9 Awesome Drum Sets Under $1000 for Gigs and Practice

Pearl has been in the business for over 10 years so it’s safe to say the brand has mastered the art of manufacturing high quality drum sets. The reason we’ve rated this as the best all round set is because it’s a step ahead where performance and sound quality is concerned. And the best part is these sets are very reasonably priced.

It also helps that that they not only sound good but look nice too. We believe the thin all maple shell has something to do with the clear sound this drum produces. The shells allow for a beautiful resonant & thunderous tone—ideal if that’s the sound you’re looking for.

When it comes to a drum set, stability is crucial for optimum performance. That’s one thing you won’t have to worry about if you pick this set which features a three way tom mount. This allows the shell to resonate freely to give a wobble-free performance.

Still on the subject of mounting, you’ll need a cymbal stand to mount the Tom Tom which unfortunately doesn’t come with the kit. You’ll have to purchase it separately.

Another thing you can consider adding is a better snare drum but overall it’s a good buy.

Pearl threw in a couple of professional hardware features to aid in its performance including gearless tom arms, suspension floor and low mass tuning lugs.

In addition, you get a lifetime warranty on this product so you’re likely to enjoy it for a long time.

What are our favorite features?

• Exceptionally clear sound
• Affordable
• High quality drums
• Visually appealing

What could be better?

• Doesn’t come with a cymbal stand
• No snare drum

Who says drum sets can’t be stylish too? Pick this new series and that’s exactly what you’ll get: A sleek contemporary design aesthetic. The design isn’t the only upgrade on this model; it’ also improved ergonomically for easier usage. This is the reason we voted it the best user friendly drum set on our list.

Together with this kit you’ll find a mount plate, mounting system, mount brackets and tom holders. The manufacturer also included screws and bolts on all the fittings for a drummer friendly feel. But that’s not all: Rubber isolators were added to keep the drum hoops looking as good as new. The only things you may need to purchase are stands and crashes as it doesn’t come with them.

Similar to the Pearl drum set you also don’t have to worry about stability issues. The socket arms are designed to provide positioning freedom for a more secure hold.

Overall, it includes most drum features making it one of the sought after drum sets by drummers all over.

It’s the set to buy for those looking for an acoustic drum kit which can play anything from metal to jazz. And you can play it for hours on end using the same stock heads; making it a durable unit.

Another thing is it won’t take you long to set it up: You’ll have it ready for play in no time.

Why did it make our list?

• Very stable
• Easy and quick to mount
• Sleek design
• Durable

What is not ideal about it?

• Doesn’t come with stands
• No crashes included

This is the product to pick if you want a set that commands your audience’s attention. With this set, the sound isn’t the only thing that’ll captivate them—the attractive design will too. It’s available in various designs to pick from so you can find a favorite be it modern or vintage. You’re bound to find one that matches your style.

Unlike some kits which don’t include hardware, that’s not the case with this product. Not only does it come with heavy duty tom suspension shock mounts, it comes with the necessary mounting hardware. Of importance to note is it also comes with a cymbal stand—an item you have to purchase separately with most drum sets. (Including the two reviewed above).

The only thing you’ll need to purchase is a boom stand. Still on additional purchases, you can consider buying new heads for the bass drums because the ones provided aren’t the best quality. But we’ll be quick to admit only the more experienced drummers may replace them. We reckon they’re just fine for the novice drummer.

Where sound is concerned, the 6-ply shells allow it to produce a warm punchy tone. So if you’re a fan of the classic tones, then this is for you.

Generally for the price it’s a good buy. You may on occasion receive a set that has some finishing issues but it’s nothing you can’t sort out. And it doesn’t affect the performance of the product. However in a worst case scenario, it may arrive with missing parts altogether which we hope the supplier will attend to in future.

What are our favorite features?

• Inexpensive
• Comes in different designs
• Attractive design
• Good sound quality
• Comes with mounting hardware

What could be better?

• No boom stands
• May come with missing parts

Want a set that provides both performance and affordability? This Yamaha might just be worth the investment. It’s no secret how the ability of a drum to rumble or resonate lies in the shell. Yamaha understands this and decided to use 100% birch in the construction of this set. Not sure what that is? Ask any drummer and they’ll tell you it’s exactly what you need if you’re looking for a classic high class drum kit.

Regarding performance, it’s designed to accurately convey those vibrations usually produced at the impact surface. Ultimately, you’ll get a flawless sound thanks to the 6-ply structure,

Moving on to mounting, you’ll find this kit relatively easy to set up: The stoppers on the bass drum legs make sure of this. You’ll be happy to know it comes with all the mounting hardware you need—snare’s included.

Want these for your home studio? Your neighbors won’t complain of any noise thanks to the rubber insertion plates made to reduce noise.

It’s also a pretty stable unit because it features Nylon bushings on the rod clamps that aid in stability—even under the heaviest strokes.

This is the one to pick if you’re a beginner or intermediate in your drumming skills.

So what are the downsides? First off, the packaging isn’t all that great especially for such a beautiful set. The bearing edges usually ride on the floor making them prone to cracking. To be on the safe side, practice extra caution when unwrapping to avoid damaging your unit.

Also the heads may need replacing for optimum performance. Again, it depends on your drumming skill set.

What are our favorite features?

• Impressive performance
• High quality
• Beautiful design
• Minimal noise

What could be better?

• Poor packaging
• Heads may need replacing

In case you’ve always wanted a Pearl drum set but you’re working on a budget, you can opt for this model. It’s significantly cheaper than the model we reviewed above but nonetheless still a good buy.

What caught our attention with this kit is the jet black color which gives it an edgy look.

Aesthetics aside, by picking this set you’ll be getting a five piece set complete with all the mounting hardware and cymbals. The only thing missing are the screws.

Setting this kit up won’t take much of your time as it’s available in a gig ready setup. For such an inexpensive unit, you’ll appreciate its durable wrapped finish. This essentially means you have a long lasting unit on your hands.

The shell on this drum is 9-ply so you can tell it produces a powerful tone. A number of professional features are included with this kit including a chain drive bass drum pedal and locking stands. What’s important to note is all the stands are dual reinforced and have double braced legs. This also largely contributes not only to its durability but stability.

The beginner must definitely consider this kit: It’s a decent kit especially for the price.

However because the throne is on the smaller side pre teens & children will find it more useful.

What are its best features?

• Sturdy
• Comes with all mounting hardware
• Cheap
• Durable unit

What could be improved?

• No screws
• Small throne

Here is yet another set from Yamaha. The main difference is it’s much cheaper than the model previously reviewed. This set is for those drummers particularly looking for electronic drumming sets.

Yamaha is well known for these two attributes in all of their products: design and durability. We’re happy to say they didn’t disappoint in this particular model either. It comes in classic black to enhance the aesthetic value of the kit.

How is it sound-wise? It features 10 built-in drum kits which include both electronic sounds and acoustic effects. With such a combination you’re bound to find the perfect voice.

You don’t have to rely on the kits provided by Yamaha; You can create your own kit and pick from the numerous high quality sounds if you wish.

Aside from the built in drum kits, it comes with 10 integrated training functions from Pad gate to Fast Blast: Simply pick what works best for your drumming skill level and the music you want to create. However, we recommend this for the beginner who is still looking to improve his or her groove as a drummer. You can take advantage of the DTX app which allows the user to customize the drum kits depending on their preference.

It also allows you to connect to your PC via USB which is uncommon in most drum sets.

Why did it make our list?

• Great for beginners
• Allows for drum kit customization
• Can connect o PC

What is not ideal about it?

• No hardware
• No Cynbals

Here we have the newest line of drum sets from Saw Tooth. Have a kid interested in drumming? You can opt for this set which is ideally suited for children making it the best student drum kit.

Needless to say, this drum set is by no means a toy—even adult beginners can use it. It features a full size 6-ply drum set which delivers surprisingly good sound. Not only that but its sturdy design and construction make it a pretty durable unit.

It’s made of Poplar: A sought after wood which is perfect to produce a smooth & even tone. It also produces low end warmth tones combined with soft highs & mid tones. As you can see it has everything you need to take your drumming skills to another level.

It does come with some hardware including a Hi-hat stand, 2 tier cymbal stand, throne and floor tom legs to mention a few.

The symbols provided are good enough for practice but we highly recommend you purchase new ones for better performance. They’re not the best on the current market—though acceptable for beginners.

Also you’ll find the snare isn’t as smooth but considering the very low price we aren’t really surprised. It’s still an excellent budget option.

Why is it special?

• Cheap
• Best for beginners
• Durable

What are the flaws?

• Low quality hardware
• Snare not smooth

This 8 piece electronic drum set is a must have for those looking for kits that produce the most natural & ultra quiet responses. For such a low price you get the full kit comprising of in demand percussion sounds.

We were impressed that it provides 40 different kits and 60 integrated play-along tracks making it a very versatile unit. Whatever sound you require you’ll get it from this model because it can literally handle any genre you can think of.

With this kit you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds: The convenience offered by electronic drums coupled with the response of a traditional acoustic set.

The kit includes cymbals kick pedals as well as a durable aluminum rack.

As soon you un-box the kit it won’t take you much time to start drumming away. It helps that assembling isn’t very difficult considering the instructions aren’t as detailed as you’d wish. The set comes with all the cables you’ll need to set it up including a power supply and a drum key. The manufacturer thought of everything—including a set of drum sticks! Convenient, right?

This set also comes with a sequencer and performance recorder—basically everything you need for that professional feel.

You can decide to crank the volume up or practice in silence—it’s really up to you because it comes with a headphone input so you can play audio via headphones during practice.

We do have to point out that the kit is a bit low making it ideal for the younger kids and shorter individuals.

Why did it make our list?

• Can play any genre
• Versatile unit
• Cheap
• Easy to assemble

What is not ideal about it?

• Set up instructions vague
• Not for tall persons

And now for our budget pick, we present you with the Gammon drum set. This a full size adult set which comprises of all five drums: Bass, snare, floor and mounted toms. It also comes complete with the cymbals, stands, sticks and a stool—all for an impressive price. The manufacturer even went as far as including a tuning key with this set to adjust the sound according to your preference.

You don’t need to make any additional purchases if you pick this model. Whatever stage you’re in in your drumming career, you’ll find this set pretty useful.

For such an inexpensive kit, you’ll be impressed by its durability. It’s likely to last you a good year depending on usage.

The cymbals aren’t the best but they do get the job done so it’s not really a deal breaker. Besides you can always replace them if you need to.

Setting up won’t take much time: You just need to make use of the DVD instructions so you don’t take longer than is necessary—you want to get to the fun playing part!

You’ll find that the bass drum pedal doesn’t have the best rebound but it’s adjustable and therefore usable. And though it comes with sticks, they’re made of soft wood so you can consider replacing them with something firmer, especially as you progress as a player.

What are its best features?

• Very cheap
• Comes with all the accessories
• Easy to set up

What could be improved?

• No rebound on bass drum pedal
• Sticks flimsy