Top 5 Best Acoustic Drum Sets Under $1000
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Getting into drums can be quite expensive as this instrument has one of the highest entry prices today. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a very decent setup for a reasonable amount of money. Today we’re going to show you our picks for the top 7 best acoustic drum sets under $1000 and talk a bit about what these have to offer. Later on we’ll discuss what kind of performance and hardware you can expect to get in this category. It’s worth mentioning that some of these models are among the best acoustic drum sets on the market.
Top 5 Best Acoustic Drum Sets Under $1000:
| Image | Acoustic Drum Set / Rating | Summary | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
+ -  | Pearl Decade Maple Total of 4.88/5 | A perfect choice for an aspiring professional who needs that extra range. | |
+ -  | Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Total of 4.83/5 | A remarkable set that packs all the core features and then some. | |
+ -  | Pearl EXX725/C Export Standard Total of 4.80/5 | An awesome package that comes with great hardware and cymbals as standard. | |
+ -  | Ludwig Element Evolution Total of 4.65/5 | A drum set that redefines the meaning of value for the money. | |
+ -  | Tama Imperialstar Total of 4.55/5 | One of Tama’s more successful models in the lower mid range segment. |
Pearl Decade Maple
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Pearl’s Decade Maple set represents a 10 year anniversary of this awesome design that has been equipping drummers with affordable yet quality sound for years. The kit itself features 7 shells, all of which are made out of 6-ply maple. It is a laminate design but one that sounds extremely good for what it its. Further more, you get Pearl’s awesome hardware that comes with their Uni-Lock tom arms and more. The configuration of this kit is as follows. You have a 22“ kick drum followed by a 14“x5.5“ snare. Next comes an array of toms, which include a 16“, 14“, 12“, 10“ and an 8“ tom. Additionally, the kit includes a ride, crash and hi hat cymbals.
Yamaha Stage Custom Birch
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The entire Stage Custom series of drums from Yamaha have become an industry’s classic by now. The birch version we are looking at here is kinda representative of what the entire series has in store for us. Yamaha has pushed out a quality set of shells, paired it with some of the best hardware on the market, and topped it off with a great set of factory heads. This kit doesn’t come with cymbals, which is to be expected this high up the price range. Yamaha’s use of 100% birch gives the entire kit a very authentic sound. You could easily say that this kit offers a whole new level of sound quality compared to the rest of our list.
Pearl EXX725/C Export Standard
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Our next kit also comes from Pearl and represents a package that is one step removed from the Decade Maple model. Export Standard is a very different beast. You are looking at a poplar/mahogany build that has features a very massive sound, but one full of definition. This whole rig comes with all of the stands and hardware included. As for cymbals, you are getting Sabian’s SBR brass hi hat, crash and ride. As a whole, Export Standard offers great value. That semi mahogany shell design definitely gives it a tangible edge. Speaking of shells, this kit includes a 22“ kick drum, a 12“ hi tom, 13“ mid tom, 16“ floor tom and a sharp 14“x5.5“ snare.
Ludwig Element Evolution
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Ludwig’s lower mid range kits are currently more or less the epitome of bang for the buck value. One look at Ludwig Element Evolution should tell you everything you need to know. The kit is a standard 5 piece set that comes with Zildjian cymbals all around. The shells follow a standard layout for this category, and are made using laminate poplar. The way Ludwig has set this whole kit up makes it sound much bigger than it is. We might contribute that to pretty decent factory heads if nothing else. Ludwig’s hardware is every bit as good as you’d expect, thanks to their rather robust designs and fairly durable materials. Overall, this kit is a bargain at this price.
Tama Imperialstar
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Those who are familiar with Tama’s intermediate packages are most likely well aware of the entire Imperialstar series of drums. These have been proven to be quite competitive and overall successful at creating a foothold in the lower mid range segment of the market. Tama has used a 7.5mm 6-ply poplar laminate for the entirety of the shells. As a result you are presented with a kit that sounds quite good but has a lot of stored potential you can easily tap into. Moving on, we have a decent set of hardware that is used to mount a full set of Meinl HCS series cymbals. You’re looking at a 14“ hi-hat, a 16“ crash and a proper 20“ ride.
What To Expect From a Drum Set Under $1000?
In the world of acoustic drums, spending under a $1000 on a set will get you anything from an entry level kit to a lower mid range package depending on how close to that magical number you get. Even so, there are some constants which you will have to deal with no matter how much money are willing to spend. These so called constants have to do with the materials used to make different components in the kit, the overall design of specific mechanism and so on. Before we get to that, let’s just quickly cover the most popular kit configuration you will run into in this segment.
Available Drum Set Configurations
Right off the bat you will notice that most of our models on the list are 5 piece kits except for the Mapex there. That is a good representation of what you will generally run into in this category. It is also implied that kits from this segment arrive with a full set of hardware although your mileage may vary if you decide to go for the beginner drum sets. Configuration wise, you won’t find much difference between these kits and acoustic drum sets that cost $2000. The latter will often feature an additional shell here or there, but core configurations will remain the same.
What To Expect In Terms of Build Quality and Materials?
The answer to this question is what ultimately separates the cheaper kits from their more expensive counterparts. Drum shells from this segment are usually made from either poplar, birch wood or a combination of both. It all depends on the brand you decide to go with.
Shell Materials
Not so long ago using poplar instead of solid wood mean that you are going to be dealing with a questionable tone quality at the very least. That has dramatically changed ever since. So much so that today there are poplar shells out there which sound every bit as good as their solid wood counterparts. The use of poplar is no longer considered to be such a handicap as it used to be. These days different brands will have competing models which are very close in performance, even though one is made out of solid birch wood while the other features poplar shells.
Hardware Quality
Hardware being one of the most essential aspects of an acoustic kit means that it deserves plenty of attention, especially when you are dealing with ’affordable’ kits. Luckily for us the hardware that comes with drum sets from this market segment is pretty solid. You are looking at good materials, heavy duty construction, the whole nine yards. However, it is worth mentioning that specific components of said hardware wasn’t really designed to endure frequent heavy use. On the other hand, you can absolutely avoid any hardware related issues by simply taking care of your gear.
Another component that falls within hardware are the kick pedals. The ones that come with kits under $1000 are most likely going to be single chain designs which may or may not be fully adjustable. This is yet another components whose quality and design is going to depend on the brand you choose to go with.
Drum Heads and Cymbals
Drum heads are probably one area where you will definitely notice the lack of quality. Professional drum heads aren’t something you often see shipped with kits from the factory until you start dropping serious money on your drums. Because of that, most of these kits feature what can only be described as placeholder heads. Some are better than others but most are pretty decent overall. However, just by hanging this one component of the kit, you can seriously affect the sound of your entire set in a very positive way. The only issue here is that professional heads tend to cost quite a bit which can be a problem for those on a budget. Either way, factory heads will get the job done and then some.
Cymbals on the other hand are quite decent. Depending on the brand and model you decide to get, you will get a hi hat, crash and a ride. Sometimes there won’t be a ride and sometimes you will get a ride crash hybrid. What is more interesting is the fact that certain brands offer their kits with brand name cymbals. That is definitely a huge plus in our book.
Getting the Most Out of Your New Set
Now that we know what kind of performance, build quality and hardware you can expect from these drums, the next logical question is how can you improve all of that? The answer is quite easy actually. First thing first we recommend that you tune your drum set on your own, which will teach you how to do it properly. If you’re not sure you want to bother with that, have someone more experienced do it for you. It will make a difference.
Upgrading the heads is the next step on the list and has the potential to truly change the sound of your drums. Cymbals would be the next thing to get an upgrade, followed by hardware. At this point you are looking at a very decent kit and your only way up is to get new shells.
Conclusion
It is absolutely impressive just what kind of kits you can find these days under $1000. Getting into drums has never been easier or cheaper for that matter. The models we have chosen for this list were carefully vetted and represent the elite of what each of these brands have to offer in this particular price range. Most of them are pretty similar in performance, which means that you can definitely make a decision based on which one you simply like more. All of these brands are good to go and will give you plenty of bang for your buck.
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