound good....
IMHO drums are not like keyboards or basses.....just because a kit costs $1500 doesn't make it THAT much BETTER than a $500 (in that range lol) set of drums. I mean the more expensive lines of drums would come with more durable hardware, thicker or warmer wood (overall sound) and just a bunch of other things like the laquer finish (looks) that don't typically matter to the average drummer who just wants to play and sound good.
Ey im just tryin to help the sistah out. She asked about decent drum sets around $500. Everybody started talkin about used kits and sayin there was no other way to go other than to spend $1000. She doesn't have to put duct tape and tissue and bibles, and towels all over his kit either. Especially if she knows anything about changing heads and tuning.
Last time I checked... 99% of drummers buying at the $450-$500 range were duck taping/papertowelling their kits AND snares.And then they wondered why they weren't getting the sound they wanted out of their life's investment.
I still play my beginner CB kit that I got when I started playing drums. The last comment I had on my drum sound was "that is the best kick drum sound I have ever heard" --- Billy Milano of S.O.D.That kit cost my 500 brand new complete with hardware, heads, cymbals, throne and drumsticks! Most would consider it a pretty lame kit (myself included) but if you use the right heads and actually know how to tune drums, you can make even the cheapest kit sound amazing!