After you watch, give this video a thumbs up and subscribe! 😎🤘

At 82 years old, I thought it was about time I learnt to play the drums. so I purchased the Pearl Export, which should be here in a few days. This video will be invaluable for setting up, and the tips to make it easier. Thanking you so much for taking the time to explain everything in simple terms, its much appreciated.

took me a sec but i realized a bunch of new drummers got kits for Christmas. nice one, Sweetwater

I've been drumming for 20 years and have an engineering degree and I'm still watching this because it's fascinating to see Nick break this all down. This is the best guy for this job, this video is 100 percent worth the time investment if you're out here looking for help setting up drums from scratch, well done! (Also wow, quality has improved a *lot* since my first Pearl Forum kit.)

Been playing drums for about a decade now but I will never not watch a video of Nick doing literally anything, very informative and entertaining stuff dude!

I have no clue why, but I really enjoy watching this video and setup videos in general. I rewatch this video a few times a year.

45 years in bands and I still learn something watching these. Great job Nick!

I recall when I got my first full kit about 36 years ago,a 1982 Tama Swingstar ,thinking to myself wow how the hell am I going to remember how all this fits together. I've been great at flat pack furniture ever since ..... Great instructional video for first timers !!

Hiring NDV is the smartest move Sweetwater has ever made.

Why am I’m watching this I have been drumming for over 10 years

NDV has almost became the face of Sweetwater’s drum representatives. He’s so great at his job and you can see he enjoys it.

So satisfying to watch this. Makes you remember the first time you assembled your kit. The smell of the shells hehe...

Man I could've used a video like this when I got my first kit in '95. I still set my kits up like this! And I must say beginner kits are so great these days! Mine was very cheap with poorly designed and flimsy hardware. I think I set some things up backwards, but i figured it eventually a week later or so.. heh.. Great job Sweetwater and Nick!

What a great idea and video. Nick even makes this a video to watch. I guarantee many parents are grateful when they find this.

Thank you; I enjoyed your demos, interviews, and factory visits this past year as I have been researching the best drum set, components, and accessories for my emerging studio space.

I've been drumming my whole life, and I'm still hunting for tips and tricks in set up and tear down. This video has little of anything new for me, but for those who have never done this before, it's informative and precise.

You are my hero. My drum kit arrived yesterday and it came in a hundred pieces.

Excellents directions- he doesn"t miss a step, and he gives great tips for playing.

You know what I love about Nick D’Virgilio? He really loves drums, regardless of brand. And he reviews all products from all brands. DW, Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, SJC, Mapex, Slingerland, Ludwig, just to name a few. He also reviews cymbals as well. Zildjian, Paiste, Sabian, And Meinl. And I love watching him. Even though I’ve been playing for a couple of years, I love watching videos of how to set up a drum kit.

You guys rule. Sweetwater and Nick. THANK YOU.

My son and I enjoyed the video and put his first set together with ease, thankyou

from 7 years ago im watching nick and now still hoping ill get a drum kit

Nick is my hero - LOVE this guy! I must say, though, that this is a bit like having Picasso explain how to set up an easel.

I've been drumming around 20 years, yet I still clicked on this. Am I crazy? EDIT: Reminds me of the Dave Weckl drum kit set up video I had on VHS back in the days

Nick thank you so much. I am brand new. This is my first kit. You made it easy!

so i guess tama doesn't include the 'how to setup your drums' video like they used to anymore. my rockstars came with a vhs with kenny aronoff, john tempesta, and a couple other guys and featured them setting up, and playing some basic grooves. thumbs up guys, if the manufacturers aren't doing it, i'm glad you are!

I am just writing a comment of thanks. I just got my first acoustic drum kit and I didn't know where to start. This was so reassuring and helpful! Thank you!

This video like all other with Nick ist really great! Special thank to Nick for his ergonomically tipps!

I already know how to do this but I’m watching because of Nick 🤘🏼

I remember when i bought my Pearl export kit back in 2007. It was packed pretty much the same. I can say the hardware that came with that kit was heavy duty for a beginner kit. I think thats why I've always likes Pearl. Watching this video brought back good memories!

i loooooove unboxing drum videos 😁 is just soooo awesome and with Nick d' Virgilio is just pure bliss!!!!

Excellent video! Best drum set up on KZfaq!!!

Hope to unbox and assemble my own kit someday.

Thank you so much for posting video for the new drummers out there Nick. I'm going to be 64 years old and I remember setting up my first kit by looking at a Ludwig catalog.Man that was one of the greatest days of my life.That was in 1964 ,been playing and have loved the instrument ever since. Thank you again Nick and happy new year.

Nick, you, once again did a great job. I already knew all that from my first time.

Thanks Nick. Great intro video. And thanks for your work with the Beard, BBT and Frost*

I just bought this Pearl Export kit in the same colour and I love it. This video was really helpful for me, thanks.

Excellent video Nick, I’m 74 and I picked up some great tips! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

After watching this video I'm so satisfied I bought my drum kit from sweetwater. Great content, great teaching. Made the daunting task of putting my drum kit together very easy. Great job sweetwater!

Such a in-depth, easy to follow video AND at 18:00 you gave one of the simplest guides to tuning I have seen.

Wow this is great! I wish you’re gear reviews could be this detailed. 🤘

I've only been playing drums for about 5 or so years, so I'm still finding what I like and don't like in drum setups. I always learn something new from how someone sets up a kit. I honestly never thought about angling the kick drum up like that. Just a little bit gives me that much more flexibility on the angle and height of my rack toms. Light Bulb!

Thank you for this. I'm going to be getting a Gretsch 7 piece catalina maple kit and it will be coming in the box. It's a little daunting but I feel better now having watched this video :)

Thanks Nick, for clarifying a lot of things for me, first time setting up drums for a recording studio (I'm not a drummer). I have DDrum Hybrid kit and it does not have a tom mount on top of the bass drum but I appreciate your explanation of how things should pretty much be set up. Thanks!

That Pearl Export smokey chrome is the exact kit I want 😍😍 but 7 piece 👌👌

Nick!!! Very importent.Profesional way!!!

Glad I found this I will feel more confident putting one together. Thank you.

as a guitarist thanks. this guy is awesome

Thanks this was really helpful especially for a first time assembler of a drum kit/set. cheers

Awesome video for new drummers. Makes me want a new kit😃

When changing my kick drum heads on my pearl export I put the reso side hoop on backwards and now its giving me a case of drummer ocd. And I'm not a noob, sometimes things just slip your mind. And I mean its cool to see different people's perspectives. Merry Christmas to the Sweetwater staff and to management and to everyone else involved.

A GREAT TUTORIAL, ONE ASPECT OF TODAY'S BASS DRUM TENSION RODS IS THEY NEED DRUM KEYS AND IT'S A BIT OF A PAIN TO HAVE TO PULL OUT MY DRUM KEY TO TUNE THEM. THE OLDER KITS HAD THE LARGE RODS WITH THE KEAY AS PART OF THE ROD. A GREAT ASPECT OF SOME OF TODAY'S KITS IS INCLUDING CYMBALS THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME. SETTING UP MY FIRST DRUM KIT FOR MY YOUNGER BROTHER'S CHRISTMAS GIFT WAS ANYTHING BUT TEDIOUS, IT WAS PLEASURABLE

top notch video! this was a huge help. just got cymbals and hardware from sweetwater, wish i'd been able to get the shells from you guys too (would have been out of stock longer than i wanted to wait). loves me some sweetwater.

I've NEVER had the thrill of opening up new boxes of drums like this (well, my electric kits yes, but never acoustic). I've always come home from either Guitar Center or Sam Ash with kits that were already assembled and on the floor. I'm currently eyeing a set of Gretsch Renowns like the ones Nick demoed last spring, and those will be my first unboxing because of course I'll be getting them from Sweetwater.

This is amazing!!! 8-22-2021 I bought a drum set for $200 . I know nothing about drums. So of course I, KZfaq it. I'll be damned, I bought a Tama Imperialstar in red!!! How freakn cool!!!

I love how Tama brought down hyperdrive sizes to the imperialstar kits as well. this kit isn’t hyperdrive but it’s a great idea since beginners can be smaller kids and easier to set up and position the toms plus they sound better imo. I use hyperdrive sizes on my starclassic bb, wish they had the Tama imperialstar hyperdrive when I first started playing. I remember the standard 10x8, 12x9 size toms being wayyy too deep and never could get a comfy position when I was a small young kid

This video is so much helpfull to the beginning 👌❤️

Nice video Sweetwater you help a lot of people

Fantastic, thank you!

just bought an imperial star for my second band. Look forward to breaking it in

Very helpful Thank you

That helped tremendously!!!!!

Excellent!

Thanks for doing this- I know it is your "job" to do these things as a company but you could have just slapped this together - As always Nick is kind of motivating. Anyhow, this is one of many reasons why I am buying my first drum ket the Gretsch renown 5 piece. I think Sweet Water has a reputation online that is exceptional and as your marketing folks know is invaluable. Very happy to be buying this set and all the collateral 'doodads' from you guys.

Thanks man you helped me a lot, your a boss.

thumbs up👍 wish you a Merry Christmas friendly regards Frank

When I get my drum kit on the on June, I’m going to watch the full video

Your vieo was perfect and helped me immensley thank you

amazing explanation❤

Thank you for doing this for beginners I really need this I wish you did the cheapest one 😉 but it helps just naming all the parts as if I don't know anything because a beginner wouldn't know thank you. And your not boring at all 🤣 wish I could stay focused but I can rewind

Thank you Sweetwater and Nick. Bought a used Natal kit that came with no documentation at all. As an ekit drummer i was left to fend for myself. Emailed Natal and they brushed me off saying that their kits do not come with any documentation and they even went as far as saying that no drum manufacturer will supply paper documentation as to how their kits are assembled. I was even led to believe that no inventory paper documentation was present either with the end user not even being able to verify they are in possession of all necessary hardware. Natal drums pointed me here to this clip as to how to do it. My beed was that i bought a 6 piece kit and only see enough hardware to mount two toms leaving the 6th, 8 inch, tom with nowhere to go. The concert tom does have a bracket but it wont attach to the main bracket that slides in the bass drum. I think i am missing a piece of hardware a like a shaft that holds the bracket that holds the tom. Hence me emailing natal.

thanx buddy helps alot

Very nice video 👍

This was good ☺

I hope they didn't make Nick clean up afterwards...

Thanks so much

Very good and helpful video, I love setting up a drum kit. What are the proces for these 2 particular drum kits please?

Important note! If you (or the drummer you're setting up drums for) is left-handed, set everything up as a mirror image of what this video shows! It's possible for a lefty to learn to play as a righty and it's useful to develop a degree of ambidexterity as you grow as a drummer, but it helps to start from a position of strength and comfort.

That personalized drum key, tho. Baller.

I got the Export on the way to my house. Thanks for this. I was kind of scared seeing it took me 3 hours to put the alesis together lol

Thank you

You’re amazing

Guys you need to make a review of the Pearl Export kit!

You looked like you were having fun !

Awesome video! Just what I needed. My new Gretsch Catalina kit will be here Wednesday and it will be my first time setting up an acoustic kit. Nick, you are an excellent teacher. Love all your demos. Glad I got to meet you at Sweetwater last week. Just wish I could hit the "Thumbs Up" 10 times.

Who else was waiting for Nick to start grooving away after setting up the kits ?

thanks

pearl tom mounts are double work, Tama 1 piece and balls are easy to setup :)

You remind me of Joe from Impractical Jokers. I keep thinking “wow, I can’t believe Joe plays the drums!”

I've been playing Tama drums for years and I have to say the Pearl kit looks much better.

I have never played drums before but I want to start playing drums as well as guitar I’ve decided on an acoustic drum set so which cheap one should I buy that is good for rock and metal

Very Nice, ...... I'm going to make an 8 piece drum set out of dried palm trees...will let you know. Wish me Luck

👍 Nick 😎

*pov* you've been drumming for over a decade but still watched the whole video and you dont even have a new kit

all i want to know the the stand of the crash and ride, in my schools studio theres always one of those sponge thingys where you put the cymbal on the stand

On the Pearl roadshow kit the top floor Tom head feels thinner than the bottom head.

I actually have my drums set up in a different way: I have the toms mounted on a tom stand to the left of my kick drum, with my ride cymbal over the kick drum angled towards me. It’s more ergonomic for me that way.

35:00: Gold-plated phonograph discs!

Exactly what drum set is this? The pearl one, and does it come with the cymbals shown on the website for the pearl kit?

Why does only the bass drum come without the heads mounted? I haven't bought a new drum set for 30 or so years but the bass drum came out of the box with the heads on.