Drum kits have a reputation for costing a lot of money. It’s something that chases away people who are thinking about learning. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. There are some highly affordable drum kits out there that sound really good. In this article, we’re going to look at some great kits that are under $1000.
Gretsch has been making drums for decades. They have some really good kits ranging in prices. This Catalina is a shell pack that includes a 14” snare, 12” rack tom, a 14” floor tom and a 18” kick drum.
The maple shells make the drums sound very musical, being able to fit in with many different styes of music.
The rack tom has great resonance while the floor tom and kick drum have a lot of depth. The snare cracks and sounds great when tuned low or high.
The great thing about 4 piece kit is the portability. You can use it in smaller places or play in tiny venues where only a smaller setup can fit.
The stock drumheads aren’t great though, and it will cost a fair bit to replace all of them.
For more about the Gretsch Catalina, check out our buying guide.
The Decade Maple is one of Pearl’s intermediate kits that offers a lot of professional qualities. This shell pack comes with a 14” snare, 13” rack tom, a 16” floor tom and a 24” kick drum.
The maple shells are very responsive, giving you a musical tone that works well with loud and soft dynamics.
The tom can be quite difficult to position. However, the kit feels great once you’re comfortable.
The highlight of this drum kit is the snare drum. It has a tight sound that sounds especially great when playing rimshots.
If you’re looking for an intermediate kit that sounds great at live gigs and in a recording studio, the Pearl Decade Maple is a good choice.
For more about the Pearl Decade, check out customer reviews.
The PDP Concept Maple 5-piece is a kit that is designed by DW. The shell pack includes a 14” snare drum, 10” and 12” rack toms, a 16” floor tom, and a 22” kick drum.
With this kit, you get DW quality construction at an affordable rate. DW is known for making nice expensive kits and PDP is their branch of affordable kits.
The toms have a very quick response, not having too much resonance. The kick is beefy and makes you feel it in your body every time you play it.
The best part of this kit is the snare drum. It utilizes DW’s MAG throw-off, making it easy to turn the snares on and off between songs. It has an aggressive sound that cuts through music very easily.
PDP Concept Maple kits have many different finish options. So, you can choose your favorite color and have it on your drum kit.
For more about the Pdp Concept Maple, check out customer reviews.
Roland is at the very top of the electronic drum kit game. However, most of their good products are quite expensive. This is where the TD-07KV comes in. They designed it to cater to drummers who want a high quality e-kit without paying too much money. It’s affordable because it has a simple layout.
The drum module has 25 preset kits and you can stream songs directly to module so you can play along. That’s it. It doesn’t have any fancy features to play around with. It’s designed to be a simple practice kit that drummers of all levels can use. All the drums have mesh heads, making them feel like real acoustic drums. The mesh heads will help you keep good technique when switching from an acoustic to an electric drum kit.
If you need a great sounding and feeling drum kit, the TD-07KV is a great choice. It’s the perfect practice option for someone who lives in an apartment and can’t make a big noise. You can plug headphones in and jam all day.
It comes with everything you need except for a bass drum pedal. You’ll have to buy one of those separately.
For more about the Roland TD-07KV, check out customer reviews.
The Tama Imperialstar is a great budget option. It comes with drums, cymbals and hardware all in one package. It includes a 14” snare drum, 10” and 12” rack toms, a 16” floor tom and a 22” kick drum. It also includes a pair of 14” hi-hats, a 16” crash cymbal and a 20” ride cymbal. The cymbals are from Meinl’s HCS line.
The shells are made from poplar which is an inexpensive shell used in a lot of entry-level drum kits. The drums have a full-bodied tone with a quick decay. They can be easily tuned, allowing beginners to learn about tuning drums.
The Meinl HCS cymbals are quite harsh sounding and ring for a long time. They’re perfect for beginners. However, more experienced players won’t like them.
The included cymbals and hardware make this kit a great option for someone buying a drum kit for the first time.
For more about the Tama Imperialstar, check out customer reviews.
A great drum set is going to be one that will last a long time. Drums are an investment, so it’s good to get one that won’t break or rust. You’ll be playing on it a lot, so it needs to be durable.
Another thing that makes a great drum set is the sound. It needs to sound good. More expensive drum sets are going to sound better. It all depends on what type of wood it’s made from and the quality of the shells. As an adult, you need to decide what your budget is and get the best sounding drum set that you can afford.
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The best drum set for the money from the above list would probably be the Roland TD-1DMK. Electronic drum kits can get really expensive, especially when they have mesh heads. The TD-1DMK is one of the best affordable e-kits on the market and it works well for beginners and professionals alike.
If you want to get a great drum kit for what a huge bargain, the Roland TD-1DMK is a great option.
The best drum kit for beginners from the above list is the Tama Imperialstar. It comes with drums, hardware and cymbals. It has everything you need to get playing straight away. Beginner drummers are usually buying a drum kit for the first time. So, it’s great that it has everything you need whereas the other kits on the list only have drum shells.
The best drum kit for intermediate players would be the PDP Concept Maple. It has many advanced build qualities for an affordable price. You will commonly see this kit being used in many professional situations. The Maple tone from the drums will allow intermediate players to have a great sound and express themselves.
If you want some more options, here’s our list of some of the best intermediate sets.
There are a few things you can do to improve the sound of a drum kit. The first thing to look at is the drumheads. Most cheap kits come with low quality heads. If you replace the heads with some high quality ones from dedicated drumhead companies like Evans or Remo, the sound will improve drastically.
The next step would be to add muffling. Cheap drums tend to have harsh overtones. If you put tape on the drums, the overtones will go away.
Once the drums sound good, you should look at the cymbals. Cheap cymbals are usually made of brass which doesn’t sound great. It’s actually more important to have good cymbals rather than a good drum kit. You can’t do anything to improve the sound of a cymbal, so you’ll need to invest in some good ones.
When investing in a drum kit, especially one that’s under $1000, it’s crucial to take into account the quality and inclusion of hardware and cymbals. Often, drum kits in this price range may come with hardware and cymbals, but the quality might be subpar. Good quality hardware will not only ensure durability but will also have an impact on your playing experience. Cymbals, too, play a significant role in the overall sound of your drumming. While some drum kits might come with cymbals included, they may not be of the best quality. If you’re getting a kit without cymbals, remember that high-quality cymbals can be a substantial additional cost so factor that into your budget.
The brand reputation matters a lot when buying musical instruments. Established brands usually have years of expertise and maintain a certain level of quality control. Research various brands, read reviews, and perhaps even test out a few kits if possible. Some brands may offer exceptional value in the under $1000 range. Remember, while big names have earned their reputation for a reason, there might be lesser-known brands offering kits of comparable quality at a lower price.
Before diving into the purchase, set a clear budget for yourself. While $1000 is your ceiling determine if you need to allocate some of that budget to other essentials such as drum mics, throne, sticks or even lessons. Consider the long-term costs as well, such as replacements for worn-out drum heads or upgrades to better cymbals in the future. Sometimes, spending a bit more upfront can save you costs down the line, as higher-quality items might last longer and require fewer replacements. Additionally, setting a budget will help narrow down your options and prevent overspending.
In choosing a drum kit, remember that it’s an investment in both money and time. Prioritize quality and functionality over aesthetics. Most importantly, pick something that you will enjoy playing and that will inspire you to practice and improve.
As you can see from this list, you don’t actually have to spend a lot of money to get a great drum kit. Many companies design kits to be affordable and practical. With a bit of muffling, tuning and tweaking, all drum kits can sound great. Cymbals are where you need to spend a fair bit of money.
So, go and buy yourself a great kit, even if you’re on a budget!
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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