What to look for in a drum set?

[afrobeat_fool]

Brand names on drums are the only expensive part of the drum(acoustic). I have several sets and I can tell you, after building my own set's, the only way to go is get Whatever is cheap. Here is how I see it. ALL SHELLS ARE MADE IN 2 LOCATIONS. New Keller shells run from $10.00 to $100.00 depending on size. Hardware is cheap $2-12 per lug. single mount, double mount. bushing mounted, whatever. Make sure the bearing edge is clean and sharp. Aquarian heads are the best for the buck, and you can find packs of heads at Guitar Center for cheap. The real sound of the drum is in the heads. Any mounts attached to the drum is bad. It breaks up the resonance. I put mine on stands. Rims mounts are good too! Buying new shells is preferred because you can stain and finish them any way you want. I prefer many coats of hand applied oil, using fine steel wool to sand between coats. I prefer cast rims, like old Gretsch. Here is a link to Billy's Fast and reliable. http://billyblastdrums.easystorecreator.com/items/Keller~Drum-Shells/list.htm

[crobbins]

The hardware I'm talking about is the kickdrum pedal, hihat stand, snare stand and cymbal stands..

[mario_farufyno]

Paste makes the only decent B8 Cymbals...

[pace]

If you have the time, keep your eye on your local Craigslist, Brad....  
 
Roland and Yamaha are the way to go re: electric sets, last time I sat down & A/B'd them the Yamaha had the more realistic hi-hat travel and samples.  
 
You never know what you'll find out there, and it's all dependent on your son's tastes. You could find a '50s Ludwig set for $50, spend $200 getting it in shape, and while it might be the holy grail to everyone else, your son might still think it's a p.o.s...... If you go acoustic, listen to what your son listens to, and approximate what size shells those drummers are using.