FAQS
Need more information? Below are some of the most commonly asked questions for our services and drum kit hire.
What are drumheads?
The drumhead is the technical term for the drum skin – the membrane or skin that covers the drum. There are two types – batter drumheads are the ones facing the drummer, which we hit. Resonant drumheads cover the bottom end of the drum, and the sound resonates off them when we hit the top. The batter drumheads get all the punishment, so these need replacing much more frequently than the resonant drumheads.
Why should I get my kit serviced?
Drum kits take a lot of punishment and parts wear over time. Drumheads must be replaced regularly, as old worn drumheads negatively affect your sound quality and performance. Dirt and grime build up between the drumhead and the rim, and it’s essential to check components of your drum kit are functioning properly – at least once every 12 months.
Why do you charge a deposit upon booking?
Unfortunately, we have had occasions where we have turned up for appointments, and the person who booked it isn’t in. Charging a deposit upon booking allows us to recoup any losses that have occurred as a result of a no-show, this includes transportation costs and a technician’s time getting to the appointment.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment we can either transfer your deposit to another appointment time or give you a refund providing this is done more than 24 hours before your appointment scheduled start time, otherwise, unfortunately, you will lose your deposit as per our terms and conditions
How do I change my appointment booking?
Details can be found in your confirmation email. Alternatively, call or email us. Please note, If you cancel within 24 hours of the appointment you will, unfortunately, lose your deposit, as per our terms and conditions
Do you charge VAT?
No, we do not currently charge VAT.
I want to buy a drum kit but am worried about the noise, can you help?
Absolutely! Drum manufacturers now offer some brilliant products that can considerably reduce the sound of an acoustic drum kit without losing the feel of playing. We can source and install these for you - contact us to discuss.
I have a starter drum kit and would like to improve the sound without upgrading to a new kit. Can you help?
Yes! Starter kits are rarely fitted with decent drumheads, so replacing these with a more professional set can massively enhance the sound of even a basic drum kit. We’ve achieved some great results - get in touch to find out more.
Which drum service do I need?
We’re happy to assess your drum kit on arrival and make a recommendation.
Do you cover my area?
We’re based in the Reading area and primarily work throughout Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and London. We can usually help people outside these areas, but a travel supplement will apply. Contact us for a quote.
Do you offer weekend appointments?
Yes, we offer Saturday bookings, however, to ensure we don’t have a lot of awkward gaps over the weekend, we will add appointment slots as they get booked up - so please keep checking if you can’t see a suitable time on the first viewing.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards. We’ve teamed up with Square to provide safe and secure card payments via portable card readers so that you can pay the remaining balance for your drum kit service, kit installation, or tune at the end of the appointment. Alternatively, you can pay by bank transfer within seven days. Book an appointment.
How long does a kit installation take?
Installation for a standard five-piece drum kit takes about 2 hours.
How do I know when my drum kit needs a service?
There are several indications that your kit could benefit from a service. You may find the drumheads (skins) have started to dent or the coating on the snare drum has worn off considerably. Also, look to see how much dirt and grime has built up between the rim of the drum and the drumhead. With average use, we recommend an annual service to keep your drum kit in tip-top condition and sounding awesome.
How long does a drum service take to complete?
It all depends on what you would like us to do. If you want us to simply change the drumheads and tune the drums, you’ll be looking at around a 2-hour appointment. If you want us to strip the kit down, clean the shells, change the drumheads and tune the kit - it’s going to take between 3-4 hours.
What if I can’t find the appointment time that I want?
If you can’t find a suitable slot on the booking page, please get in touch, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
What happens if I forget my appointment and I’m not home when you arrive?
We send email reminders and call you on the day of your appointment. Unfortunately, people occasionally forget, and, in this situation, this results in the deposit being lost, per our terms and conditions.
Do you offer delivery and collection?
Yes, we do! Delivery and collections take place Monday-Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (subject to availability). Once we know the location of where the kit needs to go, we can send you a quote.
Where do you deliver to?
We can deliver drum kits anywhere in the mainland UK.
Legal parking and a safe unloading area MUST be available.
What other areas have you delivered to?
While we try to keep our delivery and collection service within a reasonable area of our location, we have been asked to take drum kits further afield, some of those places include Peterborough, Doncaster, Cheltenham, Sheffield, and Manchester.
Are you insured?
Yes, we are. We have public liability insurance that covers us for when we are working on-site - setting up and packing up.
Once we have delivered/set up the drum kit and left the site or venue, we cannot be held responsible for any personal injury claims.
We strongly suggest that drummers, venues, and events take out their own insurance against personal injury, theft, or damage whilst the equipment is in your possession.
I need the kit picked up straight after a gig or event - is this possible?
Yes, we can offer an out-of-hours collection for an additional surcharge.
This fee is in addition to your delivery or collection fee.
I want to collect and drop off the kit from your HQ - is that ok?
You certainly can! Our HQ is based just outside of Reading and has excellent access to both the M4 and M40 motorways, making collecting and returning the kit easy.
What drumheads come with the kit?
We tend to use either Remo Emperor or Evans G2 drumheads on the toms and a coated Remo ambassador or Evans Genera on the snare drum. Drumheads might not be new but will be in excellent playing condition.
If you want to change them, please feel free to but make sure you have refitted our drumheads that came supplied with the kit before drop off or collection.
Do you charge VAT?
We do not charge VAT on orders currently.
How do I pay for my order?
A booking fee will need to be paid to confirm your order.
For the remaining balance, we kindly ask for a bank transfer or card payment on collection, our bank details will be on your invoice.
All orders must be paid for before the start of the hire period.
I don’t need all the drums the kit offers, will it be cheaper?
No, sorry! Unfortunately, we will still need to charge you the full kit price, possibly have a look at one of our smaller alternative kits?
Do you offer savings for longer-term rentals?
Yes, we do - please get in touch to discuss.
Do I need to provide any I.D before the hire starts?
Yes, without any proof of identification, we will be unable to supply you with any equipment. We kindly ask that you bring some photo ID in the form of a driver's license or a passport with you, so we can verify who you are and your current address.
What is your hire agreement contract?
Our hire agreement contract is to protect both us and you during the hire period and must be signed electronically before the hire period starts.
It will show what equipment you are hiring from us, the dates the hire period is on/between, and your details.
Please make sure you read our terms and conditions before hiring a drum kit.
What happens if I need to extend the hire period?
Should you need to extend the hire period for whatever reason please contact us ASAP to see if it is possible to do so. If the kit you have is due somewhere else, we can try and find an alternative kit for you (subject to availability).
Do you set up and pack up the drum kit?
Yes, we can - but this service carries a surcharge. Please let us know beforehand if you would like this service.
I’m under 18, can I still hire a drum kit from you?
If you are under 18 and would like to hire equipment from us, it is possible but we will need a parent, guardian, or a responsible person over the age of 18 to do the booking in their name and to take responsibility for the equipment.