Buyers' guide: budget drum kits

For some, buying new music making gear is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. For the inexperienced, though, it can be a stressful experience. There's so much choice, and, depending on your skill level, buying the wrong gear could seriously stunt your progression.

To make it easier, we've put together a buyers' guide, which includes our top product picks and essential buying tips. Here's how to buy bass semi-pro drum kits…

4 buying tips

1. While beginner kits are mostly generic, budget kits are the slightly more expensive entry-level kits from the dedicated drum companies – the 'designer' labels, if you like.

2. They are mostly made in China or Taiwan, and with their distinctive design touches – lugs, tom mounts, badges and the like – you can feel like you own a proper Pearl, Tama or Gretsch. The idea is to build brand loyalty from the bottom up.

"While beginner kits are mostly generic, budget kits are the slightly more expensive entry-level kits"

3. Shells are still cheaper semi-hard woods, such as poplar or basswood, but they are often a bit thinner and better finished than the shells of beginner kits. Look for a wider range of sizes, including contemporary 22"x18" bass drums plus a bigger choice of coloured plastic wrap finishes – which should be fully glued to the whole shell, not patched on with double-sided tape. Some kits, like the Mapex VX and Gretsch Catalina, come complete with lacquered paint finishes.

4. You should still get a decent hardware package, often including a stool/throne. Small toms are usually mounted off the bass drum, although some kits have up-market isolation mounting brackets. Bass drums should have enclosed, drum key-tightened tension claws rather than old-fashioned 'T' handle types. And bass and snare drums should have a respectable eight lugs per head, although floor toms may still only have six.

5 budget drum kits under £600

1. Mapex VX
£479-£519

The VX has eight-ply 7.2 mm basswood shells with a lacquered maple veneer and breezy choice of translucent satin or coloured 'plasma' finishes. The small toms have ITS isolation mounting brackets, completing the up-market look. There's also a wide range of sizes to choose from – or to expand your kit with later on.
Read the full review

2. Gretsch Catalina Maple
£599

Slightly more expensive, but Gretsch is offering a great deal for 2007: a free 16" floor tom with the all-maple six-piece Catalina. (With the £499 Catalina Ash there's a free 8"x7" tom.) Includes GTS mounted tom suspension system and mini Gretsch lugs, plus UV gloss finishes including two-tone Tobacco Fade Sunburst.
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3. Tama Imperialstar
£479

Unlike the Mapex and Gretsch, the Imperialstar has five PVC wrap finishes and no isolation tom mounts. However, you do get two cymbal stands and a great looking, fab-sounding black nickel snare. Tama's hi-tech Accu-Tune synthetic bass drum hoops look special and are super tough, while the HP30 kick pedal has above average adjustability.
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4. Pearl FX Forum
£485-£510

Six-ply, 7.5 mm poplar shells are similar to the Imperialstar, but with a matching 14"x5 1/2" wood snare. Pearl's 'Ready-Set-Go' Forum package promises free cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and set-up video. But if you forego the cymbals you get two boom cymbal stands and a choice of seven colour wraps for under £500.

5. ddrum Diablo Punx
£499

Previously famed for their electronics, ddrum's new acoustic kits have shaken up the scene with brilliant contemporary packages. The one-up two-down 'punx' layout makes everyone else's look old-fashioned. With monster 22"x20" kick drums and garish colours (black or silver with red or blue fittings, anyone?) ddrum is making the running.