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Playing a 7-piece drum set provides the ultimate drumming experience. The expansive setup offers a wide range of sounds and playing opportunities that are impossible to achieve with smaller setups.
A 7-piece drum kit includes an extra rack tom and floor tom compared to a standard 5-piece configuration. It’s ideal for drummers looking to explore more tones on the kit.
There are a few popular 7-piece drum kit options from different brands. In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best 7-piece drum sets available for all different price ranges to help you find the perfect kit to suit your needs.
What are the Best 7-Piece Drum Sets?
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How I Tested and Selected the Best 7-Piece Drum Sets
7-piece drum sets offer drummers a comprehensive and versatile array of sounds. Having extensively explored and played with various 7-piece kits, I’ve identified the key factors that make them stand out.
When testing each kit, I mainly wanted to see what the sound quality was like and how the tones differed between each tom. After that, I looked at the small build features that made each kit unique.
Each kit’s expressive capabilities were put to the test. The expanded setup allowed me to experiment with intricate fills, dynamic shifts, and complex rhythms, unlocking the full expressive potential of each 7-piece kit.
I’ve carefully selected the best 7-piece drum sets, recognizing their dynamic range, expressive possibilities, configuration flexibility, and stage presence potential for drummers.
In-Depth 7-Piece Drum Set Reviews
DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart
DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart Review
Starting with the top-quality option, the DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart is an incredible pro drum set that has an excellent reputation.
Purpleheart is known for its density and tonal richness. It imparts a unique character to the drums and they produce deep, resonant, and punchy tones.
I’ve been able to play dozens of high-end drum sets over the years, but this was definitely one of the best-sounding kits I’ve played. This kit shined in the low to mid ranges, having a strong punchy sound thanks to the DW HVLT shell technology.
After playing it, I couldn’t help but think that the DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart Lacquer is one of the best drum sets you can use for recording due to how good the drums sounded through mics.
All the drums come equipped with DW’s famous Collector’s Series hardware. The large turret lugs are instantly recognizable, and the nickel hardware is very sturdy and durable.
I was most interested in the 23” bass drum. While it’s a unique size, it sounded full and very punchy.
This is by no means a cheap kit. It’s one of the most expensive drum kits you’ll find on the market, but it’s also one of the best 7 piece drum sets you can get.
It’s a sonic masterpiece and it sets the standard for what a professional drum kit should be, delivering a sublime blend of aesthetics and unparalleled sound quality.
Pros
- One of the highest-quality drum kits on the market
- Uniquely sized bass drum with a massive deep tone
- Incredible DW hardware
Cons
- Extremely expensive
Gretsch Catalina Maple
Gretsch Catalina Maple Review
The Gretsch Catalina Maple is one of the most popular 7 pc drum sets on the market. It has such a good reputation for being a versatile kit that works well in any style of music.
I love the sound of this kit, and I’m a big fan of how these shells sound with the more rounded 30-degree bearing edges. It provides a warmer yet punchy and full tone.
I’ve played the Gretsch Catalina Maple drum set many times at my university; in rehearsal studios, in the studio, and on stage. It always delivers fantastic tones.
The drums are made from 7-ply maple shells. These shells have the classic Gretsch tone that sounds vintage, yet modern enough to fit in any band. You get a musical range of notes as you play down the toms.
These tones are further aided by the 30-degree bearing edges on each drum. They add a great sense of warmth to the drums along with a punchy impact.
I’ve seen so many of these being used as house kits in venues, and it’s mostly due to how affordable this set is combined with how good the drums sound.
Whether you’re a jazz or metal drummer, this is a fantastic kit to consider getting. It’s a great investment for any drummer looking for a reliable and adaptable kit.
Pros
- Very versatile kit
- Lovely warm tones on the toms
- Classic Gretsch vintage sound with a modern touch
Cons
- Stock drumheads aren’t ideal for the best tones
PDP Concept Maple
PDP Concept Maple Review
If you liked the DW kit, you should check out the PDP Concept Maple for a more affordable option. It shares many hardware qualities but costs about $6000 less.
All the toms and the bass drum have 7-ply maple shells while the snare drum has a 10-ply maple shell. These drums are incredibly punchy. It’s very common to see one of these kits being used in a Gospel setting because of this.
While it suits pop, rock, and gospel music well, the tonal versatility of the Concept Maple allows it to seamlessly adapt to many different genres.
With this PDP drum set, I really appreciate the DW hardware touches, they do a great job in making it feel luxurious.
This included the True-Pitch tension rods, MAG snare throw-off, and the STM suspension mount for the rack toms.
One of the best parts of this kit is the snare drum. It has a killer tone as well as a fairly wide tuning range. However, it sounds best when it’s cranked up tightly.
The PDP Concept Maple line truly sounds awesome considering the price tag, and you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck with high-quality maple shells that are constructed with care and attention to detail.
You also get a range of sleek and modern finish options that add a touch of style to the drum set, making it as visually appealing as it is sonically impressive.
Pros
- Very punchy drum tones
- Great for Gospel and metal settings
- Affordable kit with high-quality DW hardware
Cons
- Stock drumheads aren’t amazing
Pearl Decade Maple
Pearl Decade Maple Review
The Pearl Decade Maple is the current popular intermediate kit from Pearl. While it looks similar to Pearl’s Export kit on the surface, it has a few qualities that make it a better kit with superior tones.
This kit combines quality materials, good design features, and affordability, making it an excellent choice for drummers seeking a reliable and versatile kit for various musical situations.
The drums are made with 6-ply maple shells. Each one has an impressive low-end tone that tends to work quite well in studio settings. The kit also displays a smooth midrange sound when tuned appropriately.
This kit performs similarly to the Tama Superstar and Gretsch Catalina, but I much prefer the hardware of this kit including the Pearl Opti-Lock suspension mounts.
In terms of hardware, the Decade Maple uses Mini NDL lugs on the drums that are inspired by Pearl’s top-quality Reference kits. The rack toms are mounted with Pearl’s Opti-Lock suspension mounts which are a hit amongst many Pearl fans.
Something unique about this kit compared to the others is the wonderful choice of finishes on offer. They all have color in the middle that fades to black on the edges, making the kit look very striking wherever it’s set up.
Whether you’re playing jazz, rock, pop, or any other genre, the Decade Maple is designed to adapt and deliver a quality performance.
Pros
- Beautiful finish options
- Great for recording
- Higher-quality option than the Pearl Export
Cons
- Pearl tom mounts are a bit harder to adjust than other drum kit mounts
Tama Superstar Classic
Tama Superstar Classic Review
The Tama Superstar Classic is a kit that is very reminiscent of the Tama kits from the classic rock era with power toms and bold sounds.
I’ve played on several Tama Superstar kits over the years, and I always love the toms and kick drums that produce big and booming tones.
It’s fairly similar to the previous kits. However, it has a few unique features that are exclusive to Tama drums.
The drums are made with thin maple shells that produce booming tones across each tom. The plies on the bass drum are a bit thicker, allowing it to produce a stronger punching sound than the toms.
The drums have 45-degree bearing edges. A slight change from the common 30-degree bearing edges of the other kits. The tighter angle gives them a booming sound.
The toms are mounted with Tama’s Star mount system. The toms are easier to adjust thanks to the design. All of the hardware on the Tama Superstar drum set feels substantial and fairly heavy-duty.
A final word about the kit is that there are dozens of finishes to choose from. If you want a big choice when it comes to visuals, the Superstar Classic will have you covered.
Pros
- Dozens of great finishes to choose from
- Kit is reminiscent of the rock kits in the 70s
- Very adjustable rack toms
Cons
- Stock drumheads are quite weak
7-Piece Drum Set Buyer’s Guide
One of the best things about buying a drum set is all the choices you’re offered when it comes to shell types and sizes.
Some drummers love the small kits while others love the large and extravagant ones. If you’re part of the latter group of drummers, this article is for you!
7-piece drum sets are sonically and visually impressive and are fun to play. They provide a greater range of tones, more opportunities for exciting rhythmic combinations, and offer a larger visual presence.
But before you buy a 7-piece drum set, you should think about the type of music you play and what kind of sound you want to achieve. You’ll also want to check the specific drum sizes and depths that are available.
You’ll also need to make sure you have the space to accommodate a 7-piece kit, and that you have all the hardware necessary to mount it. If not, you’ll have to consider what type of hardware setup you prefer.
In this buyer’s guide, we’ll take a look at what you should consider when buying a 7-piece drum kit, as well as provide some tips to help you choose the right one for your playing style and budget.
Things to Consider When Buying a 7-Piece Drum Kit
Drum Racks
Although all these 7-piece drum sets come with a mount for the 8” tom, buying a drum rack is a great way of maximizing your space potential.
It will make your large setup feel more stable and comfortable to play on. It will also allow you to set up more cymbals around the kit without needing several cymbal stands.
Drum racks make it easier to position all of the drum set components to your liking, and personally, I think they look much cleaner and more professional with larger drum sets, as the drum set looks much less cluttered than it would with lots of stands.
Overall, drum racks offer many advantages, and it’s something most 7-piece drum kit owners should highly consider. It’s just not the most ideal thing to have when playing gigs at different venues!
Cymbals
If you have a large drum setup, you’re most probably going to need more cymbals than the average drummer has. There’s nothing wrong with playing 2 crashes and a ride, but they will just look a bit bare next to all your drums.
Most 7-piece drum sets will utilize a lot more cymbals than a traditional 5-piece drum kit, so you might want to think about buying extra cymbals, such as several crash cymbals, as well as effects cymbals such as splash cymbals and china cymbals.
The beauty of having a 7-piece drum set means there’s going to be plenty of room around the drums to incorporate all the cymbals you could want.
The most cost-effective way of getting your hands on more cymbals is to buy a cymbal pack. But you’ll likely need to purchase individual cymbals as well in addition to a standard set.
Space
Space is an important factor when it comes to buying a 7-piece drum set. A 7-piece drum set takes up a lot more space than a standard 5-piece drum kit.
This is because the extra rack tom and floor tom make the drum kit longer and deeper, and you’ll require additional hardware to accommodate them. Additionally, the secondary larger floor tom size will be the second biggest drum apart from the kick drum.
Whether you’re setting your 7-piece drums in your home or studio, you’ll need to ensure there is more than enough room to accommodate them all.
Also, a large car will help if you’re planning on transporting them to gigs and rehearsals!
Configuring Your Setup
One of the best things about having a 7-piece kit like the PDP Concept Maple and the Gretsch Catalina Maple is the diversity it gives you in your drum setup. You don’t have to set up each of the seven drums each time. You can choose to place different-sized toms for varying configurations.
A small reggae gig may benefit from having an 8” rack tom and 14” floor tom while a worship gig will need larger toms in the setup. You get to choose from your wide array of toms for every gigging setting. If you want all 7 drums set up at all times, go for it!
Wrapping Up
As you can see from this list, most 7-piece drum sets available on the market are very similar to each other. Like the Pearl Decade Maple & Tama Superstar Classic, they all have maple shells and boast the same drum sizes across the kit.
The DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart Lacquer is the big outlier, making it the clear choice to go for if you can afford it.
The rest of the kits, on the other hand, will come down to brand choice. You need to see what each brand offers with their hardware and drum design, and then get the kit that you like the most. All of them are high-quality options, so you won’t be disappointed with your choice.
7-Piece Drum Set FAQs
What Is a 7-Piece Drum Kit?
A 7-piece drum kit is a large drum set configuration that includes five toms, a snare drum, and a kick drum. A 7-piece kit has an additional two toms over a standard 5-piece configuration. These are typically a smaller rack tom and a larger floor tom.
Here is an example configuration of a seven-piece drum kit that is taken from my popular drum set configurations article.
