In this article, I’m going to explore the best drum set brands. I intend to help you make an informed decision when it comes to buying a new set of drums, getting your very first set or even furnishing your recording studio with a top-notch drum set.
But which brand to trust? Which brand makes the best professional drum sets? Which brand has entry-level sets for beginners? I’ll walk you through the basic information about the world’s most popular drum brands to help you get answers to these questions.
If you’re just starting out with drumming, literally each of the brands on my list will have several models at affordable prices. I believe that once you start considering drum sets north of $2000, personal preferences come into play and that’s where drummers pay more attention to a particular brand.
A long drumroll… And here we go!
Quick Summary of the Best Drum Set Brands of 2024
9 Best Drum Set Brands Reviews
1. Pearl
- Founded: 1946, Japan
- Notable Drummers:
- Dennis Chambers (Santana)
- Omar Hakim (Madonna)
- Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
The Ford of drums, Pearl is rightfully and widely recognized for its innovation and high-quality drum kits.
Professionals opt for Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic – the best acoustic drum set for huge gigs in large venues with a remarkable sound that the audience will remember for a long time. Beginners opt for the Roadshow or Midtown series. They won’t break the bank and offer great value at an affordable price.
So what makes Pearl stand out in the world of drums? Pearl drums are built using high-quality materials and advanced construction techniques. I expect nothing but excellent performance and great longevity from every Pearl drum set.
For instance, the popular Export Series features Superior Shell Technology (SST). What is it? Well, SST uses overlapping plies of premium wood to create a strong, resonant shell. The end result? A durable drum with a powerful and clear sound. This makes Pearl a favorite among experienced pros.
As for electronic drums, the Pearl’s E/Merge, launched in 2019 in collaboration with Korg, didn’t do as well as its predecessor the Pearl ePro Live mainly due to subpar marketing and bad timing. It is, however, an awesome e-drum set, albeit at a premium price.
Pearl uses quality wood to make their drum shells. These include maple, birch, mahogany, and Pearl’s unique cross-laminated Kapur/Fiberglass.
Pearl cymbals are under the Sabian brand. They are made of B20 bronze (80% bronze and 20% tin.) to provide recognizable crispy, sizzling, and resonant cymbal sounds.
2. Yamaha
- Founded: 1887, Japan
- Notable Drummers:
- Steve Gadd (Eric Clapton)
- Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band)
- Dave Weckl (Chick Corea)
Yamaha has been producing top-notch instruments for nearly 150 years. Their drums are widely favored due to their longevity, versatility, and exceptional sound quality. When it comes to e-drums, Yamaha may be the best electronic drum set brand with a range from entry models to premium kits like Yamaha DTX10K-X.
Yamaha drum sets are used by top drummers worldwide, which says a lot about Yamaha drum sets’ reliability and performance in studios and on stages. The hardware is top-notch and the shells are constructed with precision.
Apart from a few series of cheap entry sets, you can expect a balanced and rich tone. Top-rated sets feature 100% birch shells which produce a rich sound suitable for a wide variety of music genres.
For drum shells, Yamaha uses birch, oak, maple, and beech. Birch is used in models like the Stage Custom Birch because it provides that recognizable bright and punchy sound.
Yamaha’s cymbals are typically made from various alloys, including bronze. A well-rounded crisp and resonant sound is something I expect from Yamaha’s cymbals.
The kick pedals are made with precision and use durable metals like aluminum and steel. They really excel when it comes to a smooth and responsive playing experience.
Yamaha hardware features robust, lightweight materials. The Crosstown hardware series, for example, uses aluminum for both portability and stability of the hardware.
3. Tama
- Founded: 1974, Japan
- Notable Drummers:
- Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
- Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
- Stewart Copeland (The Police)
Tama is known for its robust hardware and powerful drum sound which I really love and always aim for. The Tama Starclassic Series is particularly popular for a good reason. It has hybrid shells made of walnut and birch. These drums provide a rich, resonant tone with a strong attack, making them ideal for live performances and recording sessions.
The Starclassic series provides a truly balanced sound with deep resonance. The birch gives this series a serious punch and the walnut adds some low end to deliver amazing sound overall
Tama’s attention to detail in both construction and design has made them a preferred choice for many top drummers. Most Tama sets would make an excellent rock kit with plenty of aggressive thump to keep up with the full mix of the band.
Tama uses a range of woods including maple, birch, walnut, and bubinga for their drum shells. Tama is uncompromising: they spare no expense regarding the performance and durability of their drum sets.
Tama cymbals, under the Meinl brand, are typically made from B20 bronze known for its impressive sound quality.
The kick pedals, like the Iron Cobra series, are constructed from durable aluminum and steel, giving me adjustable and smooth action. The stands and hardware utilize high-tensile strength steel for stability and durability.
In all honesty, I can hardly imagine that anyone would be disappointed in Tama’s craftsmanship and performance.
4. Premier Drums
- Founded: 1922, United Kingdom
- Notable Drummers:
- Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
- Clem Burke (Blondie)
- Keith Moon (The Who)
Premier is a British drum brand with a rich history known for their attention to detail and craftsmanship. Their drums offer a wide range of tonal options and are favored in various genres.
For beginners, the Premier Olympic and Powerhouse drum kit ranges have time and time again proven to be some of the most popular kits in the world.
As for intermediate players and working drummers, the Premier APK and XPK drum sets have become popular choices known for a bright and easily tuned sound right out of the box.
And when it comes to advanced and professional drum kits, Premier offers the Genista and Elite series. My heart was always set on the Premier Elite range which offers awesome sound and an endless range of finishes.
If you could imagine your ideal drum kit design, one of the Premier Elite’s finishes would surely make the list.
5. Ludwig
- Founded: 1909, USA
- Notable Drummers:
- Ringo Starr (The Beatles)
- John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
- Ginger Baker (Cream)
When it comes to popularity in the 20th century, you don’t get any brands bigger than Ludwig. Remember the story of how the brand’s sales doubled after Ringo Starr was seen playing a Ludwig kit on live TV? Well, it’s true!
With its classic American roots, Ludwig brings a combination of sonic excellence and eye-catching finishes that have long been a part of rock and roll history.
I’m a huge fan of the Ludwig Legacy Maple line which is a super solid maple kit with high-quality design features.
The brand offers many other options, though. The Vistalite is a loud and proud acrylic kit, while the Evolution is a decent beginner/intermediate drummer option.
Those are just drum kit picks, though. Most drummers will agree with me when I say the ultimate value comes from Ludwig’s snare drum range.
The Black Beauty and Supraphonic are two of the most recorded snare drums in history.
6. Gretsch
- Founded: 1883, USA
- Notable Drummers:
- Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)
- Phil Collins (Genesis)
- Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
Gretsch has continually been delivering consistent quality instruments whether it’s guitars, drums, basses, or ukuleles.
I’ve often heard musicians assume Gretsch drum kits are great for jazz, most likely due to the brand’s long history in this genre. However, I wouldn’t lock the brand to a certain style.
If you like modern hardware designs but need vintage tones, Gretsch’s distinctive mahogany Catalina Club kits would be my top recommendation.
Another popular Gretsch series is the Brooklyn which, just like Catalina Club, comes with GTS tom suspension for a unique resonant sound.
These kits are high-end and beautifully manufactured. The Catalina features a walnut glaze, which is warm and looks far more expensive than it is, while the Brooklyn kits are adorned in a variety of colors and finishes.
7. Sonor
- Founded: 1875, Germany
- Notable Drummers:
- Jojo Mayer (Nerve)
- Danny Carey (Tool)
- Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
Coming from one of the oldest drum companies in the world, Sonor kits are tailored to professionals looking for bespoke sound. It’s the ideal brand for those looking for a quality kit designed specifically for live performances.
The tonal quality of compact kits they offer is what always especially impressed me. My top pick would be the Sonor AQ2 Bop Drum Kit which is a great smaller drum kit configurable for every playing scenario.
At the top end, the SQ2 kit is made with a Sonos cross-lamination tension-free process and comes with its famous TuneSafe system, which offers maximum tuning capability. This is just the ticket if you want the cream of the crop from Sonor.
Another big highlight for me is that Sonor still uses beech wood in some of their products. The pronounced highs you get from the shells are great, and it’s a unique wood that just sets the brand apart.
8. DW (Drum Workshop)
- Founded: 1972, USA
- Notable Drummers:
- Neil Peart (Rush)
- Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Sheila E. (Prince)
DW kits are known to be quite pricey, but they’re made with incredible precision and craftsmanship by the guys at the Oxnard Factory.
For those looking to push the boundaries of what a drum set can be, DW’s sought-after Collector’s Series represents the pinnacle of customization, tailoring kits to the exacting specifications of elite players.
From the sonic and aesthetic point of view, my pick would be DW Collector’s Series Cherry Shell Pack which has an unreal look and sound.
On the other hand, one of their best affordable drum kits is the Performance Series Drum Kit, which features HVX maple shells and North American maple toms and bass drums. It’s not too heavy, making it professional and durable but not impossible to carry around.
9. Mapex
- Founded: 1989, Taiwan
- Notable Drummers:
- Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
- Will Calhoun (Living Colour)
- Matt Halpern (Periphery)
While Mapex is one of the youngest drum brands I’ve mentioned so far, many of these Taiwanese kits have made big waves in the drumming world.
For novice drummers, their Comet kits seem an obvious choice. They’re affordable and have the durability and decent sound that beginners require to learn drums to a good standard.
The Mapex Saturn Evolution is one of the professional options that you’ll see pros using. My main love for Mapex comes from the fact that it has hybrid shells that include walnut and maple plies.
Mapex is typically seen as one of the more affordable drum kits, while the top-end Black Panther line is quite pricey.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Drum Kit Brands
Brand’s History and Reputation
One particular thing to know when choosing drum brands is their history, which music genres they are reputable for, and which parts of the kit they have specialized in over the years.
For example, with premium sets like DTX10K-X, Yamaha is probably the best e-drum set brand, Gretsch acoustic sets have distinct and standout rounded bearing edges for that famed Gretsch sound, while Ludwig is known for their snare drums.
Range of Sets and Configurations
Another important factor when choosing drum brands is what a certain set includes going for your skill level. For example, specific series such as the Pearl Export, aimed at beginner drummers, may include shells, cymbals, and hardware, while professional-level kits like Cataline Club from Gretsch only come with a shell pack so you can tailor the complete set to your needs.