Buying drum kits: My 7 best recommendations 2024
For beginners, advanced players and kids, here is my recommendation of the best acoustic drum kits. Before buying, you should also take a look at the answers to the frequently asked questions.
This text has been translated into English. Please report spelling mistakes to sebastian@musiksocke.com
What kind of drum kits are you looking for?
Frequently asked questions:
Drum kits for beginners
It is worthwhile for beginners to buy a complete set that has been optimally put together. This is a quick and easy way to get started in the world of drumming. Of course, the price should be as low as possible so that the investment doesn’t hurt so much if the new hobby doesn’t work out.
Nevertheless, the drum set should sound good and be as durable as possible. This is possible with a set of shells made of multi-layered poplar wood. This gives the shells a powerful sound that is almost like that of drums from higher price ranges. The heads should be pre-assembled for easy tuning. With the bass drum, it is important that it has a stable stand and delivers a rich and deep sound.
The cymbal stands should be easy to adjust to any body size and stable due to double braces. This ensures a secure stand even during wild drum passages. The adjustment of the toms and snare drum must be quick and easy.
The Startone Star Drum Set Studio is a good drum set for beginners. The price is unbeatable and the most important parts are included. A stool is also included, but drum sticks are not included. The sound is absolutely sufficient for the rehearsal room and the shells and hardware are easy to set up and adjust. The quality of the individual components is sufficient for a start and, together with the reasonable price, results in a good price-performance ratio.
The XDrum Rookie 22″ Standard is a complete drum set for beginners. It even includes drumsticks and practice cymbals. With this equipment at this price, you have to make concessions in terms of quality. The individual components sound okay and you can practise well on them at the beginning. However, the workmanship could be a little better. I’m not sure if the drum set will last for several years. However, I can recommend the set to get a taste of a new hobby.
Drum kits for advanced players
For advanced drummers, there are also some good complete sets on the market in which the individual components are perfectly matched to each other.
The cymbals are particularly important in a drum set. Advanced players should make sure that they buy a brand-name cymbal set with an excellent sound. The cymbals often make up a large part of the budget for a complete set. Therefore, the more expensive, the better the sound and resonance. Which cymbals you get depends on the style of music you play and your taste. All the better if you already have a good cymbal set included. Of course, all other parts of the drum set must also have an outstanding build quality and a rich sound so that advanced players can enjoy playing for a long time.
I can recommend the Pearl EXX725BR/C Export Jet Black for advanced players. It has a Sabian SBR brass cymbal set consisting of a 20″ ride, 16″ crash and 14″ hi-hat that produce a beautiful sound. The mixed shells are made of Asian mahogany combined with poplar wood and the instruments have an overall high-quality finish. A flexible drum kit that can be used for many musical styles.
The Tama Superstar Classic Kit 22 is a high-quality drum set in a classic design. The components are impressive: The shells are made of maple and not poplar, as is often the case. You can hear this directly in the powerful sound. The included hardware has the typical high Tama quality. But beware: this is not a complete set, as the stool and cymbals are missing. The set is available in many different colours.
Drum kits for kids
Time and again, when raising kids, you come to a point where you discuss whether they should learn an instrument. If one decides in favour of a drum set, the volume naturally plays a role.
Besides the many benefits that learning to play the drums has on a kid’s development, the volume and the parents’ nerves play a crucial role. Fortunately, however, to reassure parents, it can be said that a child’s drum set is quieter compared to a set designed for adults. This is due to the smaller shell sizes because these play a role in the resonance behaviour and thus also contribute to the volume.
Above all, the size and age of the kid play a decisive role in whether a purchase is worthwhile. As a rule of thumb, you can buy a drum set for children up to the age of about 10 years without hesitation. The advantage of a children’s drum set is that it grows with the kid. This means that the hardware of the set is designed to adapt and adjust in height specifically to the needs of kids.
When playing drums, it is important, whether small or large, that all components of the set can be reached easily and without much effort. Only then is it possible to play for a long time and the kid will not lose interest so quickly. Since drum kits are played with hands and feet, a good sitting position is also crucial, as the kids’ leg length will change over the years.
The XDrum Junior kids’ drum set is a drum set suitable for kids between 5 and 10 years old. It contains a 16 inch bass drum, a 10 inch snare drum, two 10 inch toms and a 12 inch stand tom. The cymbals have a size of 10 inches. The set comes with a pair of drumsticks, a stool and a free DVD containing a drum school. The XDrum Junior is specially designed for the ergonomics of kids. It “grows” with the kid, so to speak. The functionalities and the construction are exactly the same as on a drum set for adults. The drums sound good for a set in the price range of about 200 Euros. However, the sound of a child’s drum set will never reach the quality of a large adult drum set.
The Millenium Kids Drum Set is a very affordable drum set for kids. It is a complete set that also includes a stool and drumsticks and thus invites you to play right away. The set-up is quick. The sound is surprisingly good for such a small drum set. However, you have to take some time to tune the first time and then retune more often. The cymbals are noise-reduced, which is clearly noticeable. I find the overall volume acceptable. Of course, it always depends on the neighbours whether they feel disturbed by it. In my opinion, this drum set is the best choice for a small budget. It is available in green, blue and silver.
Drum kits for crazy people
Connoisseurs in the world of drums will be so crazy and also enjoy very special sets. There are no limits to the use of high-quality materials and elaborate workmanship in drum sets.
The DW Satin Oil Set Regal Blue Gold is such an exceptional drum set at an equally exceptional price. It is not a complete set, as it only consists of a shell, tom tom and snare drum, but these components are made of the best materials. They are made of a combination of maple as well as mahogany and gold-plated rims. Everything is matched to each other and thus provides a good basis for a crazy drum set.
How do I recognize good drum kits?
A good drum set must first and foremost consist of components that fit together, as is the case with most complete sets. The suppliers of the sets have given thought to the interplay of the components and a coordinated sound. Individual components can still be exchanged for higher-quality ones if necessary. When buying a new set, pay attention to the style of music and your own playing style so that everything fits together well.
A good set of shells consists of high-quality woods. It should be made of multi-layered poplar wood or, even better, of mixed wood. Cheaply produced drum kits often cut corners here, which has a direct effect on the sound.
The cymbals play an important role and should be of high quality. Often a set of cymbals from a well-known manufacturer is included in the complete set. Here it is worth looking at the price: When it comes to cymbals, the more expensive cymbals are often the better ones.
For the wild drum solo, you have to pay attention to the stability of the stands. In the case of cheap mass-produced goods, plastic is often used in sensitive places for cost reasons. Such constructions will break sooner or later. It is better to look for sturdy metal versions. Good complete sets include stands that are reinforced with double braces.
The tom toms must not produce vibrations that could affect the sound of another part. Of course, this also applies to all other components. Depending on the setup of the drum kit, the tom-toms are better attached to the cymbal stand or to the bass drum. The tom-toms should also have a good sound.
In some complete sets, the most necessary accessories are included so that you can start playing immediately. These accessories must be checked for quality and workmanship. Sometimes cheap drum sticks or a stool are sold that cannot withstand long studio sessions. It is better to buy the right accessories separately.
What accessories do I need?
The drum sets have different levels of equipment. You may need some of my recommendations so that you can start playing right away.
A good stool can be folded up to save space. This is of course an advantage for transport, for example to the rehearsal room or the stage. In addition, the stools are swivel-mounted so that the drummer can reach all instruments quickly and comfortably. Many musicians swear by the DW 5100 Drummer Throne – and not just because of its name! A sturdy stool that still feels comfortable even during a long studio session.
The stool is also available as a saddle, which provides additional support for the thighs. This allows the drummer to play long passages comfortably. Stools with backrests complete the extensive accessory package. The luxury version is probably the Ahead SPG-BBR4 Spinal G. Drum Throne. I have only tried the simple model so far, but some drummers have confirmed the quality of the Ahead seats.
The drumsticks are also important. Many sets come with drumsticks, but there are different lengths and weights. Which sticks are right for you is a very individual decision. It is worth trying out different sticks, as the feel can vary greatly from brand to brand. Drumsticks from Vic Firth are a classic. The Vic Firth 5A American Classic Hickory are very popular because they have a good price-performance ratio and last a long time.
Brooms are part of the basic equipment for a drum kit. They are used frequently, especially in jazz. Good workmanship is important so that they last a long time. There are many different models, so every drummer has to find his or her individual favourite. For me, the Vic Firth HB Heritage gives a pleasant feel. The rubber grip feels good in the hand and the metal wires are properly attached. They last longer even with a harder stroke. For me, the drum brushes with the best price-performance ratio.
Ear protection is a difficult issue. Some musicians consistently refuse it and only react when they have tinnitus or their hearing is already declining. That’s why I recommend that every drummer start playing with ear protection right from the start. You get used to it quickly and still have good hearing after a few years of regular practice sessions. Ideally, you should spend a little more money on custom-made earplugs. For starters, there are also good standard earplugs that fit many musicians. I often recommend the EarPeace Ear Protection Plugs with filter system.
A tuning key is often included in the set, but they are so small and inconspicuous that they are constantly lost. For tuning and adjusting, however, the tool is immensely important and therefore it is always worth having a spare key at home. I find the very simple tuning keys the best. My recommendation is the Thomann drum tuning spanner because it turns well and is robustly built.
There are also a number of tools to improve your drumming. For example, there are so-called practice pads made of rubber with which the drummer can “warm up” before playing. They are quiet and offer a similar recoil behaviour as the drumheads. You put them on the snare drum and start to warm up. For a few euros more, you can get these practice pads with a built-in metronome: Millenium R1 12″ Metronome. The rhythm can be set via a display on counts of 1 to 9.
Depending on the room, a special carpet for the drums may be useful. If there are neighbours nearby, the carpet, together with other measures, can significantly reduce the noise level. In addition, the foot machine and hi-hat pedal have a non-slip stand. I can recommend the Roland TDM-10 V-Drum Mat. It is more robust than a conventional carpet and has a sound-absorbing effect. I also find the carpet visually pleasing, as the black colour does not distract from the drum kit. But check the dimensions beforehand so that the drum kit fits on the 1.20 x 1.30 m surface.
What are the best brands for drum kits?
A survey I conducted among experienced musicians resulted in this list of the best brands. These experienced and established brands have built up a good reputation in the field of acoustic drum kits over the last few years.
How much do good drum kits cost?
A good drum set costs between 500 and 1,000 euros. However, there are also cheaper versions for beginners. To start with, costs of around 200 to 400 euros should be expected. The difference lies in the workmanship of the individual components and their quality. In good drums for advanced players, the cymbals, for example, are made by well-known manufacturers and cost correspondingly more.
You can find my recommendation for a good drum kit here.
What are the best drum kits for beginners?
A good beginner drum kit is the Startone Star Drum Set Studio for about 270 euros. It offers good value for money and is easy to set up and adjust, so beginners can start practising straight away.
For advanced drummers, I recommend the Pearl EXX725BR/C Export Jet Black for about 1,100 euros. The sound is impeccable for this price range and the drum kit can be used for many different musical styles.
Here you can find more details about the drum kit for beginners.
⚠️
* For the links marked with a star, we receive a commission on a purchase. The price does not change for you. Please use our link and support the independent work of Musiksocke. Thank you very much!
✔️
The product recommendations made here are based on my experience and conversations with expert musicians. All products presented here meet the criteria of the checklist.
🏦
All prices are incl. VAT plus shipping costs. The amount was estimated by me and may differ from the actual price. As an Amazon partner, I earn on qualified sales. This also applies to Thomann, Kirstein and all other partners.
String instruments:
Wind instruments:
Key instruments:
Drums:
Recording:
