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Last updated: 14 Feb 2022
The Best Drum Sets Under $1000
Whether as a total beginner who is just starting their drumming journey or a professional with vast experience banging on those drums, picking the best drum set for your ability and personal needs will always be a major factor for your overall performance. If you're on the look for a drum set, then you've come to the perfect place. By the end of this article, not only will you have your hands on a list of the best drum sets in 2021 but you will also have a detailed buying guide to help you through your purchase.
So, without any further ado, let's get started.
Our Picks Of The Best Drum Set
1
Alesis Strike Electronic Drum Set
– Best Overall
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THE SCOOP
The Alesis Strike Electronic Drum Set connects the acoustic and electronic drum worlds by providing exciting aesthetics and excellent sound quality for a unique drumming experience. It features a 14-inch snare, an exclusive 20-inch kick, three 14-inches crashes, a 16-inch ride, and 14-inch hi-hats.
The wood shells and tunable mesh heads respond as acoustic drums and produce a really quiet noise, which means that you can practice even at night without waking up your neighbor. They also provide unbelievable responsiveness for picking up complex notes and accents. The Strike Pro module has over 136 different drum kits for each genre. Plus, you can store and customize samples to create your personal signature sets.
Pros
- The wood shell and tunable mesh head responds the same as acoustic drums
- It arrives with 136 pre-installed drum kits
- Alesis Strike Module with 4.3-inch color display
Cons
- It is one of the most expensive on our list
2
Gretsch Catalina Maple Drum Set
– Best Acoustic
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THE SCOOP
Gretsch Catalina Maple is a 7-piece drum set that produces bursting sound and a well-balanced tone. When you order the drum set, you will receive three rack toms, two floor toms, one snare, and a kick drum. All of the shells are required with 30° bearing edges, which will provide you with that typical lively round tone the Gretsch is mainly known for. You will be able to secure all of the plates into place with the help of the “G” memory lock.
Pros
- They have a bearing edge of 30°
- Gretsch drum mount plate with “G” memory lock
Cons
- It can be really tough to tune
3
Yamaha Stage Birch Shell Pack
– Best Value
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THE SCOOP
Whether you are a total amateur or an experienced player, this Yamaha Stage Birch Shell drum set will exceed your expectations. It will provide any drummer with the quality they require in order to grow their skills and improve their performance. The Yamaha Stage Birch Shell drum seat features 10-inch and 12-inch Rack Toms, a 16-inch Floor Tom, and a 22-inch Drum Kick.
The 6-ply birch of the drum’s shells is magnificent, and it provides the famous Yamaha birch sound. High-gloss lacquer coating makes this drum set look absolutely beautiful and allows the shells to vibrate freely.
Pros
- The birch shells provide you the world-famous Yamaha sound
- It offers the best value for the price
Cons
- Less appropriate for softer players
4
PDP Concept Maple Shell Pack
– Editor’s Choice
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THE SCOOP
You really can’t go wrong with the PDP Concept Maple Shell Pack; it offers premium features and a modern look at a pretty reasonable price. The setup includes three rack toms (8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch), two floor toms (14-inch and 16-inch), a 22-inch kick drum, and one 14-inch snare. The drum’s shell is manufactured out of premium maple material, and it is attached to the head with several durable claw hooks mounts. This is truly everything that you will ever need, so grab it right now while it’s still available.
Pros
- This is certainly one of our favorite products
- It has a pretty rough build
- It arrives in 7 different pieces of equipment
Cons
- The snare drum is weaker when compared to others
Best Drum Sets Buying Guide
There are various types and brands of drum sets, and it can be pretty hard to pick the most firing one, especially if you are a first-time buyer. We wanted to make things a lot easier for you, so that is why we created this buying guide. Be sure to stick until the end because we will discuss all the crucial things you need to consider to choose the best drum set for yourself!
What Should You Consider Before Buying Drum Sets?
Experience Level
The most obvious thing you should consider when purchasing drum sets is your current experience level. Users that have experience should go for professional drum sets. These drum sets have additional components that help them produce quality punchy sounds.
On the other hand, if you are a total beginner, we suggest that you stick with complete sets that don't require high-level skills. These types of drummers mainly use pre-set settings when playing and have little control over the drum equipment and end sounds. Beginners would need to put in a lot of work and practice before they will be able to efficiently use the professional drum sets.
Acoustic or Electronic?
The next thing you need to decide is whether you need to pick an acoustic or electronic drum set. The electronic drum sets come with pre recorded samples, which means that you don't need to know how to tune the drum or hit it correctly. Also, you can control the volume through control, and they are really easy to transport. The electronic drum sets are a perfect choice for beginners that just want to have fun and people that are really close to their neighbors.
However, if you plan to improve your skills and want to get a natural feel for playing drums, we advise you to stick with acoustic. Even though they are a lot harder to master, you will surely be rewarded.
Material
The material of the shell is just as important as anything else. Each material will have a different sound and voice. Some of the most popular shell materials are maple, birch, and hybrid. One of the most common materials that every drum company uses is maple; it is versatile and will deliver a balanced and warm vintage sound.
Birch is the second most popular material for drum shells; it's a durable material that offers low-end punches and tough sounds, which are great for recording and studio purposes. Birch shells are likewise really loud, making them the ideal material for performing on live stages.
The hybrid drum shell indicates that the shell is manufactured out of 2 types of wood. A typical hybrid shell combination is maple and mahogany. These types of shells will produce a mix of the musical characteristics of both materials or produce a completely different sound.
What Is The Price Range Of The Drum Sets?
The price range of the drum set can vary depending on a couple of things, including the number of drums included, the type of drums, the construction material, etc. Most of the time, you can expect to spend somewhere between $500 to $900 for beginner drum sets that include at least 5 pieces, hardware, and cymbals. However, if you want a professional drum set that includes at least 7 drums, is made out of quality maple material, has additional features, then you can expect to pay from as low as $1000 and all up to $3000 for a quality kit!
How Did We Choose The Best Drum Sets?
We have gone through a number of different drum sets, and in order to pick the best ones available, we took into account a couple of major factors. Here are some of them:
- Customer Reviews (30%)
- Performance (30%)
- Brand (25%)
- Value (15%)
What Are The Components of a Drum Set?
Snare Drum
The snare drum is a total must-have because they sound totally different from all the other drums in the set. It provides the backbeat, and it is usually the loudest drum in the set. So, look for a drum set that has at least one snare drum.
Bass Drum/Kick
This is one of the biggest drums in the set; it is flipped on the side and located at the surface. You will be able to operate it with your foot by hitting a pedal. Most of the sets will only feature one bass drum, which is more than enough.
Floor Tom
The floor tom is the first type of tom drum that produces a low and boomy sound. They go by the name of "floor" tom because most of the time, they have their own legs that connect right to the drum, and they are placed on the floor without any stands.
Rack Toms
This is the second type of tom drum, and it is usually smaller and produces a higher pitch sound than the floor tom. Usually, there are 1-2 of these in the drum set.
Best Drum Set FAQ
Q: Do you need to buy a drum set to learn drums?
A: The short answer is yes! In order to begin with learning drums and developing your playing skill, you will need to have a drum set. You can't just study what drums are and how they work without practicing.
Q: What is the best age to play drums?
A: There is no specific age that you can start playing drums; you can basically start any time - it's never too early or too late. However, the age where you can learn to play drums the most efficiently is in your teenage days; this is the period where your mental focus is the strongest.
Q: How long will it take me to learn drums?
A: This will strictly depend on the number of hours you are putting in and the amount of dedication you have. Remember, for each hour you spend in drum lessons; you should spend 2 hours practicing on your drum pads. With daily practicing, you will be able to master this instrument in no time!
