Nature of Noobs: A Rant

[dcasey71]

Noobs...everyone knows them, and has been royally annoyed by them sometime in their past. I was just curious as to see why noobs are always drawn to the worst of the worst from Remo Pinstripes, Evans Hydraulics, AHEADS, Z Customs etc. etc. I can see why some would be drawn to AHEADS because some of their favorite drummers (Lars, Tommy Lee,...) all use them. But I cannot understand why every noob has hydraulics and pinstripes on their kit. Has any noob ever gotten it right with Coated Amb over Coated Amb or an A Custom for their first high-end cymbal. Companys dont even advertise for the hydraulics or the pinstripes of the drumming world. I know that when I was a noob I got pinstripes and a Z Custom. WHY THE HELL IS THIS!?

[SonorKen]

It is marketing. The equipment is generally marketed towards new drummers. I can't say that I have been annoyed with new players, I like seeing people become involved in something Im passionate about. I try to help new players as much as I can. If they are hard headed I just help them as much as they will let me, they will eventually figure it out.

[Killjoy]

u know im not too sure...now im one of three drummers on my block and we constantly have talks like this thread. All of us were one's that did happen to buy the **** of cymbals (zxt's) now having A customs myself, do regret spending my hard earned money that i got from trix on the street. Man u realize how many Trix i had to go threw :D.

what a bummer

[playwithfire]

Because pinstripes and hydraulics give easy access to the thumps you hear on most recordings, and when you're a noob you don't realize the difference playing with a band has, and all the details with projection and what not. You think a drum should sound the same all the time, but they don't. Their sound is dependent on what else is playing around them, but they want that album tone, so get Pins and Hydros.

As for the sticks, it's from idolizing moron drummers.

[theflame85]

Funny, when i was a noob about 3 years ago, i had Pinstripes as my first 'new' set of skins, And i wanted Z Customs. I saved like 400 bucks and went down to the drum shop, tried out the entire line and decided 'my god these are sh!t!' and then proudly bought my A Custom 16" Projection Crash which still stands strong in my setup.

with Sticks, my first pair was gift and they were Vic Firth 5As. when they snapped months later i bought like 5 pairs of Manu Katche Drumsticks in a row, purely because i idolized Manu Katche. they were nice sticks, but being Zildjian's Hickory they snapped in weeks.

[PdoubleE]

Well when i first started playing... i used hydraulics because i thought they were cool... i mean c'mon...oil between the heads thats awsome.... but i hate the sound.

[Killjoy]

^^^i always thought that idea was silly to me idk man :D

[Aaron]

My First Pro Cymbal: Wuhan 12" Splash, 16" K Custom Special Dry Crash
My First Heads: Emps over Ambs, Coated Ambs over Snare-Side Ambs
My First Sticks: 5A Jap Oaks

[playwithfire]

And actually, my first set of heads was Powerstroke 3 on the bass, clear Emperors over clear Ambassadors, and a coated Ambassador over snareside Ambassador on snare. And believe it or not an A Custom *was* my first pro cymbal. Of course the A Customs are all gone now, but that's beside the point :lol:.

[Aaron]

^noob! you bought As. lol.. jokes.

[playwithfire]

Yeah man, totally stupid, obviously having "Custom" in the name = better!
A Customs = roxorz!
K Customs = l33t seks!
As = scraps that didn't make the cut as A Customs, so weren't even worth buffing to a brilliant finish.
Ks = trashy garbage that isn't up to the K Custom standards

and of course.
Z Customs: best Zildjian has to offer, I mean the Z must stand for Zildjian. Zildjian Customs... they have to rock socks!

:lol:

[rockindrummer]

I am proud to say that I didn't buy pins or hydros for my first set of heads, I went with some nice coated emps. Sadly though I bought Z customs, I have now replaced them both with a vault and a 2oo2 crash, boy am I glad they are gone.

[BartatuaIam]

You're still a noob when you have to make a thread like this.

[Win A Rabbit]

i'm so noob. i still have stock cb heads on my cb drums. and my b8 hats. score.

[Double Bass Jim]

Because pinstripes and hydraulics give easy access to the thumps you hear on most recordings, and when you're a noob you don't realize the difference playing with a band has, and all the details with projection and what not. You think a drum should sound the same all the time, but they don't. Their sound is dependent on what else is playing around them, but they want that album tone, so get Pins and Hydros.

As for the sticks, it's from idolizing moron drummers.
Beautiful.

Also with those kinds of heads your denying yourself a whole world of tones. Gimmick heads like that muffle and take away much dynamics possibilties. You have to look at the drums as a true instrument not a punching bag that gives you thumpy thump tones as you bash away.

[Motleyguy]

I bought Evans Coated G2's as my first tom heads, a Evans Hydraulic for my snare, and my first pro cymbal was an AAX Studio Crash.

[[UEAK]Clowd]

My first cymbal actually was an A Custom.

but I bought clear pins for my toms. So I lose.

I did get a coated CS for my snare and a PS3/Ebony Amb combo for my bass though...

[TerranCmdr]

My first new set of heads was pins :( but then I got coated ambs :D. My first pro cymbal was a zild. A medium ride and is the nicest cymbal i own to date. i used to think zxts wer teh best though :(

[King]

I bought in to the Z Custom's:upset: But, i got the sticks and the heads right. Well, heads kind of. I got coated Emp's but i still got stock reso's. I'm going to get some clear Emporers over clear Ambs soon. Getting very tired of the coated sound. Too muffled.

[Mellowship]

i'll admit i bought the zildjian zxt set, and THEN bought the z-custom set. ironically though, the 14" zxt crash has a really nice sound that i really like now that its all covered in grime and corrosion. I bought these because we have a VERY limited supply of music equipment here on the island (i live on maui, we have 1 music shop with a drum section the size of my closet). Live and learn i guess. 12" sabian HHX splash would be my first "real" cymbal i guess. Surprisingly enough i bought coated ambassadors as my first replacement heads though. no idea how that happend :confused:

[ThugsRook]

n00bs havent developed an ear yet, and they dont know how to tune properly. they are also prone to believing gimmicks and that the most expensive stuff there is will make them play better.

there is also the fact that there is just plain an awful lot they dont know yet, and most of the time they dont realize that :lol:

[Corkofski]

i never got hydros, as i was worried the head would break and spray oil all over my lovely drums...

this ever happened to anyone?

[Jublian]

n00bs havent developed an ear yet, and they dont know how to tune properly.
Shove off, i resent that.

I've been playing for 3 months in total and have tuned my drums 3 times, each time i have gotten compliments on how nice they sounded from non musicians and musicians alike. It's a PP kit with stock heads for god sake!!!

n00bs dont know how to tune?!?! :lol:

[TerranCmdr]

i'll admit i bought the zildjian zxt set, and THEN bought the z-custom set. ironically though, the 14" zxt crash has a really nice sound that i really like now that its all covered in grime and corrosion. I bought these because we have a VERY limited supply of music equipment here on the island (i live on maui, we have 1 music shop with a drum section the size of my closet). Live and learn i guess. 12" sabian HHX splash would be my first "real" cymbal i guess. Surprisingly enough i bought coated ambassadors as my first replacement heads though. no idea how that happend :confused:

I have a 16" ZXT thin crash and i actually like the sound of it believe it or not... the 10" splash however... yuck

[Tim]

the first pair of heads i ever bought was clear G1's with an EQ4 bass drum batter

[yourstruly]

My first good heads were emps/ambs, and I still have my istanbul/paiste cymbals. So i'm glad i skipped the stupid stage. Before I loved the thumpy sounding heads at school but now I just prefer big loud open drums.

[Scythe404]

I feel as though i've moved to a different world than where i was years ago, when what 'noobs' do bothers me not, and i just use what i like.

[keeferz]

noobs are noobs for a reason. They don't know any better so they seem to get swept in the marketing wave and/or what their favourite drummer at any given time uses and don't say none of you have never been there! hell, i'm still there. lol - Altho, I can't say i bought any of the above mentioned. phew. ;)

[Basement Drummer]

Isn't funny how comsumerism drives peoples into the stores to purchase products. For products that are marketed on the basis of if it costs more it has to be better principle. We all have our idols in drumming and how many of them are sponsored to say and use certain products. I bet that there are a lot of pros that are sell out the corporate world, because they are paid to say and used thier stuff not that they really like it. But this has a huge influence on everyone.
Have we all not at one point been a victim of a cleaver misleading ads and purchased because our idol endorses that product.
Really are some of these products going to make us better drummers for using them. I am sure that some are going to help marginally, but I think that it is just money over common sense for some of the beginners.
I think it comes down to being happy with what you got and not trying to purchase you happness just because it is what some one else is using.
I only say this because I have been a victim of comsumerism and was left with a sour taste after.

[davo_guitarman]

my heads i bought first were coated ambs over clear emps on toms, CS dot on snare batter, and PS3 on bass, im still on stock cymbals, but wotn buy that zxt or zbt trash, its a gimmick to get kids thinking, wh0a li3k t1tan1um O_o.....

[Kosmos Tree]

Everybody starts out, my first cymbals were ZBT's and i bought Pinstripes, so what.

I still played with passion and learned about betters ways to tune and to appreciate a more complex sound; when i started i didn't even know that A Customs existed or what the difference between a Pinstripe and an Ambassador was.
A local drummer i really respect as a player is going to get a complete set of Z Customs. Should i start to call him an retarded moron, because he likes the sound? Another good player here plays Aheads and even with gloves and i still can look him into the eyes and respect what he's doing.
I personally wouldn't buy those things, but i don't disrespect people who have it, as long as they are dedicated to their instrument.

[FL3P]

I started off with all Sabian Rock cymbals and then got minto Z Custom but am now loving A Customs. As far as heads thats still a preference, just because you use Pins doesnt mean you dont know any better. Hydros are way more dead and unneccessary.

[The Chemist]

I still use pinstripes on my snare. I use coated ambs over g2s, but my bass has pinstripes. needs to be punchy. and my first 'pro' cymbal was a set of A custom mastersound hats. I sold them 2 months after i bought them. people where always like " dude, you got the rawk out travis barker hats that make you pro style and cool. dude plz rawk out in a solo" so I bought some Z custom Dyno Beat hats. very lovely.

[Gibsonrokr]

my first high end cymbal was an 18in a custom crash

[firefoxzero]

I've used Paiste and Sabian, I always thought Zildjian was too expensive.

I use pinstripes on toms, factory resonate heads, powerstroke 3 on bass and a coated ambassador on snare.

I used to play wood for years until I tried Ahead, although I want to try those Powerstix :D

I'm no noob, I've been playing for five years.

[spirit]

I have yet to replace my heads. Shocking, I know, but I tend to practise with QT pads on my drums as I live in a flat (apartment), so the heads haven't had much use. The heads themselves are pinstripes, but they came with the kit, and they don't sound too bad. Whenever I get around to replacing them though, I'll try out a more resonant head.

First cymbals? Well I got those sheets of pressed brass they dare to call cymbals first, thrown in with the kit so it seemed like a complete package. You know, the ones that come with CB kits. First cymbal I ever bought myself: 14" A Mastersound hats. Then a Raw Bell Dry Ride. Then a K Custom Dark Crash. What? No ZBT's? Not for me.

But this is all largely irrelevant. No-one can know everything, so we're all learning, the only difference between those with experience and those without is just that - experience.

[aznriceball]

marketing, and also from semi newbs. when semi newbs give advice they are still newbs

[Drum Phil]

First cymbal i bought: 15" Pro sonix crash
First heads: G2 clear
First sticks: Shaw hickory

I wasnt a noob with gear

To be fair i did buy aheads later on

[Blizzy_206]

I'm thinking of getting some Zildjian Avedis...what do you guys think about those?

[fredthedeadhead]

It's hard being a n00b :(

Everyone's yelling at you what to get, all with very good (in your eyes) reasons. And that's when you can understand what equipment they're talking about and how 2" makes a difference on that or those letters mean that's best because of something..

Confusing :S At least we can understand the manufacturer's description :P

[PdoubleE]

i still have my first crash.... 16" aaxPlosion it has finger marks all over it but still sound awsome

[genesisdrummer91]

when ppl on these forumns make fun of newbs to drumming they always associate them with tYp1nG LyykE Dys... why?

[drummer172]

Shove off, i resent that.

I've been playing for 3 months in total and have tuned my drums 3 times, each time i have gotten compliments on how nice they sounded from non musicians and musicians alike. It's a PP kit with stock heads for god sake!!!

n00bs dont know how to tune?!?! :lol:
Keep in mind that this entire thread is stereotypical.:thumb:

[chickensandwiches]

My first snare set up was Emp w/ Dot and factory reso head
I never got into the Z stuff
i ended up getting the Sabian B8 Pro pack thing they sound good but i want new hats
i like the New Beat hats they sound pretty good to me

Though i did get Pins on my toms, but im going to get Evans G2's soon
I like my bass batter its evan EMAD it sounds good

[Trev]

I have a Z Custom Ride, and I regret NOTHING. I wouldn't buy the crashes though, Vaults for me.

I made the mistake of buying pins for my toms, but diplomats as reso head really opens up the sound, so its not so bad at all. Might buy ambs over ambs to see if it's a drastic improvement, if I ever have the money.

[Chris]

I dont see why it is a problem. People learn from there mistakes.

I don't mind that I have ZBT hats and ride. They surve there purpose for me to practice on.

There is no real reason to have too notch stuff when you start off as you will probley know jack about drumming and will break it.

[FL3P]

I have a Z Custom Ride, and I regret NOTHING. I wouldn't buy the crashes though, Vaults for me.

I had a Z Custom ride and I think they are great rock rides but other than that there isn't much to get excited about.

[PandaDrummer]

I dont think its that big of a deal...i mean think about it. you get your first set and you need something cheap to keep it going that lasts a long time. pins are indestructable so you get those after f'ing up your stock heads with your sh1tty technique and get some z's or b8's cause they sound a helluva lot better than those trash lids that came w/ your set.
//the end

[Fabrizzio]

OMG! My first skins were Coted ambs AND my first high end cymbal was a 17'' A Custom crash. :chug:

[aznriceball]

my first skin was replacing my stock bass head with a pinstripe, then getting coated emps. first high end cymbal was a pair of 14" a custom projection hats (or an 8" wuhan trad splash, depending on how u see it)

[Japan3gro]

I'm glad I ran into this forum or I would be screwed on gear lol.

[Tma20SC]

I had pinstripes on my old mohagany kit and it sounded really nice. I dont see nothing wrong with pinstripes. My first cymbals were B8s and didnt sound too good but now they sing out more than they used too.

[Double Bass Jim]

OMG! My first skins were Coted ambs AND my first high end cymbal was a 17'' A Custom crash. :chug:
Excellent

Someone who made good choices!!

[kingell]

Hey, i'm basically a noob as far as equipment goes. Here's my setup:

12", 13", 16" Pearl ELX Export in purple fade.
Pinstripes on 12", 13", 16"
Powerstroke 3 on 22" bass
Coated Ambassador on 14" snare
14" AAX stage hats
16" AAX stage crash
18" AAXplosion crash
20" AAX stage ride
Pearl ELX hardware everywhere
Iron cobra powerglide double pedal
Pearl Roadster stool

Ok, what can i do to improve this. The cymbals are fine, apart from maybe hi-hat and ride which i would like to improve. I don't know too much about heads myself, i haven't experimented with them enough to know what i could do to improve my sound.

I'm open to recommendations.

Cheers homies

[theflame85]

How do you improve AAXs? They are 100% Pro sounding cymbals.

You could improve Skin wise with Ambs or G1s on toms, and an EMAD on the bass.

[Drum Phil]

HHX? ;) HH? Vault? Signature? They may be pro but there are other options.

You may wanna look into a new kit as well :)

[playwithfire]

That's what I keep telling you but you always insist on a 22" crash ;):p.

[SkaRabbit]

It is marketing. The equipment is generally marketed towards new drummers. I can't say that I have been annoyed with new players, I like seeing people become involved in something Im passionate about. I try to help new players as much as I can. If they are hard headed I just help them as much as they will let me, they will eventually figure it out.


ken you are one of the nicest guys on here man

[chickensandwiches]

I have B8's and i dont have much of a budget

what are some good higher end cymbals i can get w/o killing my budget?
Id like some versatile cymbals that can be used in varied genres

WOOT WOOT EMAD bass heads are the shiznit!

[aznriceball]

wuhan

or buy one at a time

cymbals are a long term decision

[FL3P]

....and buying a high end kit is like getting married

[Janeway]

Except a high end kit doesn't get you piles of toasters and cake, does it?

[FL3P]

No but Im gonna ask for those things to be thrown into the deal next time I buy one.

[Drum Monkey]

ya me too :rolleyes: We can always use more toasters :lol:

-DM

[Mr Sasquatch]

Geez. I didn't realize how much hate there was for Z's. I have a Z Custom 18" Medium Crash and a 12" Splash and love them. But then I also have an A Custom 16" Crash and 14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats. I just Use the Z for power, and the A for a more traditional crash. I don't see what's so wrong with Z's. Except for, ya know, the hi-hats and rides.

[ThatOneDrummer]

Threadstarter: dude your being an asshole...let the noobs think what they want to think...eventually they will learn and improve upon their stupidness

[Aaron]

Shove off, i resent that.

I've been playing for 3 months in total and have tuned my drums 3 times, each time i have gotten compliments on how nice they sounded from non musicians and musicians alike. It's a PP kit with stock heads for god sake!!!

n00bs dont know how to tune?!?! :lol:
i tune my heads ever other day that i play. so i'd agree with the statement n00bs dont know how to tune. tuning heads quarterly isn't enough IMO, thats the rate you should replace them at..

[Kronos]

He said 3 times in 3 months - that's monthly, not quarterly!

[Aaron]

still not very much at all, in my opinion. I want my drums to sound the best they can.

[theflame85]

Geez. I didn't realize how much hate there was for Z's. I have a Z Custom 18" Medium Crash and a 12" Splash and love them. But then I also have an A Custom 16" Crash and 14" A Custom Mastersound Hi-Hats. I just Use the Z for power, and the A for a more traditional crash. I don't see what's so wrong with Z's. Except for, ya know, the hi-hats and rides.

Dude Z Dyno Beats are sweet sounding cymbals :)

[DxRocker]

Noobs...everyone knows them, and has been royally annoyed by them sometime in their past. I was just curious as to see why noobs are always drawn to the worst of the worst from Remo Pinstripes, Evans Hydraulics, AHEADS, Z Customs etc. etc. I can see why some would be drawn to AHEADS because some of their favorite drummers (Lars, Tommy Lee,...) all use them. But I cannot understand why every noob has hydraulics and pinstripes on their kit. Has any noob ever gotten it right with Coated Amb over Coated Amb or an A Custom for their first high-end cymbal. Companys dont even advertise for the hydraulics or the pinstripes of the drumming world. I know that when I was a noob I got pinstripes and a Z Custom. WHY THE HELL IS THIS!?

Mike Portnoy used to play with pinstripes. I don't know if he still does, but I've seen a lot of clips/pics of him and his sets where there are nothing but pins on the toms. Also on the dvd's I saw of him, he was playing with pinstripes

They're not all bad you know? They are just very limited in tuning range compared to an ambassador. What attracks most people to them though, is their durability for the price. If you don't mind the 'thud' (or better if you want the 'thud') sound, then it's a lot cheaper for you to play with pins.

Even though you can tune ambs to get a nice thud just as good as any other pinstripe...

:)

[Baw deBag]

Noobs...everyone knows them, and has been royally annoyed by them sometime in their past.


tolerance is the key :wave: :thumb:

(for the record ive never owned any of the heads you mentioned)

[thenewguy515]

im a semi noob as far as gear, right now i play on my stepdads MMX masters custom :thumb: and i'm getting my first kit for xmas it is some sort of remo kit, i didn't even know remo made drums(i thought they just made heads) until he said he got them, so i'll have that and some B8's. i've been playing about 6 or 7 months, should i keep my stock heads that come with the kit until i wear them out or just get new ones right away, thanks.

/hijack

aznriceball = #1 wuhan whore :thumb:

[Talos]

Noobs...everyone knows them, and has been royally annoyed by them sometime in their past. I was just curious as to see why noobs are always drawn to the worst of the worst from Remo Pinstripes, Evans Hydraulics, AHEADS, Z Customs etc. etc. I can see why some would be drawn to AHEADS because some of their favorite drummers (Lars, Tommy Lee,...) all use them. But I cannot understand why every noob has hydraulics and pinstripes on their kit. Has any noob ever gotten it right with Coated Amb over Coated Amb or an A Custom for their first high-end cymbal. Companys dont even advertise for the hydraulics or the pinstripes of the drumming world. I know that when I was a noob I got pinstripes and a Z Custom. WHY THE HELL IS THIS!?

Youd be classed as a n00b dude. I have pinstripes because they last a long time and got a great deal on them, what are you trying to say? I actually get a perfct sound from my toms now so shut up matey. My teacher reccomended them to m because you can really beat them and not get little cravaces (sp?)

[Japan3gro]

^^ I own Ambs and they haven't dented yet. You can beat the hell out of a Pinstripe and it will dent too. You'll probably buy thick cymbals too, because...well the thinner ones break if you hit them hard =/

[MeaninglessPhoto]

Just because they have Pinstripes or Hydros on their toms, doesnt mean they are noobs. Theres a little something that drummers have called tastes. If they like them, then fine.

I guess in a way your calling Portnoy a noob for using them which means your calling Roger Taylor a noob for using them in 86. Which means your also calling a bunch of talented drummers on this board noobs too.

[Talos]

Just because they have Pinstripes or Hydros on their toms, doesnt mean they are noobs. Theres a little something that drummers have called tastes. If they like them, then fine.

I guess in a way your calling Portnoy a noob for using them which means your calling Roger Taylor a noob for using them in 86. Which means your also calling a bunch of talented drummers on this board noobs too.

Well put man. But Roger Taylor and Queen suck :p

[Drum Phil]

^^ I own Ambs and they haven't dented yet. You can beat the hell out of a Pinstripe and it will dent too. You'll probably buy thick cymbals too, because...well the thinner ones break if you hit them hard =/

I play "thicker" cymbals because i happen to prefer the sound ;) They arent super thick though but AAX are pretty thick in comparison