Cranking it results in a distinctly vintage funk sound.

The Breakbeats snare holds a lot of character too – a slight trashy, grittiness, and even at lower tunings it finds a good combination of crisp response and full-bodied overtones. It's unlikely to replace a larger kick in a conventional rock set-up, but given the shell construction and size, it’s capable of acting like a small cannon. The chromed shell hardware feels solid in our hands, with a weighty tom-holder, smooth hoops and a sturdy bass drum riser. It comprises a 16'x14' bass drum, 10'x7' rack tom and a 13'x13' floor tom, with a standard 14'x5' snare. This small drum set has been considered by many as the king of mini kits for portability, small stages and even for younger players since its launch in 2013. We've arranged them in price order to make finding a killer drum set just that bit easier.īass drum riser can shift under heavy playing If you'd rather get straight to our recommendations, keep scrolling. If you'd like to read some expert buying advice to help you choose the best drum kit, we've included some at the end of this guide. At this level you'll be choosing between premium quality drum shells, properly resilient, road-worthy hardware and maybe even a range of custom options to really make the drum kit of your choice your own.

If you do hit pro drummer territory, a) well done, and b) you'll probably have a pretty clear idea of the drum tone, shell sizes and kit configuration you’re now looking for. At this point, you’ll likely develop opinions on the types of drums and features you prefer, which will in turn help to narrow down your choices when it comes to something more specific both in terms of style, finish and budget. Most drum sets under around $/£750 will happily get you there, with some of the more expensive models breaching intermediate territory with upgraded shells, hardware and features.Īs you work your way through your drumming journey, you’ll start to figure out what your musical goals are.

If you’re just starting out in the drumming world, you should be on the lookout for a reliable, moderately-priced drum kit that will last the first few years of your drumming life, and hopefully see you through your first live performances. But ‘the best’ doesn’t have to mean ‘most expensive’.

Reggae sounding drum on kit