piece drum sets are sonically and visually impressive and are fun to play. They provide a greater range of tones, more opportunities for exciting rhythmic combinations, and offer a larger visual presence.

Many kits now come with good quality heads that you should be able to tune-up out of the box, but these heads are again designed to be all-rounders. With a bit of practice and some tuning aids such as muffling, you’ll get it sounding great in no time. Acoustic vs electronic drum sets After playing it, I couldn’t help but think that the DW Collector’s Series Purpleheart Lacquer is one of the best drum sets you can use for recording due to how good the drums sounded through mics. From here, you can use your drum key to add tension, usually a quarter, half or whole turn at a time. It’s best to do that in a ‘star’ pattern, so the tension is always equal at every point on the head. Purpleheart is known for its density and tonal richness. It imparts a unique character to the drums and they produce deep, resonant, and punchy tones.This is a precisely constructed kit. The shells are round and the bearing edges textbook. It sounds as good as a modern kit gets. Mahogany has a warm musicality and Cherry has a darker sound, so the two complement each other well. The drums are sensitive too – we approached them softly and they still articulated clearly - with the tone opening up immediately once we laid into them a bit more. One of the best parts of this kit is the snare drum. It has a killer tone as well as a fairly wide tuning range. However, it sounds best when it’s cranked up tightly.

If you’re a Gretsch fan, you’ll have heard the ‘That Great Gretsch Sound’ saying get thrown around. Well, this is the kit that created that sound. You’ll be pleased to know that the bones of the Broadkaster are the same nearly 100 years later, with a few modern touches.

If you do hit pro drummer territory, a) well done, and b) you'll probably have a pretty clear idea of the drum tone, shell sizes and kit configuration you’re now looking for. At this level you'll be choosing between premium quality drum shells, properly resilient, road-worthy hardware and maybe even a range of custom options to really make the drum kit of your choice your own. The Recording Custom - commonly called the Yamaha 9000 - started life in the mid-1970s with Steve Gadd, amongst many other drum session superstars, swearing by its focused, punchy, pre-EQ’d tone. In 2016, with input from Gadd, the Recording Custom was revitalised, updated with a fatter, weightier lug, thinner bass drum shells, sharper bearing edges and even greater manufacturing precision. This is by no means a cheap kit. It’s one of the most expensive drum kits you’ll find on the market, but it’s also one of the best 7 piece drum sets you can get.

Hoops are die-cast zinc, more consistent and structurally solid than triple-flangers. Aiding the hoops are Hold Tight washers, which have a stainless steel cup containing a rubber ring. This prevents de-tuning under modern heavy playing. Tama’s Star Series - also including Bubinga and Walnut options - is another step towards Drum Heaven... at an eye-watering price.The drum shells are 7-ply, 100 percent mahogany and the kit comes topped with Remo Ambassador heads. Right out of the box, the tonal depth is rich and consistent. The drums will hold tuning, even when being bashed heavily. This allows beginner drummers to focus on their technique and playing, without having to worry about frequent re-tuning. Secondly, do you have a particular playing style or musical genre in mind? We ask this because different drum kit configurations will be better suited to different styles. What to look for in a beginner drum set