A higher quality drum set will produce richer, more desirable musical tones. This is important for new drummers as they develop their skills and acclimate themselves into a musical ensemble. A lesser quality drum kit may give the student the impression that they are not as good as the drummer they listen to on their iPod, even if they are actually playing well and progressing nicely. In the beginning, new students need all the encouragement and confidence that they can get. A good sounding set of drums will help develop the confidence they need.
In addition, many lesser quality drum sets do not produce a sound that is desirable for playing jobs. For example, if the new drummer gets in a group that plays in a school with poor sound quality, a lesser quality kit could be very distracting to the overall sound. This will cause you to have to purchase another drum kit earlier than you may desire. A good quality kit will last for several years, as the beginner turns into an intermediate drummer.
A better quality set of drums, much like a better made vehicle or home will likely retain its value. Therefore, when you decide to sell it, or trade it in, regardless of reason, you will have a much larger audience interested in purchasing the drums. You should be able to get more return on your investment. A lesser quality drum set will be much more difficult to sell.
Quality and durability go hand in hand. A stronger built drum set with thicker, harder shells and more durable hardware will withstand the abuse of drumming. Storage and transporting drums does more damage to them than actually playing them. Transporting in environmental elements is even worse. Wet, damp or extreme heat condition can cause drums of lesser quality to deteriorate much faster than a drum set of higher quality. Damage can appear on even the first trip if the air is wet, and the drums are soft.
In conclusion, it is better to look at the purchase of a drum set as an investment rather than an expendable item to be used and discarded. The student will get a much better start, and be able to play the starter set for many years. In this vein you must concur that a quality purchase will ultimately pay greater dividends for both the purchaser as well as the new student.
