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Professional-level drum sets are built with premium quality tonewoods and hardware compared to cheaper drums, and therefore produce exceedingly purer tones.
This makes them suitable for professional music applications including studio recordings and being used live on stage.
These high-end drum kits are also constructed with much greater attention to detail and feature perfectly cut bearing edges as well as expertly applied finishes such as gorgeous lacquer coats.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best professional drum sets on the market. I’ve compared design, sound, build quality, finishes, and cost to give you my top recommendations.
What are the Best Professional Drum Sets?
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Best Overall
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Premium Pick
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Studio Pick
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Budget Pick
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Best Birch Kit
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Professional Drum Sets
I’ve been able to play some incredible drum sets throughout my playing career. Some have been in luxurious recording studios, while others have just been ready to demo in music stores and at trade shows.
When I tested drum sets for this list, I mainly wanted to look at sound and build quality. These are the two big features that determine how high-quality a kit is.
Having played all of these kits, I’ve carefully assessed each drum set’s sonic range and its ability to deliver rich tones and versatility across different music styles.
I then looked at unique build features to see what set each set apart. After that, I looked at price and value so that I could recommend good professional kits at various price ranges.
While there are dozens of good pro kits, I ended up with five that I believe cover all the bases of performance and quality.
In-Depth Professional Drum Set Reviews
DW Design Series 5 Piece Drum Set
DW Design Series 5 Piece Drum Set Review
This stunning DW Design Series 5 Piece Drum Set delivers incredible tones and warmth, at a fraction of the price of the legendary DW Collectors Series drums.
The DW Design Series kit is a pro drum set in every way. The drums are built from North American Maple shells that sound fantastic.
Having played on a couple DW Design Series kits, I’m seriously impressed by how these drums sound in terms of their attack, projection, and responsiveness. The build quality is also fantastic.
These drums boast professional-level features including newly designed mini-turret lugs, True-Pitch tuning rods, concise bearing edges, a MAG snare drum throw-off, and more. The drums are also equipped with Remo drum heads on the batter and resonant heads.
DW’s Design Series drums complement all musical styles. They are easy to tune and they have a wide tuning range – sounding great tuned up high or low!
The Design Series toms are punchy and full-sounding, and deliver those exceptionally pure tones you can expect from Drum Workshop.
I also love how meaty the kick drum sounds, producing a fantastic low-end thud. I really enjoyed how it felt to play, especially with the DW pedal that I had on the kit when trying it out.
The finish options available with the DW Design Series are all very attractive and the configurations are perfect for modern drummers.
This is easily one of the best professional drum sets on the market. It’s the complete package – delivering premium sounds and looks that deserve to be heard on the stage and in the studio.
Pros
- Stunning DW sounds and looks at an affordable price
- Professional quality features throughout
- Fantastic tuning range - perfect for all styles of music
Cons
- No negatives!
Tama Star Walnut 4 Piece Drum Set
Tama Star Walnut 4 Piece Drum Set Review
The Tama Star is a dream set of many drummers. Everything about this drum set is incredible – from its build quality and shell construction right through to its finishes. Importantly, it simply sounds amazing and feels wonderful to play.
I own the Tama Star Walnut, and it’s my favorite drum set. Everything about it is remarkable- the sounds, the aesthetics, the build quality, and even the price is lower than other brand’s flagship kits.
Included in this kit you’ll receive two rack toms, a floor tom, and a bass drum. The toms are incredibly responsive and dynamic, making them feel and sound exceedingly musical.
The Tama drums are also equipped with die-cast hoops, which help them to produce vibrant and attacking tones, as well as enable them to hold their tunings very well.
In fact, I recently set up my Tama Star after having been in their cases for several months and all of the drums still sounded amazing after setting up without any tuning!
In terms of versatility, the Tama Star will complement any style of music, and any musical scenario both live and in the studio. The toms and bass drum sounds superb under microphones, especially for studio recordings.
It’s a premium-priced drum set, but if you’re looking to own one of the best professional kits available, the Star is seriously worth considering.
These drums are handcrafted in Japan and the build quality is impeccable. This is a drum set that will never require upgrading ever again.
Pros
- Impeccable craftsmanship and superb build quality
- The drums are very easy to tune and they hold tunings well
- Offers better value compared with other top end kits like DW Collectors
Cons
- No snare drum or tom mounts included
Gretsch Renown Maple 5-Piece Drum Set
Gretsch Renown Maple 5-Piece Drum Set Review
If you are looking for the classic, great Gretsch sound then the stunning new Gretsch Renown Maple Drum Set is the perfect drum kit for you. The legendary Renown Series is one of the best professional drum sets available for the money.
The new Renown Series features 7-ply North American Rock Maple shells with 30 degree bearing edges for a rich and warm low-end timbre.
I love how good these drums sound for the price. They have a warm yet lively tone that is really quite distinctive. I really enjoyed my time testing the Renown Series kit.
These drums are equipped with heavy-duty Gretsch 302 die-cast hoops and lugs across the drums, that offer an incredibly strong and premium feel.
The brand new Renown Series is offered in a range of contemporary size configurations and finish options, designed to meet the needs of the modern drummer. The newly redesigned round Gretsch badge looks great, too.
These drums sound amazing. The shell and hoop combination works perfectly, delivering explosive attack power and warmth. The bearing edges help to produce a rich and rounded sound that works great for any style of music.
The Gretsch Renown Series is the complete workhorse in the drumming world designed to deliver great sounds in the studio and on tour.
Pros
- Beautiful warm and smooth tones throughout
- The classic Gretsch sound offered at an affordable price
- Die-cast hoops and lugs across all of the drums
Cons
- Drums have a bright and classy character, but a long sustain that some drummers may not like
PDP Concept Maple 5 Piece Drum Set
PDP Concept Maple 5 Piece Drum Set Review
The newly-designed PDP Concept Maple Drum Set offers high-performance at an unbeatable price. This drum set boasts DW-inspired sounds and looks, with a beautiful new Seafoam satin finish and all-maple drum shells throughout.
The new PDP Concept Maple is a striking modern drum set. The design is influenced by DW’s high-end drums; the shells, hardware, lugs, and finishes resemble the top-of-the-range Collector’s Series.
I’ve always thought that this is a good entry point to the lower-professional end market for aspiring drummers looking for a killer gig-worthy upgrade.
It’s designed to meet the needs of today’s drummers with modern configurations and studio-worthy sounds.
New features include fine-threaded True-Pitch tuning rods for greater tuning accuracy, Dual Turret Lugs that look great and offer maximum shell resonance, STM tom mounts, and graduated counterhoops.
Last but not least these drums are ready to rock with Remo-made drum heads across all of the drums. You will not find a better all-maple drum set for this price!
Pros
- Great value professional drum set
- DW-inspired sounds and looks
- Dual Turret Lugs and True-Pitch tuning rods
Cons
- Chinese made Remo drumheads might require upgrading
Yamaha Stage Custom 5 Piece Drum Set
Yamaha Stage Custom 5 Piece Drum Set Review
The Yamaha Stage Custom Drum Set is one of the best professional drum sets to buy on a budget. For over 30 years the Stage Custom has delivered great sounds and rock-solid dependability.
Yamaha uses a 100% premium birch shell for the Stage Custom drum set, and these drums sound excellent. The drums sound punchy and they offer a bright attack.
I always think that the sound of the Yamaha Stage Custom far exceeds its price point. These drums are just so bright, musical, and responsive.
The build quality is also excellent. Yamaha uses the same high-quality hardware (including YESS tom mounts) for the Stage Custom as they use for their top-of-the-range drum sets. The overall craftsmanship and attention to detail are outstanding considering the affordability of these drums.
The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch is one of the best professional drum sets for intermediate and advanced-level drummers. These quality drums stand up well to all styles of music and can be relied upon show after show.
If you equip these drums with professional level Remo or Evans heads, these drums are worthy of being used both on stage and in the studio.
Pros
- Precisely constructed shells and bearing edges
- Performance exceeds this drum set's price point
- Exceptional quality hardware
Cons
- Snare drum has a long sustain
- Chinese made Remo drumheads might require upgrading
Professional Drum Set Buyer’s Guide
So you’re an experienced drummer ready to upgrade from your worn-out, or well-gigged, drum kit to something more desirable? Great news! There is a good selection of professional quality drum sets on the market, and there’s something to suit all budgets.
Below you’ll find some helpful information that will help you when looking to purchase a professional drum set either for yourself or somebody else.
Professional Drum Set Cost
Professional drum sets can range in price greatly. Most of the best professional drum set brands offer mass-produced 5-piece shell packs in the upper-intermediate to the lower-professional range that will suit most budgets.
You can expect to pay between $ 1,500 and $3,000 for a 5-piece professional-level drum set shell packs.
Drum shell packs do not include any hardware, such as a bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand, cymbal stands, or a snare drum stand.
If you are buying a pro-level drum set, you’ll be expected to have this already. Alternatively, you’ll need to buy a high-quality drum hardware set to pair with your new drums.
If you are looking for a bespoke custom drum set that is handmade by very skilled craftsmen, you can shell out in excess of $10,000! This will certainly be the case if you are ordering a larger drum kit.
Professional Drum Set Woods
Professional drum kits will either be constructed from sheets of wood plies or solid wood blocks (known as solid-stave drums) and both utilize premium hardwood options such as Maple, Birch, or Beech.
There are many different types of woods for drum shells and professional level drum sets are known to utilize exotic and rarer woods such as Bubinga, Cherry wood, Mahogany, and more.
Professional drum kits can also use a blend of different types of woods. Tama’s Starclassic Series features a blend of Birch and Bubinga. While Mapex utilizes a blend of Maple and Walnut wood for its Saturn series.
There are also some quality professional kits that feature acrylic drums instead of wood, with notable mentions going to the DW Design Series and Ludwig Vistalite models.
Are Expensive Drums Worth It?
You might be wondering if buying a professional-level drum set is worth the cost.
To some degree, you will receive diminishing returns with the more you spend on a drum set. By this I mean, if you spend $5,000, it’s not going to sound TWICE as good as a $2,500 drum kit.
Expect Considerably Better Build Quality and Materials
However, as you enter the professional-level drum set price point, you can expect to receive a considerably better quality drum set than a beginner or intermediate-level drum set, and the difference in sound is crystal clear!
Professional drum kits will first and foremost be constructed with better quality materials, and with better care and attention to detail throughout. The wood shells feature precisely cut bearing edges and they will also be perfectly round.
Secondly, the hardware that is adorned on the drums will be more durable and robust. With high-quality components throughout there will be no cheap screws or threading, and this will help with tuning.
Thirdly, the quality of the wood finishes on professional drums are far better, as they are exquisitely applied and look like a million dollars.
Beginner-level drum sets tend to feature budget-looking wraps that are glued onto the drums and warp over time. Expensive drums boast gorgeous lacquer coats and matte-stained finishes.
Overall, expensive quality drums feel significantly more solid and high-quality compared to cheaper drums, and they produce exceedingly purer tones.
This makes them much better for professional music applications including studio recordings and being used live on stage.
