Buying a drum set can be a mystifying experience, especially for those new to the drumming world. There are different brands, different configurations, different specs, different prices… some drum sets come complete, while others don’t include everything. Of course, some are also better values than the rest. Figuring it all out can be quite a hassle!
This list should simplify your search and get you the most for your money. It’s similar to our Best Values: Snare Drums list. We’ll get into which drums sets are the best values overall, but also talk about some good possible upgrades. Plus, all of these kits include everything you need to play (besides one small exception).
We picked our three favorites, starting around $650. Why nothing cheaper? Well, there are plenty of drums for less, but we felt their quality was too low for us to say you’d be getting a lot for your money. Not too long ago you could get a decent new starter kit for under $500, but that’s changed, unfortunately. Now, kits in that range tend to have cheap components that don’t function well and are prone to break. Many times, you end up spending a lot just replacing broken parts.
We made this list to only include drum sets with a solid foundation. These drums can be played as is, while an upgrade or two will really get them sounding good. As with anything, the more you spend, the higher the quality you’ll get, but all of these items are good for the money. That includes the recommended upgrades. No matter which you choose, you’ll be getting real value.
On with the list! These are the best complete drum set values for beginners.
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Pearl Roadshow
The Pearl Roadshow is a popular drum set for beginning students, available in several configurations and colors. There’s probably a Roadshow with the sizes you need, in a color you’ll like. These drums include everything you need to get going, from sticks to cymbals. All of that, along with the trusted Pearl name, makes the Roadshow a top value for any student drummer.
Includes:
Drums
Cymbals
Hardware
Throne
Sticks
What we like:
Configurations: The Pearl Roadshow comes in four configurations, which is impressive for drums in this price range. The most popular is the New Fusion, as pictured above. It includes the standard 22″ bass drum, 10″, 12″, and 16″ toms, and a 14″ snare drum. However, you’ll also have the option of different sizes and fewer drums. The Fusion is slightly scaled down, which can work well for younger students. The Jazz is an even smaller 4-piece set, and it’s the least expensive option. Finally, the Rock is a setup with one rack tom and two floor toms.
Availability: It’s always nice when you can buy the drum set you’ve decided is best for you. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, even with production drums. Many are backordered for weeks or months. Pearl generally does a better job with the Roadshow’s supply, especially when considering the number of colors and configurations the series comes in. That doesn’t mean every model is always going to be available, but you can usually find what you’re looking for.
Port Hole: A bass drum port hole is a minor detail, but it’s very convenient. Sure, port holes can be added later, but it’s surprising more companies don’t make them standard. A ported bass drum head sounds a bit more controlled and makes it much easier to adjust dampening. Normally, you’d have to install muffling, put the heads back on, and hope you don’t have to readjust. The port allows you to move a pillow or blanket with ease.
What we don’t like:
Cymbal Stand: The included cymbal stand has a straight design. Some drum sets in this price range include a boom stand, or even both a straight stand and a boom stand. Boom stands make it easier to position cymbals, which is especially helpful with ride cymbals.
Tom Holders: Pearl has been using tube tom holders for decades. Some drummers really like that style, but we prefer ball-in-socket designs. Both can do the job, but angle adjustments are easier with a ball-in-socket.
What you could upgrade:
Cymbals: This is a common theme with student drum sets. Most cymbals included with these drums are lower quality, and the Pearls are no exception. With a Roadshow, you’ll get a 16″ crash and 14″ hi-hats. They have a fairly dull sound without much tone. You can certainly use them for practice purposes, but you’ll probably want to upgrade before too long.
A good cymbal match for these drums would be the scaled-down Meinl HCS Brass Pack, as we discussed in Best Values: Cymbal Packs, or one of the standard size packs on that list. Any of those packs will require a second cymbal stand, so it could be a good chance to add a boom stand. The PDP CB710 would fit in well with a Roadshow.
Heads: Like cymbals, the heads included with most drum sets in this price range are substandard. They’re not made with high-quality materials and they’re very thin. They tend to dent, have a lot of unwanted frequencies, and are difficult to tune.
We recommend at least upgrading the top heads for the toms and snare drum at some point. For easy tuning, durability, and a warm sound, Remo Emperors would work well for the toms. Those are sold in packs of 10/12/14 and 10/12/16 sizes. Just make sure you’re matching your tom configuration with the correct head sizes. A Remo Ambassador X would work very well on the Roadshow snare drum.
Mapex Venus
The Mapex Venus is the newest series on this list. It incorporates some revamped components that make it an appealing option for beginning drummers. You’ll get everything you need to start playing, including sticks and cymbals. It comes in four colors and two popular configurations. This drum set also has solid hardware that’s easy to adjust. In total, the Mapex Venus is a newcomer to the drum world that will give you a lot for your money.
Includes:
Drums
Cymbals
Hardware
Throne
Sticks
What we like:
Tom Holder: The Venus series includes a ball-in-socket tom holder. It’s our preferred design, because it’s so simple to position the toms where you want. Micro-adjustments are also made easy, where tube holders with internal teeth can cause toms to be slightly off.
Boom Stand: These drums only come with one cymbal stand, just like the Pearl Roadshow. However, the Venus’ stand has a boom arm. That makes positioning a ride cymbal easy. Because the cymbal can hang over the set, you’ll have a more comfortable reach.
What we don’t like:
Configurations: The Mapex Venus comes in two configurations. That’s minimal compared to the other series on this list. You can get standard sizes – a 22” bass drum, 10”, 12”, and 16” toms, and a 14” snare. The other configuration is slightly smaller. Instead of a 22” bass drum and 16″ floor tom, you get a 20″ and 14″. On a positive note, if we had to pick two configurations to be available, those would be the ones. However, a smaller 4-piece option would have been welcome.
What you could upgrade:
Cymbals: The Mapex Venus cymbals are a slight upgrade from the cymbals that come with the Pearl Roadshow. Mapex includes an 18″ crash/ride and 14″ hi-hats, which are good sizes for practice. However, upgrading to name brand cymbals will help you sound better and allow techniques to feel right.
We’d recommend the same types of cymbals that we would for the Pearl Roadshow. The smaller-sized Meinl HCS Brass Pack or the standard-sized Zildjian Planet Z Pack would both fit well with a Venus. You’ll need another cymbal stand to use either pack. The Mapex B400 matches the boom stand that’s included in the Venus set.
Heads: The Venus comes with Chinese single-ply heads. You can certainly play with them, but they won’t compare to professional heads. Depending on your configuration, the Remo Emperor pack in 10/12/14 or 10/12/16 sizes would really help the tom sound. The 14″ Remo Ambassador X is our recommendation for the Venus snare drum.
Tama Imperialstar
Tama Imperialstar 5-pc Drum Set
The Tama Imperialstar can have you sounding good from the get-go. It ships more complete than any of the other drums we’ve mentioned so far. In fact, it even includes two cymbal stands and a set of name brand cymbals. It’s a set that doesn’t leave out components that you’re going to want anyway. While it costs more than the previously-mentioned drums, it’s money well-spent.
Includes:
Drums
Cymbals
Hardware
Throne
* (Sticks sold separately)
What we like:
Cymbals: These drums comes with Meinl HCS Brass cymbals, which are higher quality than either of the other included cymbals on this list. The Meinls are student level, but they sound more like people imagine cymbals should sound like. They have much more stick definition and tone than the cheaper options. Most Imperialstar configurations come with standard cymbal sizes – a 20″ ride, 16″ crash, and 14″ hi-hats.
Hardware: The Imperialstar comes with a full set of hardware, including two cymbal stands and a good bass drum pedal. The stands aren’t heavy-duty, but they’re solid enough to practice with, while holding up to normal wear and tear. The Iron Cobra 200 pedal has a nice feel and a quick response. It’s arguably the best bass drum pedal included in any drum set under $1000.
Configurations: Tama offers the Imperialstar in four configurations. The most popular is the standard 5-piece, with a 22″ bass drum, 10″, 12″, and 16″ toms, and a 14″ snare. If standard sizes won’t work for you, one of the other configurations should do the trick. Among the others are smaller bass drum sizes and a 6-piece drum set. Most players prefer the standard sizes, but extra options are always nice to have.
What we don’t like:
Availability: Tama’s Imperialstar comes in a wide variety of colors and configurations. However, some can be hard to find, at least at the time of writing. You may find the color you want, but not in the sizes you want, or vice versa. Some sellers don’t list certain colors or configurations, while others are backordered. Hopefully this will be alleviated, so it’s easier to get preferred specs.
What you’ll need to add:
Sticks: This kit is the only model on this list that doesn’t include sticks. If you need a pair, we’d recommend the popular Vic Firth 5A with wood tips. They’re good for kids, adults, and almost any genre of music. Even though they’re an extra expense, you’ll have a professional pair of sticks that will play better and last longer than generic sticks included with drum sets.
What you could upgrade:
Heads: The Imperialstar ships with lower-quality drumheads. That’s true of just about all drum sets in this price range. Like the previous sets on this list, we’d recommend Remo Emperors for a quality tom sound, easy tuning, and durability.
The Imperialstar toms sizes would require either the 10/12/14 or 10/12/16 head pack sizes. For the snare drum, we again would recommend the 14″ Remo Ambassador X. If you want to complete the batter head upgrade with a bass drum head, the Remo Powerstroke P3 sounds great on almost any bass drum.
Wrap-Up
Those are the picks for best beginner drum set values. They’re not the cheapest drum sets you can buy, but they’re all good investments. They can all be used for years, until you’re ready for the next step up. Plus, with a couple of simple upgrades, these drums will help you sound great.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
Considering an electronic drum set? Check out our Best Values: Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000!