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The CS Combo is the baby brother of the CS series.

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The CS Combo is the baby brother of the CS series. As an entry-level contender, we're faced with a set-up that does away with some of the niceties of the more expensive versions in the range, while retaining some of their characteristics and general vibe.

As such, the CS Combo features shells of 'select veneers', as opposed to the birch of the Custom, and has bog-standard OEM heads rather than Remos. The Vibra-Band suspension tom mounts of the other kits are notably absent, too. On the face of it, these are predictable, well-judged corners to cut, but how does the pocket-lovin' CS Combo fare in action?

Choices, choices

While the Combo might be the budget CS offering, it's nice to learn that prospective purchasers aren't stuck with a like-it-or-lump it configuration. The CS Combo comes in what Ludwig refers to as either Power or Jazz set-ups. We've got our hands on the Power kit, which means a 22"x16" bass drum, 12"x10" and 13"x11" mounted toms, 16"x16" floor tom, and 14"x61/2" snare.

The Jazz version is 20"x16", 10"x8", 12"x8", 14"x14" and 14"x5".

The kick drum depth is 2" less than that of the pricier CS kits - which have the currently popular 18"-deep drums - but other than that, the shell dimensions are what we'd expect. As mentioned above, the 12" and 13" Combo toms aren't fitted with suspension mounts. Instead, the mounts themselves are fitted directly to the shell.

L-shaped, Pearl-style arms are used to position the toms and, although a fairly rudimentary set-up, the arrangement works as well as it's always done.

Savings have been made where the rest of the hardware is concerned, too. The Custom and 'standard' CS kits are partnered by Ludwig's 300 Series stands and bass drum pedal. Here, the Combo metalwork pack is from the cheaper, less chunky 200 Series.

There's certainly little wrong with the hardware used here (although there's only a straight, not a boom cymbal stand in the 200 line), but it will almost definitely need replacing once you're out gigging four nights a week. For rehearsals, practice and odd jaunts out for pub gigs though, it's certainly serviceable.

Solid foundations

Set the CS Combo up, and it's clear that it's a no-frills affair that does exactly what it needs to do. It hangs together well, tunes up without any nasty surprises and gives the impression that it's not going to fall apart prematurely - but that's it. This isn't a flash rig with fancy fixtures and fittings. But at the price, it would be unreasonable to expect any more. It's an honest, straightforward proposition, and certainly one that fits the 'getting kids into drumming' bill perfectly.

In this price bracket we're obviously not going to get the gorgeous lacquer fade finishes, rubber-lined bass drum claws, beautifully sculpted lugs and die-cast hoops. Instead, the CS Combo comes across as solid, workmanlike and reasonably well finished.

It's hard for more experienced players to get excited about the aesthetics of a wrapped kit like the Combo, but allow for the fact that this is likely to be a first kit, and it's easy to give it its due. Let's face it, there's nothing quite as thrilling as your first kit, no matter how modestly it's appointed.