9 Best Drum Sets: Top Professional Kits

DW Collector’s Series Shell Pack: Overview

So yes, I’ve started the list off with a rather expensive drum kit. While I will get to more affordable options later in the article, the Collector’s Series from DW makes an excellent case for being the best drum set money can buy.

• Beautiful tone, touch, and appearance
• Great balance with rich, robust maple/mahogany shells optimized by SSC
• High thread counts allow for finer tuning on True-Pitch tuning rods.
• Graduated hoops provide the correct weight and attack for each tom size

The Exotic line of drums is part of Drum Workshop’s Custom Shop finishes. Being that custom is in the name, you’ll have to wait a little longer to get your kit. It should be no surprise, a kit at this level does not include cymbals or hardware.

DW’s Custom Shop Collector’s drums feature SSC shells. Depending on the size, DW selects the best type of shell construction for optimal harmonious sound across the kit. This shell-crafting technique allows the drum to vibrate more freely, giving the drum a lower overall pitch.

Depending which shell pack you pick determines the hardware. Black nickel hoops are a favorite of mine on lighter-colored drum sets.

At the time of writing this, Sweetwater has quite a few finishes available for order. I assume since they work with DW, you can get any finish available on DW’s website. 

Click here to see all available Collector’s Series shell packs.

Some drummers scoff at Drum Workshop drum sets, saying they’re overrated and overpriced. Others defend them to the bitter end. Whether you can justify the price is your call. I think Drum Workshop Collector’s kits are authentic works of art. A 2014 interview recently piqued my interest with DW’s John Good — it’s worth a read. 

Whether you believe his process or not (and I do), John Good works meticulously to create excellent drum shells.

Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak: Overview

If there’s one thing about Yamaha, I love it’s their hardware. It’s robust and is one of the reasons while I use their hardware exclusively. You’ll find the same care and attention to detail on their drum shells.

The Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid is a five-piece shell pack that comes in a variety of finishes.

• Earth Sunburst
• Charcoal
• Ice Sunburst
• Natural
• Magma Sunburst
• Charcoal Sunburst

Each Live Custom Hybrid shell is handcrafted, featuring an inner phenolic resin ply. The plies give a purer fundamental pitch, enhancing dynamics for more punch and projection.

The outer plies feature a Japanese uzukuri-inspired finish technique — a brush scrubs the wood giving it a luxurious texture.

Tama Starclassic Performer: Overview

The five-piece shell pack from Tama is a combination shell of birch and walnut wood. Tama also offers the Starclassic in maple, but it’s not nearly as popular.

The finish options Tama offers are endless with the Starclassic drum kit, and most are in stock at Sweetwater.

Some finishes include:

• Neon Orange Oyster
• Lacquer Phantasm Oyster
• Lacquer Molten Brown Burst
• Jade Silk
• Lacquer Satin Sapphire Fade
• Lacquer Ocean Blue Ripple
• Lacquer Transparent Mocha Fade
• Molten Electric Blue Burst
• Natural Pacific Walnut Burst

Click here to see all available finishes at Sweetwater.

The Starclassic shells have a more-pronounced attack with far better projection than other drums. These drums are perfect for intermediate to professional drummers with a knack for Tama.

Gretsch Drums Broadkaster: Overview

In conversations with drummers over the years, one company always seems to come up — Gretsch Drums.

Gretsch, while most notable for guitars, also manufactures drums, and has since the early days of his first music store in Brooklyn, New York (1883). German immigrant Friedrich Gretsch first made and sold drums, banjos, and tambourines. 

Gretsch was a pioneer in drum making, credited with making the first drums produced with multi-ply shells. The Broadkaster series drums feature the classic look and sound of Gretsch — they’re open, warm, and wide-sounding. The shells feature 30-degree bearing edges, which optimize the transfer of vibration.

Craviotto 5-Piece Maple: Overview

The Craviotto 5-piece maple shell pack is a new kit with an old soul. Handcrafted and finished by Johnny’s elite team of US artisans, the one-piece maple shells are stronger and more resonant than plywood and steam bent for unmatched sensitivity and response.

Additionally, baseball bat rounded bearing edges deliver a warm, dry tone, while the toms and kick are warm and full with a snare drum that rings like a bell.

2.3mm triple-flanged hoops deliver a classically open attack, while the Trick GS007 three-way throw-off provides three options for snare tensions. Stock Remo heads included for performance-ready playability. The shell sizes (depth x diameter) are 9″ x 13″ high tom; 16″ x 16″ and 16″ x 18″ floor toms; 14″ x 24″ kick drum; 7″ x 14″ snare.

Craviotto makes one heck of a beautiful drum kit. At this price point, the shells will sound incredible, no matter what. It’s about the drummer’s wants and desires for how a kit looks in this range.

Some notable drummers who play Craviotto include:

• Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers)
• Jason McGerr (Death Cab For Cutie)
• Chad Cromwell (Neil Young)

Ludwig Vistalite Zep Set Shell Pack: Overview

Who doesn’t love a little Led Zeppelin? The Ludwig Vistalite Bonzo kit is a remarkable re-creation of the drum set John Bonham played on stage with his band. The Vistalite shells are acrylic in an amber finish — it’s the same kit you’ll see on stage in the live film The Song Remains the Same. The shell pack does include a Ludwig Supraphonic snare, as well.

• High-quality, durable Vistalite acrylic
• Snare stand included for mounting the rack tom
• Emulate Bonzo to your heart’s content

The amber acrylic used in the construction of the Zep Set shell pack is a nod to Bonham’s drum set in the Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same. The eye-catching appearance of Ludwig’s Vistalite acrylic makes it one of the most desired drum kits around. The powerful, forward-sounding tones of these drums make them ideal for heavy rock and metal. The acrylic is incredibly sturdy—it will stand the test of time, if taken care of. The Ludwig Supraphonic snare is included, as well.

Other big-name drummers who played Lugwig include Ringo Starr, Roger Taylor, Dave Lombardo, and more.

A&F Drum Company Copper 4-Piece: Overview

The A&F Drum Company Copper 4-piece shell pack is a one-of-a-kind drum set that features raw copper shells with single-flanged brass hoops and handcrafted heirloom copper shells.

It has hand-cut 45° bearing edges, an insanely unique look, and patented patina hardware. This lightweight four-piece shell pack includes an 8″ x 12″ tom, 14″ x 14″ and 14″ x 16″ floor toms, and a 14″ x 22″ bass drum, all made from thin, handcrafted copper shells and single-flanged brass hoops.

Remo stock heads sit atop the hand-cut 45s for superior sound quality, unplugged or miked up. A&F kits are handcrafted in Austin, Texas.

The A&F Copper kit is the most unique drum set I’ve ever seen. It looks both modern and vintage. But almost older than vintage. The Copper kit reminds me of something from the early twentieth century. Rad.

Pearl Crystal Beat: Overview

Acrylic drums seem to be all the rage these days. Pearl’s Crystal Beat shells are acrylic but feature a frosted finish that is transparent, yet opaque.

Pearl originally introduced the Crystal Beat in 1973, but it’s not to say this is a reissue. Pearl modernized the drum kit, adapting to the demands of today’s drummers.

The kit projects well and features toms that are fat and punchy.

I’m not the biggest fan of transparent shells, so being frosted adds a nice touch usually not seen on standard acrylic drums.

Pearl also isn’t my favorite drum manufacturer, but I do respect the drums they make — they’re quality instruments. My biggest gripe is the hardware.

DW Design Series Shell Pack: Overview

To my knowledge, DW originally released the Design series back in 2013. The line targets intermediate to professional drummers, being much more affordable than the Performance or Collector’s Series drums.

Just like others on the list, the Design is a shell pack — no cymbals or hardware come with the kit.

Drum Workshop quality is all-around superb, as you’d expect. The company manufactures the Design shells in Taiwan (to keep cost done, I am assuming), but the quality doesn’t suffer.

The Design Series drum sets come in a variety of finishes:

• Cherry Stain
• Gloss White
• Black Satin
• Tobacco Burst
• Clear Acrylic

If you haven’t yet, be sure to read my full review of the DW Design Series.