Good on you! let me know what size you need (drum heads), I'm sure I have some I could part with. Let me know where to ship them.

Well, if this a cross-border deal, it ain't gonna be fun for me. I gots no hard feelin's, but the wait and cost make it suck for all. We may need Wayne for that, and it can be less than fruitful. Not sayin' I'm out, but it could make for ugly war to ship a gift cross-over.

Tell me the sizes, types and how many. I'll get some and send them to you.

My p/m is empty. larry

I have an Acrolite but I need some parts. 2 or 3 Lugs, a P-85 and butt plate...anybody in for that? I'll send the shell, to the right person if need be, to keep all involved honest. Oh yeah, ain't got narin hoops neither...

Thanks Larry, I'll let you know ASAP...and that's fast for my sorry a$$!!!!

I feel a headache comin' on....

Hey Jonni don't bury yourself on this one... I mean I'm sure I can find at kit for that money. Seriously if it is a bad time to take on a project then we can wait for the next one... I'm still going to do my best to guide and help him.

That said if your into it, I'm up for it.

If we do this one... you can considered it payed forward and you just holler when you need the pay back.

This young man, Kameron, loves all things John Deere... so green sparkle is like you read his mind.

Got this young fellow started. He is to borrowing a Slingerland snare, stand and case from me that matches a kit I have. He is using the snare to practice and his mom is using the money she had for the kit to get him some lessons for a couple months.

I think it is going to be ok... if he sticks with it and practices regularly we have agreed we will move the matching kit to his house.

Thanks for all the interest and ideas!!

If it's of any interest, here is my honest opinion. Sorry it's so long.

Everyone is different, so laying a blanket answer for someone you or I don't know is likely a shot in the dark. I learned (initially) on my desk with pencils. Surprising how well it transfered to actual drums. Laugh all you want, but while I was sitting through guitar lessons learning Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, I was picking beats in my mind that would go along, I learned how to play open and closed, learned the difference between standard and traditional grip, already planned where I wanted my cymbals...it was very fun! Still, to this day, any time I pluck something on a guitar I am laying down beats in my mind.

Drive/desire, talent, will...those traits are visable a mile away no matter the muse. The method to nurture that depends on the individual and how well they handle hurdles. My first kit was a full 5-piece POS kit with a cheap cymbal pack that lasted weeks before I destroyed it. I laid down a beat the first night I had em that had been playing in my mind for years over and over. It felt so good to get it out in the open...and I never stopped. I was 21. I had plenty of hand drums and crappy snares in the basement, but it wasn't the noise in my head so it simply would not do so I never touched them. While that may sound nuts, I'm not BS~ing a bit.

More recently, my neighbor really wanted to learn the drums. I repaired all the damage on my first kit, got new heads, some pawn shop special cymbals, and sold it to em for $75 complete because her Dad did not feel right taking it for free. I cleaned it up and made it withstand my abuse so I knew it was solid. She has no desire, no drive, no passion, and thus has nothing to show. I would offer lessons, but as someone mentioned earlier I am rather set in my ways which not all are good ways...and teaching poor method can be a recipie for distaster. I told her and her parents about a local drum instructor who is really good...that's where it has been for 6 months and my old drums now are badass dust collectors.

The difference is I probably should have started her off with just a snare, maybe snare and high hat and let her build her way into the whole kit. As it were, just a snare and/or high hat would have let her learn about tempo and such while not feeling bombarded with all these drums and stands and cymbals. She may have had a chance to really pick something up and I dropped the ball. Remember all it takes is that initial spark and you are hooked for life. Smother that spark and it dies...fuel it and it burns a lifetime. You all are a hell of a group for offering so much help, and the OP deserves a pat on the back for noticing the desire and wanting to make a move. Good or bad, all you can do is try and hope for the best.

Now then...as far as what I would start off with? Get a whole kit...HH, snare, whatever rack toms you want, and have it set back. Start off small, if interest dies, fill the kit in and see what happens. Some people respond well to being thrown in the ocean while some people need a kiddy pool and water wings. Have both options at your disposal. Good luck!

I always had an interest in drums for as long as I can remember (30 years old now). When I started band class in 6th grade I wanted to play drumset more than anything. I was a little taken back when I quickly learned that I would not be playing drumset from the get go.

BUT!!!! I had an excellent teacher at the time and I learned on a practice pad (and an early 80's acrolite), learned rudiments, how to read music, etc. This proved very valuable when I did start playing drumset in 7th grade.

Someone mentioned making a deal with the kiddo, that if he did well on snare then he would get a kit. I think this is a great idea. If he enjoys learning and is really interested in drums, he will look back later and appreciate learning the fundamentals first.

Just one dude's opinion..