Cheap Drum Sets by the Dozen

If you have arrived at this page, it's probably safe to say that you're search for cheap drum sets. Cheap is a relative term depending on your bank account. But it's widely accepted in the drumming community that rock bottom pricing for an entire kit ranges around $250-$350.

Many companies will include bonus offers like a pair of sticks, a throne, and a drum key. Sounds like a lot of stuff eh? If you can get all of this for under $350 you may be asking...

To begin with, mass production enables companies to buy parts in bulk for discounted rates while automated machinary makes production fast and efficient. Many times we forget that man hours weigh heavily into the cost of a product.

NO. The quality of a whole drum set is the result of the parts used, the attention given to detail, and the quality control used by the maker. Stronger emphasis may be given to one area or another depending on the company's end goal.

Profit is the main focus of most manufacturers, BUT if they don't produce a good product, they won't be in business long!

Believe it or not, many of the cheap drum sets are made at only a handful of factories. The "brand" names and variable hardware parts are stuck on according the distributor company. So don't get caught up in the name game at this level in the market.

SIDE NOTE: If you are truly serious about buying the best drum kit for your needs, I highly reccomend Danny Brown's Ultimate Guide for Choosing Drums and Cymbals. DrumJunction provides a great overview of many subjects on drumming; however, with a book, Danny has been able to get into the tiny details of drums, cymbals, sound quality, and all the things you need to know before laying down your hard earned money. Check it out HERE!

In addition to sticking labels and varied hardware on generic kits, the use of cheap parts is a common practice to lower expenses and increase profits. Note that this could be ANY part on the kit, including shells, hoops, stands, pedals, and heads.

The stock drum heads on cheap sets usually hinder sound quality more than anything else. So, unless the shell is out of round, you may need to ugrade the heads ($30-$50).

Once you have the drums sounding better, the next task is to evaluate the hardware. The bass pedal and hi hat stand can be frail, giving poor control, and tend to break easily. Be prepared to upgrade these two items shortly after you get the kit.

A final area to consider is the cymbals that come with cheap drum sets. They tend to provide a hi hat pair and one crash/ride cymbal. Do yourself a big favor and toss these from the start.

Many cymbal makers offer a student level pack of cast bronze (stamped) cymbals that include a hi hat pair, a crash, and a ride for about $120-$150 (Yes, a set of cymbals can cost nearly as much as the drums at ANY price bracket).

Since nearly all cheap drum sets come with only one cymbal stand, you'll need to pick up one of these as well (about $30).

SIDE NOTE: If you are not familiar with the types of cymbals, how they're made, or what the difference is between stamped and cast Go Here.

More often than not, beginners (not necessarily students) will buy a cheap drum set to test the waters. Size is not relevant unless you are buying for a small child and require a "Jr." model for those shorter legs and arms.

Some people just like to dabble with drumming. Which is great. A friend of mine who sings and plays guitar has a cheap set at home just to bang around on. He is what could be called a "closet drummer". The brand names or number of cymbals and drums aren't important to him. If it functions well and has a decent sound, go for it! It's all about having fun, right?!

A cheap set is a good testing ground to see if you have the aptitude and coordination required to play the drums. As most of us know, tapping your foot and hitting the steering wheel when driving is MUCH different than sitting behind a kit.

Although the name of the drum set isn't that important in this category, it may be of help to check out some of the brands that are popular today. The names are links that will take you excellent merchant sites for the latest prices and a chance to pick one up today!

Consider an Upgrade

Cheap drum sets many not be the best option for many people. Consider these situations to see if upgrading is a better move:

1. You know that you have the nack for playing. Your coordination is good and the rhythm is there. To develop your "assests", a more substantial kit needed.

2. You already have a cheap drum set and are looking for something that will provide the sound, durability, and overall feel you need to move up to the next level.

3. You played the drums in your youth, but "life got in the way" and you haven't sat behind a kit in years. Now you want to dive back in and want a worthy kit but these days you face a mortgage payment, car payments, groceries, utility bills, etc. (you get the idea). You can't spend the $$ for a high end kit but a nice student level kit may just be the ticket.

Remember that several parts of a cheap drum set may need to be replaced before it even get used (bass drum pedal, hi hat stand, cymbals, heads). That's another $200 just to get started. This brings the cost up to about $550 or more depending on what you decide to change.

Consider that student kits can be found in the price range of about $500 to $800. This category of drums sets is truly the best value on the market.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE REASONS TO UPGRADE:

Keep in mind that student level drum sets usually don't come with cymbals (like the cheap drum sets). So figure this into the budget. Remember- this is more of a long-term investment.

If upgrading to a student level drum kit is appealing, here are a few drum companies and models from the $500-$800 price range to check out. To make the search easy, DrumJunction.com has found several reliable merchants to buy one of these sets from. Just click on the name to see the lastest pricing.

Cheap drum sets are a great entry point to the world of drumming if your budget is tight or you just want to test the waters.

The suggestions in this article should help you obtain a kit that is enjoyable to play and best for your situation. Take your time and consider what you NEED. And remember, it's all about having fun!

As always, the more you know, the better your decisions will be. The main page on Drum Sets provides more avenues to explore. So check it out!

The Value of Cheap Drum Sets