My Favorite to Least Favorite Kits: 1. Pearl Export 2. Yamaha Rydeem 3. Mapex Storm 4. Gretsch Energy 5. Pearl Roadshow 6. Mapex Tornado 7. Millennium MX422
Agreed. I personally liked the Gretsch better than the Mapex as I've heard both in person before and liked the Gretsch better, but other than that, I completely agree with this list.
I got a Pearl Export. It wasn’t my first kit, but I wish it was. The Export is a seriously good kit, and you can keep it for years and years. The poplar/mahogany mix sounds really nice, both sharp and warm, and the build quality is solid. If you get a too cheap kit, you will have troubles just as they folks in this video showed, and if not during setup, after the 10th jam, or the 25th, or the 100th. I know from experience. The Export is a real kit, for real gigging, recording, jamming, learning on. My Export currently has Aquarian Superkick 2 on the kick (stock head on reso side), Remo coated Ambassadors on the rest. And if you instead use Pinstripe, Emperor you get a very different sound!
@@Hotters9060 Yet the Yamaha Stage Custom is a way better drum kit and is capable of absolutely everything, no need to upgrade and its relatively cheap.
I bought Mapex Tornado seven years ago! It still sounds amazing and the hardware quality of the tom holder is superb! I would recommend every starter to try out the exceptional quality!
Go for the Yamaha stage custom brother, you'll not regret it, Solid versatile kit, from rock to pop to jazz to Cuban music, to African music, to metal music, to rock , rnb, trap music, etc
Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit is the best budget kit imho. That thing sounds as great as the high end kit. With good heads and tuning. Solid hardware, versatile . For like $600 you can have one.
My first kit was a used Slingerland from the 1960's. I still play it to this day which is 50 years later. Don't buy entry level drum kits. Buy used Pro gear. You can sell it for what you bought it for if you decide to quit.
Too true. If I built a kit just off of what was in my Local guitar center's used inventory today, I could have a 4 piece DW design series kit, an acrolite snare, and a full set of used Zildjian A customs for like 1500 bucks. Compared to what student student concert instruments cost, that's not expensive at all.
Supercool comparison! Great job guys! Something I can recommend my students to watch =) I'd go for the PEARL Export, because I started with this beauty as well and it's still in my rehearsal room after 21 years and sounds incredible =)
Just got into drums within the past year-- decided to go with a lightly used Mapex Mars kit in Nightwood. Wound up buying a matching 14" tom and have the option to get an 8"-- but currently running 10/12/14/16 toms with 14" snare and 22" kick~ With a Remo Coated Emperor on the snare, and Remo Clear Emperor's for the toms the kit sounds fantastic! It surprised the hell out of my drummer friends who didn't expect a Mapex kit to sound so good! I'm very happy with my purchase!
I have the same kit, same color even :D Great value for the money, punches way above its weightclass and the wrap turns heads when you go gigging with it. Sadly, the 8" expansion is no longer sold and very searched after, to the point it is financially stupid to buy one used.
This vid was a great help in making my final decision. Thank you. First drum set, but I wanted something which would go the distance. Was even considering Yamaha's Stage Custom Birch at the top end of my budget, but its general unavailability and the significant chunk of change difference over even the Export which would permit me to buy all those extras and accessories in going with what I did decided me to choose between Yamaha's Rydeen and Pearl's Export EXX, which coincidentally was the either or choice I had triaged prior to watching this video. I went with the Pearl Export EXX 22" Fusion Plus, HW830 inc. Basically the shell pack w/ hardware. Sourced killer value and tone Artist brass cymbals until I can afford B20s, better than entry level comfortable heavier duty Mapex D-570 throne, several pair of Firth sticks & a mallet set, Firth drum & cymbal mutes plus accessories inc Evans DATK, Gibraltar drill bit key etc separately all with budget of the same unit bundled just with the Zildjian Planet Z cymbal set RSG pack.
I purchased the Yamaha Rydeen back in April. Slapped some Evans G2's on them and I'll tell you it does not sound like an entry level kit. I've gigged with them and received compliments from other drummers on them that also can't believe the sound I get out of them. Just change the cymbals up and you're good to go. I just put some Sabian B8X for crashes and kept the paiste hats and ride.
You're right about the Rydeen hardware lasting a long time. I'm still using a couple pieces of hardware from my Yamaha Rydeen kit I got nearly 15 years ago and they're still going strong!
I am a big fan of Yamaha...I love the hardware and overall finish of the drumset... As long as as these two are OK, am good cause the drumheads can definitely be upgraded to better quality and then add a couple of overheads later as I grow...the kit can grow from beginner to professional with a couple of adjustments, cause it sounds good
Conclusion: any drumset will sound good with a proper tuning (and good drumheads) and cheaps cymbals are a lost cause. So a second hand kit and good used cymbals are the way to go! Very good and helpfull video!
This was such a good test. Thank you for the time spent making it. I really love the Yamaha Rydeen kit. This was for me the sure winner with the best sounding snare. New heads would make this kit fantastic. 👍
My first set was and is a Pearl Export and man is it a great beginners kit! I've been using the original heads for about 30 or so playtime hours and they aren't totally unusable yet... When you put better heads on them you can get pro level sounds with proper tuning. I like the versatility of the rack style on the Exports as opposed to the typical two toms from one stem setup. Makes it easy to squeeze my roto toms into a comfortable spot with its broken stand.
Congratulations on a superb demo. Last year I sold my Pearl Export with 7 ziljian cymbals for Euro 480. I felt i would never play again. A year later I BOUGHT A pearl roadshow for euro 200. I want to train my hands and arms again. I used to play Rogers, but that was way back when I was working pro.
I really adore this chanell and every thing y'all do definently gretch kit it is a cool kit it sounds just as good as some pro kitsch so definitely that one for me
mine just 2 units of Tama Rhythm Mate for double bass setup and the drums just fine and sound good. Most important replace the stock drum head with hi quality one with a great tuning sensibility.
Just got a Pearl Export as my 2nd drum kit. I've been playing for a while but I absolutely love it. For a "beginner" kit it sounds incredibly solid and punchy.
I started playing 2 years ago, purchased a 7 piece Gretch Catalina Maple for my first kit. My mother's boyfriend had a 1974 Ludwig Supraphonic in storage he sold me for $150. I bought it from him because I thought it would be cool to have a wood and metal snare, at that time I had no knowledge about snares or how iconic the Supraphonic was.
I started with Slingerlands, but my Dad wanted them back. My 1st. Kit was a Lyra. Sounded dead and lifeless, but paid $150.00. Watta waste. Dropped $100.00 on new heads , parts... Not good. In 1965 went to a music store and bought My 2nd drum kit, a 3 month old Gretchen 3pc. USA Custom with all the Zildjian cymbals stands , and throne for $375.00 + taxes. Best kit ever, in 2005 bought New 5 pc. Gretsch USA CUSTOM Drum kit in Champagne sparkle wrap just the same as the 1st. Gretsch kit. Wouldn't play anything but the Best. All My Hero's played them so do I. Thanks Charlie M.
I've had a Sonor Bop for three years that was less than US$500 new. An amazing kit. Borrowed my nephew's Paiste cymbals and found some good quality DW stands on sale to get back into drumming after 30 years. You can pick up some "new" hardware at great prices when a manufacturer updates to a different style, such as Sonor did a couple of years ago. In this video I like the Pearl Export. Excellent comparison here.
I have a Pearl Roadshow as a house kit. I guess all gigging drummers would agree that a mediocre kit will sound great if you replace all the heads with a pro drum head and invest in good cymbals. Very great channel and you got a new subscriber.
I have the Pearl Roadshow Jazz kit and it sounds killer with coated heads! In the future I might pick up the Yamaha Rydeen fusion kit, as it does look good as a house kit!
For anyone who just wants to hear how they sound: Mapex Tornado: 9:03 Millennium MX422: 9:08 Pearl Roadshow Studio 9:13 Gretsch Energy Studio 9:18 Yamaha Rydeen: 9:22 Mapex Storm: 9:27 Pearl Export: 9:32
if youre going to buy a pearl export shell pack, just buy a Yamaha stage custom anyways. there are plenty of videos online of it, it is amazing. it is very suitable for anything, even professional recordings. same price, better drums.
Hi, I've been playing drums many years now but I live in London in a tiny apartment. I was thinking of getting a Pearl Export as I played one at the University Of East London the other day and was amazed how good this entry level kit sounded and the build quality... you think Yamaha stage custom is a better bet ? I'd love you to expand on this...
@@mattiemclean9882 i have heard both in person, in different rooms, and different heads. Across the board, the pearl export sounds great, in all rooms, but the problem is they dont project as much as i like. It is a relatively quiet set of drums, when the stage custom projects a lot more, which makes it better for recording and smaller venues. There are videos all over the internet the show how great a yamaha stage custom can record, even on my channel, i love the sound of mine, and i am still relatively new to recording.
my very first set was a Remo PTS set. pre tuned set. it had clip on heads. it didn't sound that bad from what a recall, but absolutely zero options to tweak your sound. shortly thereafter, i upgraded to a Pearl export series set. this wasn't the fancy poplar and mahogany set you're all giving your blessings to. these shells are compressed particle board. i still have them, although i haven't played them in years. i am still using the hardware though. i played them out in clubs for years. great entry level set.
Word of advice for new drummers, You can usually buy a full kit with hardware decent heads and okay budget cymbals on offer up or craigslist for way cheaper than these. I bought a tama swingstar 12-13-16-22 for 100 bucks. Love the kit, added some better stuff to it later on, but 100 bucks for any Tama I think is a steal. Also I cant stand 10in Toms on any kit, but I have always played very low tuning, so I guess its whatever you prefer
Pearl export and the Mapexstorm sound very nice I’m looking to start playing drums coming from guitar it looks very fun these kits are awesome I would love to win one!
If you can live without a five-piece kit and can do with an 18" diameter bass drum: my votes are for the Ddrum 'SE Flyer' 4-piece, or the Sonor 'Bop' 4-piece; simply because I own both and can vouch for their quality and sound. Both are good buys and high quality for the price point. Neither includes cymbals, but you are better off skipping the generally low quality cymbals included in budget kits which include cymbals. Advantages with the Drum 'SE Flyer' kit: bass drum riser included, the small tom has a 'rims' style mount, and the bass drum legs are adjustable for length. The Sonor kit does not include a bass drum riser, and the bass drum legs are not adjustable for length. Bass drum risers are easily available and not too expensive, and the non-adjustable length bass drum legs are not a real issue. As for cymbals: you are better off buying good quality used cymbals or trolling garage sales: I've picked up great cymbals that way. Heck I've even found excellent cymbals out by the road in people's trash! I agree with other comments though you can find used high-end kits at great prices by shopping around.
I love my 10/12/14/20 Pearl Exports in Black Smoke lacquer. 1st kit was Pearl Rhythm Travelers. Stock heads were fine but upgrades to coated Evans G14 tom batters and Evans coated Genera HD on snare made big difference. Hardware is great. In the video it's hard to choose between the Gretsch and Yamaha. Both sound great. And the Mapex Tornados - wow! Would definitely recommend them to any beginner based on what I saw and heard here.
I think that I would choose the Pearl Export or the Mapex Storm. My first kit was a Maxwin by Pearl. I had an off brand crash/ride and 24 in hats. White with silver cymbals. I loved it and had it for over 20 yrs before selling when I moved to AZ from NY.
I would add the Ludwig Accent Combo to this as well. Comes with a drum throne and cymbal stands which is really nice plus a crash and hi hat. Of course the cymbals aren’t great, but for 600 dollars it’s worth it
I started with a £200 used kit which was, honestly, pretty bad but it did the job. I have been playing for about two years now and upgraded to a pearl export this year. It was definitely the right choice to start off with something not that great because I appreciate my pearl export and the nice cymbals a lot more now!
I don't understand why they make cymbals that sound that bad. and on a cupple of the kits in this video, the cymbals were so thin that they bent. that MX 422 was definitly junck.
I've had the Yamaha Rydeen for almost a year now and I can say that it is definitely worth it. The cymbals sound a lot better than in the video. All you really got to do to get a better sound out of your drums is just changing the heads to something more premium (Remo, Evans, Aquarian, etc). Overall I highly recommend!!
Its a Yamaha and comes with the best HW which alone costs almost the price of the set! They make the best value instruments from guitars to drums and pianos... The stage customs are incredibly good value.
@@M.S-Music The bearing edges aren't part of the hardware...They are part of the drum shells which are wood in most cases and can be quite easily scuffed or damaged.
Its been replaced by the Rydeen, so the only option is to look for a used one, its very good for a cheap kit. Rob Brown has few videos about it in hes channel.
A friend of mine bought a $1,700 Tama drum set for $350 on Craigslist. The young man he bought it from was given the set for his 16th birthday and really had no clue as to it's value. My friend replaced all the heads and added a double bass pedal. Watch Craigslist carefully and don't be afraid to look at areas 2 and 300 miles away. Not many would pass up driving a few hours to save over $1,000.
Hey guys, I'm planning to buy my first drum kit. I'm choosing between Gretsch energy, Pearl Export, Yamaha rydeen and Tama imperial star. What should i get? And other recommendations?(except for the stage custom birch.cuz that thing is expensive in my country)
My 1st kit was Tama Rockstar. Miss that kit! It was so easy to quick assemble, sounded soooo good. My new kit is Pearl...Tama wasn't available. I'm disappointed with the set up. Takes way to long. However, the Tom's sound great removing all bottom heads. They look awesome no matter what
the first drumset that I started with was a Pearl Export Series. I lator up graded it with evans drumheads and Zildjian ZBT cymbals. My church has a Pearl export drumset that's at least 15 years old and is still going strong.
best advice is to get your drum teacher or a friendly experienced drummer to find you a used bargain on ebay etc - there are some crazy deals to be had if you know what you're looking for!
My top best here is the Tornado for the money / Rydeen (Later on, you can sell the drum and upgrade the shell kit and keep the hardware) / Mapex Storm is nice also, love it for the price, I love the sound more than the Rydeen but like you said the hardware is not on the same level.
I would save a little more and get a Yamaha Stage Custom. Best drums for the price. And if you decide to not be a drummer you can resell it easily. It keeps the value more than the others. If you decide to be a drummer, this kit can help your entire career. People likes to hear 20 inch kick and it’s all you need most of time. Easy to manage but if you like/need more low end impact maybe the 22 will fit better If you want to go really portable, with 18 inch kick, paying less than 400us, Tama Club Jam it’s also great. Nothing related to this video, It’s a different idea and concept but it’s a great beginner/practice/kid’s/professional small venue/travel kit. Last weekend, from stage to car in one trip. Tama Club Jam, drum rug, Tama lightweight hardware pack(with hp50 pedal and theirs lightweight throne), cymbal bag (hihat, ride and 2 crashes) and a backpack with kick mic and cable. Love this kit. 18 kick, easy to go everywhere. If you need more sound, just add a Roland tm2 module and 4 triggers. Thanks for this guys Great video! Excellent review! Congratulations
I got the Gretsch Energy and mine came with the Planet Z cymbals. I replaced the heads immediately and they really sound fantastic. I replaced the hi hats and cymbals with some A Customs and I couldn't be happier!
You could pick up a used gretsch catalina or such for the price of the tornado. My first kit was a premier club I bought with my paper round money. Regret selling it when I upgraded to a pearl export pro a few years later. I moved on to gretsch these days but always suggest picking up a used intermediate level kit for beginners so much more responsive and easier to learn on.
Intermediate drum sets. My beginner set was 350 with cymbals , HH , crash/ride , Ludwig backbeats , yeah the cymbals were pressed so I bought HH replacements , but I'm keeping that crash , it's LOUD 😯 ✌😎
Pearls Export was overwhelmingly my choice even though it is not my first drum set. Not only does this kit sound great albeit by upgrading the drum heads to Remo clear pin stripes. The most important reason one should buy this kit is Pearl’s unwavering commitment in excellence. Pearl is the only manufacturer that gives one the greatest piece of mind with their limited lifetime warranty.
I play Pearl drums and am very familiar with their kits and can say that if you're a beginner might as well invest in a solid mid range kit, a solid one like the Pearl Deacade Maple. I'm using it and love it. Personally I'd say ditch the Pearl Roadshow Fusion and Export kits
My very first kit was a used Pearl Forum series. Not a bad beginner's kit. Heat compressed Asian plywood. It came with beat up warped cymbals so overtime I had to up grade and replace them.
It goes to show that a good mid price kit like Yamaha Stage Custom is the best deal from a cost versus quality approach. I’ve seen comparisons of a 700 dollar kit versus a 5000 dollar DW kit, and some people actually preferred the cheap kit in some areas.
Keep in mind some of these good used kits were purchased, set up in a spare room, played for a short while and never moved from that cozy spot. I’ve bought used kits that easily could have been set up in a store and sold as new. Your best friend is a kid who practiced for a few months and gave it up. The drums sit around until Mom gets tired of them and puts them up for sale to some aspiring drummer like you.
Mapex set for me, or export. ---BUT---! Make sure to look into the yamaha stage custom before you buy an export! I did, and the drum set i use in my vids is the Stage Custom!
Ein sehr nützlicher und übersichtlicher Vergleich! Leider fehlt das Tama Rhythm Mate. Mein Einsteiger-Set war das Sonor Smart Force (mit sehr solider Hardware und gutem Klang), das es aber leider nicht mehr gibt, weil sich Sonor aus der Preisklasse unter 1000€ zurückgezogen hat (das Sonor AQ1 liegt schon leicht darüber).
For me, the best bet for the price/value is either the Mapex Rebel or the Pearl Roadshow. I almost bought a Rydeen, but I would have bought the shell pack with a MUCH cheaper hardware pack. There is no way I'll spend a ridiculous amount of money on Yamaha hardware. Most companies make good hardware that's a fraction of the cost and is just as good. The Mapex Rebel hardware is very good quality!
I bought the Mapex Storm 6 piece. Mars boom cymbal stands and snare stand and hi hat stand . P ~ 800 armory pedal. I put colortone heads on the batter and reso sides of the toms and Powerstroke 3 batter on the bass drum. Ambassador or Powerstroke 4 on the snare it sounds awesome.
As a beginner drummer I would not like to spend 700 euros on a drumset but after listening to the test I think the Yamaha was a clear winner. To my ear it was the most pleasant to listen to.
Yamaha for sure. New to drumming, but I own a Yamaha P-515 piano and yes two (2) Yamaha motorcycles. Their broad line of products are made of quality parts and is bullet proof.
My top three is (taking into account both quality and price): 1. Yamaha Rydeen 2. Pearl Export 3. Mapex Storm Studio Anyway, the Pearl Export is undoubtely the best sounding kit, and also these Sabian SBR are not bad. However I prefer the Zildjian Z and I don't like the Paiste 101 series at all, but for that price I will probably choose the Yamaha kit. PS: none of those kits sounds totally bad IMHO, but starting with a good sound could make the difference. By the way, I would say that even the worst kit sounds better than the crappy cheapy kit I started with (and it was a bit more expensive..)
Hmm, that´s the second time they skip a Tama product, in this case the Imperial Star which won many comparison tests on american magazines or online tests. I would like to know why they don´t take Tamas for comparison.
The best one out of the lot was the mapex storm, best sounding one out of the lot, sturdy hardware, easy to tune toms, best value for money, would take it over a Yamaha, Tama Or Pearl entry kit anyday