This is a perfect little set for anyone wanting an introduction to drums and doesn't have the space or the neighbours to cope with a full drum kit. For me, as a total beginner to playing any sort of drum kit, the sounds are great coming from bass boost digital samples, it has touch-sensitive pads and can be battery powered for roving. The pads are nicely spaced and have a good solid feel to them - suitable for some heavy bashing. The foot pedals are prone to wander along the floor, but having watched a live band have the same problem with their kit (keyboard/guitar pedals) then it's probably something worth getting used to anyway.
I do have a few very minor moans about this set though. First, there is no clip, slot or holder on which to store the drumsticks when not in use; there is plenty of space at the back for this to have been added, and I foresee some velcro in my near future. Second, the volume range, one to ten, is great, but at level one it is still too loud for practicing in the living room. Third, with my Yamaha keyboard I have a song guide in addition to the user manual; there is nothing with this set that helps you learn - and I have no idea why Amazon mentions a `learning system' which there isn't. I ended up Googling for free drum `tabs' to find something to practice with.
Would I recommend this? Yes, and no.
For the NO: At this price you can pick up a full drum kit and get the real experience, and if you have the space, an understanding family and neighbours, then that would probably be your best bet.
For the YES: This digital set is perfect for what I wanted: something with a volume, something that was compact and easy to move around the house, and something to start to learn the technique of drumming and rhythm on; with the pedals (which adds an air of realism to the experience) you also get to learn the necessary hand/foot co-ordination. Also, if you do decide that you want a more structured learning experience, then you can buy lessons off the Yamaha website that let you practice by linking the kit through MIDI to your PC (although you'll have to buy the necessary MIDI lead/adaptor).
It didn't take me too much effort to convince my son that he was never going to get a full drum kit, and if he wanted something then this would have to do. So far we're enjoying it, and having the ability to use different sounds for the drum pads adds an extra bit of fun and variety.
