Acoustic Drums Buying Guide (updated)

Choosing the Right Acoustic Drum Kit

Selecting the perfect acoustic drum kit for your studio, school, or church involves several important considerations. This guide will provide you with the essential knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of drum kits, helping you to make a well-informed decision.

What to Consider:

• Set Your Budget: Consider what you can afford as drum sets come in a range of prices. Even budget-friendly options can offer great quality and incorporate many features found in more expensive models.
• Assess Your Space: Think about where the drums will be played. Permanent setups can accommodate larger or more acoustically resonant kits, whereas portability should be prioritized if the drums will travel frequently. Maple shells are particularly versatile for various locations.
• Match the Kit to Your Music: Determine the number of toms and cymbals needed based on the music you plan to play.
• Select a Finish: Drums are available in many finishes, from natural woods to rugged plastic wraps. The choice may depend on the drum’s setting; for instance, schools might benefit from the durability of plastic wraps, while wooden finishes might be preferred in places of worship for their aesthetic appeal.

Types of Drum Kits:

• The ideal drum set depends on the venue size and the music style. Smaller drums tend to suit smaller venues as they produce a tighter sound and are less likely to overwhelm the space with low frequencies. Larger drums are better suited for bigger venues where their sound needs to project further.
• Musical genre also influences drum selection; funk and hip-hop may require smaller, punchier drums, whereas classic rock might call for larger shells for deeper, more resonant sounds.

To find out which drum kit fits your needs best, consider these factors closely.

Studio Kits

Studio engineers tend to prefer a drier, purer drum sound that can be easily miked without the interference of room tone and additional harmonics — unless that is the desired effect. Some classic studio kits that that have been used at Sweetwater Studios and throughout the industry include the Yamaha Recording Custom and DW Performance Series kits.

Jazz/Club Kits

Jazz players favor smaller bass drums (14-inch to 18-inch) that can be “feathered” at low volumes without drowning out a combo. They also tend to reach for smaller, 4-piece kits in a one-up/one-down configuration (kick, tom, floor tom, snare), which can be easily carted around town. Jazz kits are characterized by their tight, wide-open musical tone. Note that jazz kits are often also called club kits by players and manufacturers due to their easy-gigging sizes. Examples include Gretsch Renown Jazz and Catalina Club Jazz, TAMA Club-Jam, and Sonor AQ2 Bop kits.

Fusion Kits

Fusion-sized kits are an intermediate size that exists between club kits and rock kits. The fusion kit is marked by a 20-inch to 22-inch bass drum and smaller, evenly intervallic (10-inch/12-inch/14-inch) toms. Don’t let their name fool you: fusion kits serve a wide range of player needs from blues to rock, stage to studio. Examples include the Pork Pie Little Squealer, Sonor SQ1 and Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kits.

Rock/Stage Kits

Drum kits that are tailored for the stage tend to feature larger shells that are built to project (i.e., greater thickness, denser materials). It’s this same tradition that has given large bass drums and cymbals their dominant place in rock music. The consummate rock kit is John Bonham’s Amber Ludwig Vistalite with its 26-inch-diameter bass drum and one-up/two-down configuration. Also common to the rock/stage kit is the addition of more toms and floor toms for that wraparound look. Other great, stage-ready rock kits include the PDP Concept Maple, A&F Royal, and SJC Tour Series.

I personally love the Yamaha Tour Custom and the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak for their versatility and incredible tone. I’ve used it to record different styles that range from funk, r&b to rock and blues. And for drummers seeking a compact kit with a strong rock sensibility and a dash of vintage charm, the Gretsch Drums Catalina Club Rock 4-piece drum kit stands out. It’s designed to deliver the punch and power essential for rock music, while its retro aesthetics offer a nod to classic drum setups. Perfect for both live performances and studio sessions, this kit combines modern craftsmanship with timeless style to meet the demands of today’s musicians.

Hip-hop/House Kits

Fans of the vinyl-sampled grooves and crunchy breakdowns common to house and hip-hop music will, no doubt, be familiar with the fast, controlled response of these specially sized kits. Today’s hip-hop and house kits are characterized by their small shells and cymbals — notably, a 14-inch to 16-inch kick drum — that work well for backing a small combo or an emcee. The leader of this pack has to be the Ludwig Breakbeats series, brought to you by none other than Questlove of The Roots. Other solid options for hip-hop/house kits include the PDP Daru Jones New Yorker, and the Gretsch Brooklyn Micro kits.

Metal Kits

Drum kits designed for punk, heavy metal, and modern progressive music are built with two things in mind: projection and articulation. Metal kits often exhibit a crisp, forward tone that allows players to play quickly and technically without notes bleeding into one another, all while supplying the heat needed to rocket through a dense stage mix. Also unique among metal kits are the double bass drums used in gallops and blast beats. This effect can be achieved by having a kit with two physical bass drums, as in the case of the mammoth Pearl Masterworks Stadium Exotic, or a single bass drum that is operated by a double bass pedal. Kits that are popular in metal today include the Mapex Armory, SJC Pathfinder, ddrum Dominion Birch, and the TAMA Starclassics beloved by metal Hall of Famers Lars Ulrich and Matt Garstka.

Understanding Drum Kit Components

Drum kits vary widely in configuration, but most share the following core components:

• Kick Drum (Bass Drum): The foundation of the kit’s rhythm, offering the lowest tones.
• Snare Drum: Known for its sharp, distinct sound, the snare is crucial for defining the beat and adding rhythmic accents.
• Toms: These drums vary in size and pitch, adding melodic runs and fills between song sections. Kits often include several toms for a range of sounds.
• Cymbals: Providing the high-pitched “soprano” voices in the drum set, essential types include ride, crash, and hi-hat cymbals.
• Hardware: This includes all the necessary stands and holders for the drums and cymbals, such as the bass pedal and snare stand, ensuring everything is securely playable.

What is a Shell Pack?

A shell pack typically includes the bass drum and toms. Snare drums, stands, and pedals are usually purchased separately, allowing drummers to customize these components according to their preferences.

How Many Toms are Enough?

While some drummers opt for elaborate setups with multiple toms, the essential kit often includes at least one small tom mounted on the bass drum and one floor tom. The number of toms is based on personal preference and the musical context, with each tom used primarily for fills to transition between different sections of music.

Top (batter) head

The most basic component of a drum, the head is a round membrane — made of plastic or animal hide — that is stretched across a shell, with varying degrees of tension (tightness).

Hoop

A modern drum hoop is most often made of either cast or stamped metal (although many drummers prefer wood hoops), and it contains a flange shaped to hold the head on the shell for tensioning.

Tension rod

Tension rods mount through holes in the hoop and thread into the lug to maintain the desired tension.

Lug

Lugs are normally made of metal and mount on the shell to receive the tension rods. Lug designs can vary from simple to very complex, and they often contain alignment springs and other features.

Shell

Other than the head, the shell has the most significant impact on the drum’s tone. Most shells are made of wood, but fiberglass, acrylic, and more exotic shells can be found.

Vent

A vent is simply a hole that allows air pressure to be released when the drumhead is struck. Not all drums have vents.

Bottom (resonant) head

A drum’s resonant head plays an important role in defining both the attack and the tone. Most resonant heads are thinner than the top (batter) head.

Bottom hoop

The bottom hoop holds the bottom head on the drum. On snare drums, the bottom hoop includes slots to accommodate the snares (see below).

Snares

The snares — a series of coiled wires stretched across the bottom head — give the snare drum its characteristic “snappy” sound.

Snare strainer

This lever-and-thread device allows the drummer to adjust the snare tension and also to disengage the snares entirely from the head for a tom sound.

Snare hoop

This specialized hoop contains slots in its sides to allow the cords or straps holding the snares to pass through.

Shop for Snare Drums

Drum Shell Woods

Most drum shells are constructed of several thin plies of wood that are glued together and bent into shape, often with the assistance of steam. Much like the tonewoods used in making guitars, the types of wood that a shell can be made of produce different characteristics of attack and tone. Here are some of the most common shell woods:

• Mahogany – One of the softest woods, mahogany has a softness that gives it a low fundamental tone, for good bottom-end punch.
• Maple – Maple falls in the middle when it comes to both hardness and tone. Its pitch is higher than mahogany’s, yet it is considered “warm” when compared to harder woods. Maple has been among the most popular of shell woods for years.
• Birch – Among the hardest shell woods, birch has a bright sound and a sharp transient attack. The volume possible with birch makes it a pick for drummers in loud live settings.
• Bubinga – Sometimes called “African rosewood,” bubinga is a hard wood that is gaining popularity. It’s sometimes used as the inner ply of a shell (for attack), while other woods are used for the outer plies.

Regardless of the type, drum shell woods can be stained, painted, or wrapped in just about any finish imaginable.

Drum Heads

From their early incarnation as animal skins stretched across logs, drum heads and their technology have leaped forward, beginning with the invention of the first plastic head 50 years ago. Available in thick or thin, single- or multi-ply, coated or clear, with reinforced centers or edges, the range of head types can seem overwhelming. However, when forced to choose, you should remember that moderation is the key: a general-purpose, medium-weight head will usually do the job. For a hard-hitting, loud drummer, a heavier- weight or double-ply head can withstand the pressure. If tuning out overtones and controlling ring is important, then heads treated with sound-controlling centers or edges will help.

Shop all Drum Heads

Cymbals

The scope and characteristics of cymbals are too broad to cover here. Cymbals provide a metallic “soprano” range of tones to complement the “thuddy” characteristics of drums. Here are three of the most commonly used cymbals:

Ride – A medium-weight cymbal that helps outline the rhythmic framework of a song, along with the kick and the snare. Ride cymbals can generally withstand repeated strikes without building up too much of a roar.
Crash – A thin, often small-diameter cymbal that produces an explosive “crash” when struck on its edge. Crash-cymbal overtones normally die away quickly, which gets them out of the way of the rest of the music.
Hi-hat – Actually two cymbals, with one inverted atop the other on a special stand. Hi-hat cymbals are very versatile, able to be played “closed” with the stand’s foot pedal pressed down, “open” with the pedal up, and everywhere in between. Simply pushing down the pedal without striking the cymbals produces a nice “chick” sound.

Shop all Cymbals

Do Cymbals and Stands Come with My New Drum Set?

Unless you get a kit that specifically calls out the inclusion of cymbals and hardware, such as the Ludwig Element Evolution or the TAMA Imperialstar Complete, modern shell packs will not typically come with these. Sweetwater’s side navigation is your friend here. Just tick the box in the Configuration tab that says “Drum Sets” to filter by kits that include cymbals and, most often, stands. Also, be advised that snare drums (a key component of the modern drum set) may not be included with many of the shell packs on our site. 

Shop All Acoustic Drum Kits