Getting your first drum set is an amazing feeling. Creating music is the most fulfilling activity and it often leads to one’s best moments. It’s the moment when you feel like you see the world in a new way, and every possibility becomes huge. When you find yourself in that space, everything seems doable and no roadblocks can stop you from getting to your goal.
Regardless of whether you’re a drummer or buying your first drum set for yourself or as a parent for your child, this decision can be really stressful. There are tons of drum kits out there, and it can be difficult to know which one to buy. This buying guide will go over the most important features of a drum kit, and recommend a few brands/models for beginner drummers.
Best Drum Sets Under $700: Cheap and Affordable
Drumming can get expensive, let’s not forget you need to buy sticks, heads and dampening too. Then there’s the drums themselves, plus cymbals.
Drumming can be a pricey hobby, so we’ve compiled this report to help save you some dough. I’ll be looking at 10 of the best drum sets (under $700) that we think are worth considering.
Under each kit, I will give an overview of price-value (quality), and how cost-friendly the kit is:
- Quality hardware
- Great drums for price
- Poplar shells
- Perfect for beginners
- Affordable
- Awesome vintage-look
- Affordable
- By Questlove
- Portable
- Includes nylon bags
I really like Pearl drums because they give drummers a real bang for their buck. The shells sound great and it’s so cool that you get hardware and cymbals included!
I’m going to delve into reviews of each drum, so sit tight.
1. Pearl Roadshow 4-Piece Drum Set
Killer Sounding Shells
The TD-27KV dominates every kit on this list. There’s a reason that Roland is the king of electronic drums! The Pearl Roadshow kit is the best for this category. It comes at a higher price point than other drum sets, but offers premium value you won’t find in cheaper kits.
Pearl isn’t a new name in the drum business. We are one of the most popular drum brands to date, and our Roadshow kit is unmatched for quality when comparing to other generic brands.
Pearl’s Roadshow drum kit is available in a few different packages. There’s the four-piece package with 18″ kick, five-piece package with 20″ kick and a five-piece package with 22″ kick.
I wouldn’t worry too much about drum sizes when you’re first starting out, as you can get more specialized as you progress.
- The shells of the Roadshow
Nowadays, there are awesome drum sets you can buy that don’t cost too much. This is fantastic for newcomers as they can buy a reasonably priced kit and start playing right away.
The Roadshow kit is excellent right out of the box. If you want to customize it with some new heads, your shells will sound even better.
- The included cymbals are poor quality
The cymbal set included with the kit is pretty bad. You should know that these are all entry-level kits and the kits should really be purchased for the drums, sticks, and ride.
As a beginner, don’t sweat about the sound of drums and cymbals; focus on learning the basics of playing.
If you’re researching upgrading your cymbals someday, check out our article about the best cymbal packs.
- The hardware on the Roadshow kit
This metal hardware included isn’t exactly impressive, but it’s still way better than most of the other kits’ hardware I’ll be listing here.
I’ve always loved Yamaha products. I especially recommend their drum hardware!
You can always get a different kit later on. The kit does include a drum throne, but be sure to check the listing before ordering.
- Overall
Pearl’s Roadshow kit is a great, cheap drum set that is perfect for any new drummer on a budget. It’s important to get all your ducks in a row before making any commitments.
2. Mendini 5-Piece Adult Drum Set
“I can’t believe how cheap this middle-of-the-road drum set is!”
Mendini offers one of the cheapest drum sets available on the market today. You’ll sacrifice some quality, but get your money’s worth in a practice set.
The Mendini drum kit is really cheap and a fraction of the price of the Roadshow. It’s perfect for beginners looking for something ready to use at an affordable price.
The cheaper a drum set is, the more people are going to question its quality. Mendini drums have great quality but they’re not as expensive as other brands. The brand isn’t the best, but it’s not terrible either. Don’t expect world-cup quality, though.
Mendini’s kit comes with everything you need to play as soon as you open it up.
- The quality of the shells
The drums look pretty decent and they get the job done. They won’t blow you away though!
The plastic on the shells is very fragile and small. The lugs are tiny in comparison to a pro drum set.
The Mendini drum set is a great option when you’re on a budget. It also lacks some of the extra features like lugs on each drum which is more common among higher end kits, but it still offers a good level of quality.
The screws let you adjust the strings on a drum. With fewer lugs, it’s harder to keep a drum in tune consistently. So for a beginner, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
- The cymbals are poor
Just like the Roadshow, you may want to consider upgrading the cymbals included.
For beginner drummers, these cymbals are just fine. But you may want to upgrade them later as they lack some quality.
- The drum hardware of the Mendini
The Mendini is way less powerful than the Roadshow. I don’t have any complaints about its hardware, but it all comes with a price and this is one of them.
The included kick drum pedal is also something you may want to upgrade (it’s a running theme here).
I’ve been using the Pearl P530 for years and I love it. It’s not the cheapest one but it feels really good and has served me well.
- Overall
Mendini’s five-piece kit is the ideal choice for drummers on a really tight budget. The drum set can be bought for a really low price.
3. Gammon 5-Piece Drum Set
Gammon has a fantastic drum kit that won’t break the bank. 5 piece kit with sturdy construction. The sound is pretty decent too, making this an awesome budget solution.
The Gammon drum kit is extremely similar in price to the Mendini drum kit and offers a slightly better quality kit in my opinion. I think Gammon is a great drum manufacturer. They make high quality at affordable prices and produce everything from kids drum sets to full size kits as well as world percussion.
Despite this drum kit being unknown to many professional drummers, Gammon delivers with a great affordable drum kit that has everything you need. Gammon gives you everything you need to get going as soon as you first open the box.
- The quality of the drum shells
Gammon’s drum shells sound great! A little love and care goes a long way in making this kit sound as good as a pro kit.
I mentioned earlier that you could drop by for a cheap drum kit and I want to say something about changing the heads. From Remo or Evans, ask for professional drumheads, these are designed to last longer than cheaper brands.
- The quality of the included cymbals
I’m not surprised in the least that the cymbals that come with Gammon are just not good enough.
You can use the ride cymbal to drum out a “trashy” or “scraping” sound which can add an interesting texture to the drum set.
- The quality of the hardware
The metal knobs on the Gammon stands hold the stand in place really well and make it easy to adjust.
Gammon seem to have made a really good balance between their prices and the quality of their crabs.
- Overall
Gammon’s drumset is much more affordable than the Mendini and the Pearl Roadshow while still providing you with great quality.
Questlove considers this beginners kit to be excellent!
4. Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit
Got Questlove’s name on it, so it’s bound to be good! Besides fame, the Pocket kit is perfect for beginners who want a high quality sounding kit.
Ludwig drums are made by one of the original drum companies and they have a reputation for making great drums. They also make some of the best drums in the world which is why a lot of famous drummers endorse them.
It’s true that there are options out there that cost way more money, but they’re not all worth it. The Ludwig’s Questlove Pocket kit is a perfect example of this. It’s pretty affordable and looks great right away.
Customers have three colours to choose from and the sparkle finish looks great. It’s important to be aware of this when you’re buying a drum kit. If you’re an adult, it may end up being much too small for you and make playing difficult.
Despite being a bit smaller, I’ve seen many people who are over 6′ tall playing this kit. The Pocket Kit ships with a 12″ x 16″, 10″ x 13″, 6″ x 10,” and a 5″ x 12″. We’ll show you how to add a kick drum, hi-hat, cymbals and more.
Get right to it with a complete drum set right out of the box. You’ll have everything you need, including drums, cymbals and stands. Plus sticks and a drum key. We’re really excited about the Questlove Band who has just released the Pocket Pack! One thing that drew us in was the included lesson pack redeemable with a valid serial number.
If you want to try something new and give your drum kit a more vintage sound, we recommend changing the cymbals and drum heads. With some new ones, your drum set will look much better too.
5. Sawtooth Command Series 4-Piece Drum Set
The Sawtooth Command Series kit looks and sounds amazing. It reminds me of something you’d see at Fork’s Drum Closet from the late 1960s! The Command Series kit lets you have the sound and look of an old, expensive drum set without having to pay those high prices..
Hard to argue with the way this one looks
Drum lovers rejoice! Sawtooth’s Command Series four-piece drum set looks and plays like drums of the past.
Sawtooth is unfamiliar to me but I like what I’ve heard so far. The Command Series is a higher-priced instrument, but it’s no more expensive than buying an antique bop drum kit..Sawtooth sell two main lines of drum kits that I think sound great for the price. The downside? These are just shell packs and so don’t come with any cymbals.
The Command Series is a drum kit with an amazing sound. It’s built to last, and it looks great… what do you think?
6. Alesis Nitro Mesh ($379)
What you get:
Drums: 8” snare, 8” toms (x3), kick drum tower
Cymbals: 13” hi-hats, 10” ride, 10” crash
Hardware: Aluminum mounting rack, pedals, module (Drum throne sold separately)
Extras: 40 preset kit options, 60 play-along tracks, cables, drumsticks, drum key
The lowdown:
If you’re looking for recording noise-free drums, this tunable mesh electronic kit is a great mid-range option for just under $400. It’s compact, has USB connectivity and buttons conveniently organized in the shape of an acoustic drum kit.
The Command Mesh (more expensive) has an extra snare and some other bonuses. The play-along options have been a huge hit for beginners.
Electronic drum kits are generally designed for beginners and will never look or feel as natural as acoustic drums. Either way, they can still be a great starting point and provide a sense of what playing drums is like. This kit is a good starter option, but it will probably require an upgrade sooner than some of the other kits listed.
7. Yamaha Stage Custom
What you get:
Drums: 5 pieces – 14” snare, 2 mounted toms, floor tom, bass drum (10”/12”/16”/22”)
Cymbals: None
Hardware: Drum kit: tom mount, bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand + 2 cymbal stands, snare stand
Extras: None
The lowdown:
The Stage Custom is also a fantastic option, and it’s been recognized by beginner and professional musicians alike. The only downside is that it might be a little more expensive than some others.
This kit is pricier but it’s a good investment since you won’t need to upgrade as often. Plus, it comes in some really great colors like cranberry red (which looks stunning!)
8. PDP New Yorker 4-piece Shell Pack ($399.99)
What you get:
Drums: 4 pieces: 14” snare, 10” tom, 13” floor tom, 16” bass drum
Cymbals: None
Hardware: Tom holder, bass drum riser (everything else sold separately)
Extras: None
The lowdown:
If you’re looking for a small acoustic drum kit, the New Yorker might suit your needs. It’s an offshoot of the high-quality brand DW (Drum Workshop) and it comes at an affordable price – perfect for people who don’t want to spend too much money. The 16-inch bass drum comes with a riser that elevates it so the drum pedal hits the center of the instrument.
These drum kits come in many colors and have some pretty unique features. The downside is that you’ll have to purchase hardware & cymbals separately, which can make the overall cost significantly higher than the $400 price point of this kit. It also has one mounted tom instead of two.
9. Roland TD1-DMK ($699.99)
What you get:
Drums: 5 pieces: 8” snare, 6” toms (x3), kick drum pad
Cymbals: 10” hi-hat, 12” cymbals (x2)
Hardware: Rack stand, hi-hat pedal
Extras: Built-in metronome , 15 different drum kits, play-along tracks with looping, supports USB input
The lowdown:
Roland V-drums are always at the forefront when it comes to recreating the tick of real acoustic drums. It’s mostly thanks to their high-quality mesh heads. The TD1 Wears & Tears Starter Set is a pretty good option for kids and adults who are looking for an easy to use, rubber drum set. It comes with 15 built-in kits with 250+ other sounds, and a USB input that lets you plug it into your laptop or other devices. It’s also small, has a metronome and some exercises to get you started.
There are a few cons with playing on acoustic drums, but the main disadvantage is that you can’t always manually change the cyphon and generally can’t swap to an acoustic one as easily for school or lessons.
10. Tama Imperialstar 5-Piece ($599.99)
What you get:
Drums: 5 pieces include 14″ snare, 2 mounted toms, floor tom, bass drum (10″, 12″, 14″, 18″)
Cymbals: 14” hi-hats, 18” crash/ride
Hardware: Hi-hat stand, snare stand, 1 cymbal stand, bass drum pedal, tom mounting bracket
Extras: None
The lowdown:
Including Meinl cymbals in the package, it’s another good all-inclusive set. The toms and snare are especially beefy, but 18″ bass drum is nice if you want something different. You may want to consider getting a second cymbal for your drum set, but for the price, you get many benefits. The straight cymbal stand that converts to a boom stand is perfect for positioning and adjusting the height.
More beginner drum kit options:
- Sonor AQX Jungle ($429)
A compact 4-piece shell pack at a nice price.
- Mapex Armory ($899)
A 5-piece birch shell pack with large drum sizes. Good for rock drumming.
- Gretsch Catalina Club ($699)
A 4-piece shell pack with mahogany shells and a vintage vibe.
- Yamaha DTX-402K ($499.99)
An affordable electronic kit with rubber pads and over 400 quality Yamaha drum sounds built in.
Conclusion
Out of all the affordable drum sets available right now, I’d have to go with one from Sawtooth. I really love the old-fashioned look and sound, and the quality isn’t something you usually get for this price.
In my opinion, the Pearl Roadshow is the best sounding drum. Personally, I own a Pearl and I am biased because of it. The shells stand out in comparison to everything else we’ve talked about here. The Mendini & Gammon kits are simple and not the best value for your money, but if you are low on a budget, they would be worth it.
Similarly, if you’re looking for drum sets and want to go with a high-quality option, I have some roundups of the best drum sets for beginners and the best professional drum sets. If you’re looking for something acoustic, don’t forget to check out information about that too! Throwing some cash at a cheap option like the Alesis Surge Mesh, Alesis Nitro Mesh, or the Yamaha DTX450K won’t hurt your wallet.
FAQ for Best Cheap Beginner Drum Sets
What is the best cheap beginner drum set?
The best cheap beginner drum set is the Yamaha DTX400K. It’s a great option for beginners because it is affordable, durable, and offers a good range of features.
This drum set offers all the essentials that you need to get started as a drummer. It comes with a full-size bass drum, snare drum, two tom drums, and cymbals. There are also two pedals on this kit that allow you to control the hi-hat and bass drum separately. The kit includes all of the necessary hardware to mount it on your own rack so you can easily store it away when not in use.
The Yamaha DTX400K is an affordable option for beginners who want to take their first steps into playing drums without breaking the bank.
What makes a drum set good for beginners?
A drum set is an instrument that is used in various genres of music. The drum set has a wide variety of drums and cymbals. A drum set can come in different sizes and shapes. The different sizes are called kits.
Some of the most popular kits are:
- Standard Drum Kit
- Concert Drum Kit
- Percussion Drum Kit
- Drum Set for Kids
What should I consider when buying a drum set?
A drum set is a great instrument to start with. It is not too difficult to learn, and there are plenty of resources available to teach you how to play.
The first thing you should consider when buying a drum set is the size. Drum sets come in different sizes, so it’s important that you know what size will work best for your needs. If you have limited space or are purchasing the drum set as a gift for someone else, then smaller drums might be better suited for your needs. If you have plenty of space and want to purchase drums that can produce a louder sound, then larger drums would be better suited for your needs.
It’s also important that you think about the type of music that you plan on playing on the drum set before purchasing one.
How much should I spend on a beginner drum set?
This article will help you know the various factors that should be considered before you buy a drum set. It will also help you know what to expect from the different types of drum sets, and how much they cost.
There are many things to consider when buying a beginner drum set. We have listed them below:
- The size of your room
- The style of music you are playing
- Your budget
- The type of drums you want
- Whether or not you want cymbals.
Should I go for a cheap beginner drum set?
If you are new to drums, you might want to start with a cheap beginner drum set. You can find them for as low as $300 and up.
The cheaper sets usually come with fewer pieces and less quality, but they are still great for beginners who want to learn the basics of drumming.
You will also need to purchase a drum stand and cymbals separately if you don’t want to use live ones.
What is the difference between a cheap beginner drum set and an expensive one?
A drum set is an instrument that is used to produce rhythm. It consists of a set of drums and other percussion instruments. The drum set is one of the most popular musical instruments, with its sound being heard in every genre of music.
We can divide the drum sets into two categories: cheap beginner drum sets and expensive ones. A cheap beginner drum set usually has less than five drums and does not include cymbals or hardware such as stands or pedals. On the other hand, an expensive beginner drum set usually has more than five drums and includes cymbals and hardware such as stands or pedals.
The difference between these two types of drum sets is that the expensive one usually has more drums, cymbals, and hardware than the cheaper one does.
What are the best cheap beginner drum sets?
As a beginner, you will want to find the best drums for your skill level and budget. Different drum sets have different qualities that make them better or worse for beginners.
It is important to know what you are looking for in a drum set before purchasing one. You want to consider what kind of sound you want, how many drums and cymbals there are, whether or not they come with a stool, and if they are made from durable materials.
What is the minimum price for a good drum set?
Drum sets are a popular choice of instrument for many musicians. The price range for a good drum set varies depending on size, brand, and other factors.
The cost of a drum set can vary greatly depending on the size and quality of the drums. A basic drum set will cost anywhere from $200 to $500, while a professional-grade kit may cost upwards of $2,000.