4 Best Intermediate Drum Sets

Yamaha Stage Custom Review

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch has basically become an institution at this point. It’s been one of the most popular mid range drum kits for decades, and once you actually spend time playing one, it’s easy to understand why.

For the money, these drums sound ridiculously good. It’s a 5-piece shell pack, and the birch shells give you a really punchy, clear sound that’s perfect for live and recording. They cut nicely, tune up easily, and sound great across all different styles of music. 

And build quality wise, Yamaha just doesn’t miss. Everything is absolutely solid. The YESS tom mounts are genuinely fantastic – the best tom mounts in the game. They offer loads of flexibility and they are so much nicer than what you typically get at this price point.

The finish quality is excellent too. I reviewed one in the Deep Blue Sunburst lacquer finish, which had a really clean fade that shows the birch grain underneath beautifully.

In terms of price, I think this is actually the cheapest of all the kits featured here. Which makes it even more impressive. It’s been around for so long and it’s still one everyone keeps coming back to.

Honestly, if someone asked me for the safest recommendation in this whole category, this is probably it. It’s so versatile- I just don’t think you can go wrong with a Stage Custom.

PDP Concept Maple CM7 Review

Next up is the PDP Concept Maple CM7 – and this is the most recent kit I’ve reviewed.

For the money, this kit gives you a ridiculous amount. You get a full 7-piece all-maple shell pack, solid hardware, and a finish that looks incredible too. I reviewed it in the Satin Charcoal Burst finish, which shows off the maple grain underneath.

Because PDP is the more affordable arm of Drum Workshop, you can definitely feel that influence throughout. The dual turret lugs look fantastic, and the snare even comes with a proper DW MAG throwoff. And picking these drums up, they just feel weighty and solid – not cheap at all.

Sound-wise, this is very classic maple to me. Warm, full, punchy sounding drums with loads of projection and a lot of tone. And you can really dig into them and they open with lots of dynamics. They aren’t choked at all.

And having seven drums just gives you loads of flexibility too. You can run the full setup and have loads of toms, or strip it back to a smaller configuration. It’s totally customizable.

And this kit recorded brilliantly in the studio too. I got these drums sounding amazing even with the stock heads, which I remember being really pleasantly surprised by. 

As a 7 piece maple kit at this price? I just don’t think there’s anything else out there that touches it.

Mapex Armory Review

Next up is the Mapex Armory, and this kit probably has the most modern sound character out of everything featured here.

My kit I tested had the Studioease configuration, with an undrilled bass drum along with 10, 12, 14, and 16 toms using Mapex’s FAST tom sizes – meaning the toms are slightly shallower. And personally, I love that.

Shell-wise, this is a birch and maple hybrid construction, and it’s a really good combination. You’re kind of getting a blend of the warmer, more open maple tone of the PDP Concept Maple, and the tighter, punchier, birch sound of the Stage Custom.

Out of all the kits here, this was also the easiest for me to tune. A lot of that comes down to the SONIClear bearing edges. The heads sit really nicely against the shells, and getting a good sound out of these drums is just so easy.

The included Tomahawk steel snare is a real standout too. It’s got chunky 2.3mm power hoops, a smooth throwoff, and an aggressive, projecting sound with loads of attack. 

Visually, the Ocean Sunset Fade finish is fantastic. It’s actually got an Olivewood veneer that comes through under the lacquer, and the whole kit has a really nice modern look to it.

If you mainly play rock, heavier music, pop, or anything where you want punch, attack and quick response, I think the Armory is probably the most versatile option here.

And if you want the undrilled bass drum configuration like I had  — I believe Sweetwater is the only place to get that. So check the link in the description to find that.

Gretsch Catalina Club Review

Last up is the Gretsch Catalina series, and this is an interesting one because Gretsch actually offers a few different versions depending on the sound and vibe you’re after.

The kit I personally spent the most time with over the years was the Catalina Maple. We had these all over my university – in the rehearsal rooms and studios- and I played a lot of them.

They always sounded great. I’ve also played some of the newer Catalina Maple kits at drum shows recently, and those are equally impressive.

But the specific kit I reviewed on the channel was the Gretsch Catalina Club, which is a very different flavour altogether. It uses mahogany shells and leans much more into a vintage inspired sound and aesthetic.

The kit I featured had a White Satin Flame finish with a pretty unique retro look, and all the vintage style hardware details – the bass drum spur dials, floor tom leg mounts, tom brackets, etc. All of which add to the overall character of the kit.

Sound wise, this kit is warm, resonant and really smooth. The Catalina Club uses rounded 30 degree bearing edges rather than sharper 45 degree edges, and combined with the mahogany shells, you get a much softer, fuller, more vintage style response.

The kick drum especially sounded incredible to me – probably my favourite part of the whole kit. The toms were super resonant too, with loads of warmth and low end tone.

For most drummers, the Catalina Maple is probably the safer all round option. But if you play blues, classic rock, jazz or folk – or just want something with real vintage personality and character, then the Catalina Club is a seriously cool kit.