Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 84000+ free music samples
  • Foo Fighters' new drummer
  • Ken Scott on recording The Beatles
  • First EVH Jump synth recording

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. Tuition

How to build the ultimate drum setup… on a budget

By Tom Porter, Rhythm magazine
last updated 26 February 2020

The best cheap kit your money can buy

The budget kit
Mapex VX Series Kit - from £479 - £519

The budget kit

Every month, Rhythm Magazine take the finest drum gear on the planet and thrash it to within an inch of its life. Every week, we post the results in the form of a killer buyers’ guide. Here, we’re left with the best of the best: a guide to building the best drum setup your money can buy. First up: the excellently cheap Mapex VX Series…

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“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.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget drum kits)

“There's real potential lurking in those shells, which means this isn't a kit that you will outgrow in a few months, and the hardware pack will certainly see you into a gigging career. So all in all, another welcome offering from the Big M. Just be sure to check out the flashier finishes if tree-lover brown isn't your thing.” (Via: Mapex VX Series Kit full review)

  • Find your next kit with our guide to the best drum sets
Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
The beginners' budget kit
Cannon Adder Kit - £199

The beginners' budget kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Astonishingly generous package, the only kit with 14" hats, 16" and 18" cymbals, plus two double-braced cymbal stands and full professional lug count. In addition to that, there's a complete set of carrying bags and drum/cymbal mute pads. Finally, you have cool finishes in black, chrome, red and even Bumblebee Yellow, all with black metal fittings.” (Via: Buyers' guide: how to buy beginner drum kits)

“Kits such as the Adder are all about perspective. Any half-serious drummer would find it underwhelming in terms of build quality and tone, but, as mentioned in the review, when judged on its own merits it acquits itself well. It's certainly a better budget kit than what was doing the rounds even five years ago; the full complement of stands, cymbals, bags and silencers is very welcome, and it comes in at a remarkable price.” (Via: Cannon Adder Kit full review)

Why you love it:

“This is a great kit for new drummers starting out, especially if your parents aren't too keen on the noise of the full fledged drums, and the price is absolutely Great!!!” (Thanks, jacko552)

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
The budget wood snare
Yamaha Oak Custom Matte Finish - £227 (14"x7")

The budget wood snare

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Oak is Yamaha's trump card at the moment. The company seems to be able to make oak drums cheaper than its other lines and many of Yamaha's endorsers are big admirers. Oak has a warm, deep and centred tone, as well as a beautiful wide grain in this matte finish.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget wood snare drums)

“The 14"x7" snare also brings out the best features of oak, delivering a fantastic crack that mixes toppy bite with woody warmth. Its depth adds authority and clarity, which remain undimmed through a variety of tunings.” (Via: Yamaha Oak Custom Kit full review)

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
The budget metal snare
Mapex Black Panther black chrome snare - £209.95 (14"x5")

The budget metal snare

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“What's in a name? The Black Panther label has done wonders for Mapex, the evocative title proving so successful that it's now attached to a wide range of drums, from cherry wood to phosphor bronze. This steel snare in black chrome is one of the least expensive, but performs as well as any.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget metal snare)

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
The cymbals
Stagg double hammered cymbals - from £18

The cymbals

MusicRadar’s verdict:

The rise of Stagg as a favoured budget cymbal brand has been an interesting development in the last couple of years. Proving that value is as important as profile at this end of the sector, the Stagg Double Hammered offering is a must-see if your budget is limited.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget cymbals)

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
The electronic kit
Roland TD-3K - £799

The electronic kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Roland's pre-eminence in the electronic kit market starts with the TD-3K. Great sounds, decent playing surfaces and some useful in-built coaching features make it a very sound choice for those looking to put in the practice hours at home. The quality module also makes for a fine studio sound source, too.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget electronic drum kits)

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
The hardware
Stagg 25/50/500/1000 Series hardware - from £15 - £41

The hardware

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Scorching value stands from the Chinese manufacturer seemingly bent on world domination. The four different levels of stand vary from merely functional through to heavy duty, with all of the stands in the 1000 Series sporting menacing-looking spikes on each foot. Double-braced tripods feature throughout all four ranges.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget drum hardware)

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
The sticks
Vic Firth Nova - £5

The sticks

MusicRadar’s verdict:

This budget range from stick giants Vic Firth includes not only regular finish but also exotic black and red sets for half the price of the popular Vic Firth sticks. They might have minor cosmetic blemishes but, as cut-price versions of their big brother, they are made in the US and will serve you well.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget drum sticks)

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
The heads
Evans G-Plus coated heads - from £13.25

The heads

Unfortunately, the heads are one piece of drum gear you can’t scrimp on. ‘The heads maketh the drum…’, etc. Fortunately, unless they’re made of gold, heads aren’t going to break the bank. Try Evans’ G-Plus…

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“G-Plus are a clear cut above most heads on the market, let alone 2008's offerings. Warm, rich and durable, these skins cut through live situations like a knife while providing an almost pre-EQ'd quality for the studio. They're a revelation, seriously…” (Via: The best drum gear of 2008)

“The Evans G-Plus drum single-ply tom heads are a revelation in design that live up to every claim the manufacturer makes about tone, sustain and durability. These aren't just mere heads, they're instruments in their own right. Whatever you're currently using, do yourself a favour and give these outstanding heads a try.” (Via: Evans G-Plus coated drum heads full review)

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Tom Porter
Social Links Navigation

Tom Porter worked on MusicRadar from its mid-2007 launch date to 2011, covering a range of music and music making topics, across features, gear news, reviews, interviews and more. A regular NAMM-goer back in the day, Tom now resides permanently in Los Angeles, where he's doing rather well at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

More about drums
EFnote 3X kit from the rear on a white background

EFnote 3X review

Foo Fighters performing with new drummer Josh Freese at Studio 606

Foo Fighters make live return with new drummer Josh Freese, unveil new song and pay tribute to Taylor Hawkins

Latest
Noel Gallagher

Watch Noel Gallagher use a Fender Strat for High Flying Birds’ “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Try these 16 inspiring guitar chords that use open strings

By Total Guitar19 April 2023

Led Zeppelin II: Jimmy Page guitar lesson

By Total Guitar17 April 2023

Bored by your own guitar chord playing? Try inversions!

By Rob Laing17 April 2023

Learn 5 essential blues guitar turnaround licks for your solos

By MusicRadar15 April 2023

Computer Music 321 June 2023: free downloads

By Computer Music11 April 2023

Learn 7 extended jazz guitar chords

By MusicRadar11 April 2023

Learn 20 blues, prog rock, folk and funk guitar chords

By MusicRadar6 April 2023

Learn to play 4 awkward but awesome-sounding chords

By Leigh Fuge5 April 2023

How to use the '3 reverb approach' to nail reverb in almost any mixing scenario

By Jon Musgrave29 March 2023

How to optimize your PC for music production

By Matt McCracken27 March 2023

22 essential reggaeton production tips to help you sound like Bad Bunny

By MusicRadar22 March 2023

  1. Nirvana In Utero cover
    1
    Steve Albini recalls the secrecy around the Nirvana In Utero sessions: "I had to do everything I could to keep it under wraps to make sure that we didn’t get overrun by fans and the added nonsense"
  2. 2
    Jon Hopkins spent 4 months perfecting the synth riff for Open Eye Signal on a 1979 Korg MS-20: “So much effort into trying to make something sound effortless”
  3. 3
    Former 10cc keyboard player Duncan Mackay showing his Yamaha and Roland synths to comedian Mike Reid could be the strangest video you'll watch all week
  4. 4
    Is Dave Grohl’s new Epiphone DG-335… Gold?
  5. 5
    Watch Noel Gallagher use a Fender Strat for High Flying Birds’ “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart
  1. Orange Box: The iconic British amp brand enters the Bluetooth speaker market
    1
    Orange Amps enters the Bluetooth speaker market with the Orange Box
  2. 2
    Jon Hopkins spent 4 months perfecting the synth riff for Open Eye Signal on a 1979 Korg MS-20: “So much effort into trying to make something sound effortless”
  3. 3
    Former 10cc keyboard player Duncan Mackay showing his Yamaha and Roland synths to comedian Mike Reid could be the strangest video you'll watch all week
  4. 4
    Is Dave Grohl’s new Epiphone DG-335… Gold?
  5. 5
    Watch Noel Gallagher use a Fender Strat for High Flying Birds’ “blasphemous” cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.