best used drum kits

The combination of relatively shallow depths, decent twin-ply heads and the rounded bearing edge all contribute to a great sound. Paired with the perfectly round shells, sharp, level edges, and standard 1.6mm steel hoops, tuning is easy as ever, and the tuning range as wide as it gets. The Starclassic Walnut/Birch represents a killer pro-level drum kit that is a must-try if you’re in the market for punchy, modern-sounding drums. It's an unashamedly resonant kick with a breathy decay.

Shells are all six-ply, 6mm North American birch – Yamaha's Air Seal shell technology with angled seams ensure near-perfect shell construction. As part of our “instruments that don’t suck” blog series, we’re looking at budget-friendly or “cheap” instruments that are still made to last, of high build quality and that sound great! BA1 1UA. Whether you’re just getting started, you play in a band or you’re a professional session or live drummer, these kits should help you get the job done and sound great.Within this round-up, our aim is to cover some of the most common and biggest-selling sets on the market, with options for every budget. When choosing a budget-friendly drum set, it’s hard to get a handle on the decent ones and the options that won’t break down on you the first time you hit the snare! We have to give high marks to the Natal Arcadia and Pearl Export for sheer value, while Yamaha’s perennial Stage Custom drum set is a strong contender for both sound and build quality. Read our Beginners Guide To Drums if you want to play drums but don't know where to start!A complete electronic drums buying guide for those making their first foray into the world of electronic drum kitsOriginally published on dolphinmusic.co.uk The Stage Custom’s 6-ply shells are 6.6mm thick, straight-sided and butt jointed with Yamaha's distinctive diagonal seams, while bearing edges are carefully cut at 45°. This new hybrid of cherry and mahogany offers a subtle variation of warm, sensitive and concise tones. With premium features from Natal's high-end lines, adapted for the working drummer, the Arcadia series sets a stunning standard for entry-to-mid-range drum sets.Still one of the very best entry-level all-rounder kitsThe arrival of the Pearl Export in 1982 set a new benchmark and in 2007 the kit was revived with upgraded shells, new lugs, new tom bracket and a superb hardware package. Tama has included a range of features, trickled-down from the Star series, including a streamlined Star Cast mounting system, super-handy quick-release tom holders, suspended/cushioned floor tom legs to avoid resonance transferring to the ground. 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. This prevents de-tuning under modern heavy playing. Their kits are used by many professional drummers including Lars Ulrich of Metallica. Toms speak quickly with a strong fundamental tone and no unwanted overtones. All pre-owned items are rated and scored. Premium features borrowed from Natal’s top-end drumsThe Recording Custom has been played on countless hit recordsWe check over 130 million products every day for the best pricesWe check over 130 million products every day for the best prices It’s lightweight and takes some judicious tuning before it will yield a decent sound. It sounds as good as a modern kit gets. The Mapex Saturn V is a fantastic all-rounder kit which is equally happy on stage or in the studio – on a jazz gig or playing rock.Since the 2003 addition of Tama’s flagship Star range, the once-top-of-the-Tama-tree Starclassic is still an extremely serious choice for gigging and touring professionals. As you improve you'll need to work out whether your next drum set is going to be used for recording, gigging, or both, and go shopping with this application – and a specific budget – in mind.Once you hit pro drummer territory you should have a detailed idea of the drum tone, shell sizes and kit configuration you’re looking for. The shells are round and the bearing edges textbook. Birch shells generally make for focused-sounding drums and the toms quickly tune to a point where this is achieved. Most will be happy with the supplied, studio-friendly Ambassador Coated batters.