It’s that time of year again – time to buy a gift for the drummer in your life! What to do? You want to buy something that will be appreciated and gets used, of course, rather than thrown into the corner to collect dust. The problem is that most drum gear is specific to a player’s style, taste, ability, or the gear they already have.
That’s why we made this list. It’s for people who might not know much about drums, but could use some great gift ideas. We avoided playful products like light-up drumsticks and t-shirts with cheesy drum puns. This list only includes solid products. These are items that drummers will appreciate when they tear open that gift wrapping, no matter what type of music they play or what drum brands they currently use.
We picked 12 items that fit the bill. Five are under $25, and all are under $100 (at the time of writing). Some of these products are simple little stocking-stuffers, while others are a bit more elaborate. While this list is focused on drum set players, most of the items would also work great for marching or concert band drummers, as well.
On with the list! These are our great gifts for drummers.
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Gifts Under $25
Vic Firth Practice Tips
Many drummers have a practice pad to work on hand technique or to warm up before playing. Those pads are very useful, but they can also be bulky to carry around. Vic Firth Practice Tips make practicing away from home and warming up at gigs super-convenient. They fit most standard drumsticks, have a nice feel, won’t damage surfaces, and fit in pockets and stick bags with ease.
Evans EQ Pods
Most drummers use some type of external dampening to control resonance. There are many versions of dampening products out there. MoonGel Pads are the most popular. There’s nothing wrong with those, but if you want a nicer alternative, the Evans EQ Pods could be a good gift idea. Many drummers still haven’t tried the Evans version, and they’d probably like them. The Evans Pods are a bit more refined than MoonGel, not as gooey, and they come in a nice metal container.
Evans Torque Key
Drum tuning can be a challenge for any drummer, so tools that make it easier are always welcome. The Evans Torque Key works like a normal drum key, but it also includes a release switch that tells you when a desired tension is reached. This helps drummers match each tension rod accurately. The top knurled knob makes fast spinning easy, and the ergonomic shape of the handle is very comfortable in the hand.
Pearl Tech Tool
If you’re looking to buy a gift for a gigging drummer, the Pearl Tech Tool could be very useful. This multi-tool is a Swiss Army knife for drummers. We recommend it in Easy Emergency Drum Supplies as a smart item to bring to live performances. It includes many of the common tools needed to tighten drum parts, so having it on hand can help drummers get through their gigs without a hitch.
Modern Drummer Legends: Neil Peart
Neil Peart is a drumming icon who inspired countless players. This Modern Drummer Legends book offers an intriguing view into the decades of Peart’s career. Even drummers who aren’t into his band, Rush, should find the reading interesting and enlightening. This book is based on the Modern Drummer magazine issues that featured Peart, and includes interviews, drumming insights, great photography, and more.
Gifts $25 – $49
Snareweight M80 Dampener
The Snareweight M80 Dampener is a long-lasting alternative to standard gel dampeners. Since it’s made of leather, you don’t have to worry about it losing tackiness. The M80 is also quite versatile. It clips easily to almost any metal snare hoop, then can be set to several different degrees of dampening. It can be fully laid out for full dampening, folded in by using the built-in magnets for partial dampening, or flipped up completely for no dampening.
DW Control Bass Drum Beater
If you didn’t think a bass drum beater could make a great gift, think again. The DW Control Beater has a really slick design. It’s unlike any other beater on the market, coming with interchangeable weights and face types. Basically, it’s super-customizable, so any drummer can get it to feel just right. This beater is also simply made well. If you’re buying a gift for someone who plays drum set, you can bet they’d get a kick out of this!
Promark Deluxe Stick Bag
Most drummers have a stick bag, but they’re almost always basic black and lower quality. The Promark Transport Deluxe bag is made of a stylish brown nylon with synthetic leather accents. From a drummer’s perspective, it has all of the features you’d want when taking it to a show. The extra pockets, adjustable shoulder strap, wide spine, and large handles all make this stick bag very user-friendly.
Gifts $50 – $99
Paiste PSTX 10″ Splash
Buying a cymbal for a drummer without a specific request can be risky. Drummers typically have a particular make and model in mind – something that matches the sound of their other crash cymbals, for example. Effect cymbals, like this Paiste PSTX Splash, are different. They can be worked into players’ setups much more easily. This PSTX sounds great on its own, but also works well stacked on other splashes to create a hand-clap sound. Plus, it just looks cool!
Vic Firth Isolation Headphones
Playing with music is one of the best things any drummer can do. The problem is that many drummers don’t use isolation headphones to do it. Standard headphones and ear buds allow too much of the drum sound to get through, forcing drummers to crank up the music even louder. That’s bad for the ears! These Vic Firth phones are designed for drummers. They keep out more of the drum sound, allowing players to listen at a comfortable decibel level and save their hearing.
Prologix 12″ Blackout Pad
As we mentioned earlier, many drummers have a practice pad. However, nearly all of those pads use medium rubber surfaces to provide standard feels. Prologix designed the Blackout Pad to be very different. It’s a double-sided pad that uses an ultra-soft surface on top, for a deep workout. The underside plays like a traditional medium rubber pad. This is a premium practice pad that uses high-quality materials. The 12″ version can be used in a snare stand, which is an option that most drummers like.
Tune-Bot Studio Digital Tuner
If your gift recipient loves tech, the Tune-Bot Digital Drum Tuner could be a great gift idea. This tuner brings drum tuning into the digital realm. After clipping it to an acoustic drum, you can use the Tune-Bot to gauge the drum’s overall pitch or to match the pitches of each lug. When a drum sounds good, that tuning can be saved in the Tune-Bot for future reference. The company website even lists the tuning preferences of famous drummers, so players can match up their own kits.
Wrap-Up
Those are our picks of great gifts for drummers. Hopefully at least one or two fit within your budget, while being perfect for the person you’re buying for. They’re all high-quality items and useful to nearly all drummers, so you really can’t go wrong. The only thing left is seeing a smile on that drummer’s face!
By Peter Treuden – About the Author