First of all, congratulations on choosing to buy one of the most exciting and fun instruments in the world. I've been teaching drums in London for a few years now and I can't count the amount of times I've been asked “What drums should I buy considering we live in a flat”
That is why I decided to put together this article as a guide for students and parents looking to purchase their first drum kit. Before we jump right into the different brands and models, let’s look at how an electric drum kit works and if such a kit would be right for your needs.
What is an electric drum kit?
Electric drum kits are compact digital instruments that simulate real acoustic drums. The heads of the drums (the part that you play on) are either made out of rubber or a mesh.
The electric drums are smaller than the ones on an acoustic kit and normally, they are all the same size with some exceptions. The most important bit of the kit is the drum module.
Also known as the brain, that piece of tech stores all the sounds and libraries and connects to all the different drums and cymbals which are equipped with either single, double or triple-zone triggers. The triggers are responsible for sending a digital signal to the drum module which then plays the appropriate sounds. Different triggers have different sensitivity and responsiveness, and a higher-end kit will offer an overall better, more realistic feeling and sound.
-Are they loud?
(My neighbours don’t want to hear about drumming.) Well, the good news is that electric kits are really quiet compared to acoustic drums even when somebody is hammering them with the heaviest pair of sticks. Some kits are quieter than others especially those with mesh heads but keep on reading I will get to that too.
Does that mean they are silent?
-Nope. They have a distinctive rubber/plastic sound that is not exactly loud but could be heard by your neighbours especially if you live in an old flat with thin walls and you like to play loud heavy metal music.
Overall electric kits are good enough in terms of noise even for those living in flats and the only issues you might run into are vibrations that resonate on the floor, but that could be easily solved with a nice thick rug under the kit. -Do I need a lot of space for my kit?
If you are lucky enough to have a lot of spare space in your room that’s great!
When it comes to space for drumming the more the better, but even if that’s not the case you can still get creative and find some space for your gear.
Just get some measure tape and check the dimensions of your chosen drums.
The good thing about electric kits is that most of them have a frame that’s designed to fold so that the kit could be stored in a corner or a wardrobe.
Rubber pads or Mesh heads?
If you search for “electric drum kit” on google you would see that some drums are made out of rubber and some have mesh drums.The mesh head drums are what I recommend to all students if their budget allows it. Overall, the mesh provides a more realistic rebound and is undoubtly quieter compared to the rubber pads.
Mesh head drum kits.
Pros
-Quiet -Realistic feeling -Better stick rebound -Closer to real drums
Cons - Pricey
-They take up more space
-Heads could break and they have to be replaced every now and then.
Rubber pads
Rubber pad kits are more affordable and easy to find because manufacturing them is way cheaper. Unfortunately, they don’t have the same realistic feeling as the mesh drums and the rubber noise of the pads could be quite loud especially on cheaper kits, but don’t let that put you off your purchase. There are many good rubber pad kits out there and as long as you play on an acoustic set every now and then you will be able to progress just as with every other type of drums.
Pros
-Cheap - Easy to find and repair - They take up less space - More durable and great for kids Cons -Unrealistic bounciness when playing -Loudness
Things to consider before buying.
You would need to decide whether you want to buy a kit with a real kick drum and pedal or the cheaper option which is just a pedal. I recommend investing a little extra in a real kick drum because the pedals are very limited in what they can do, and you won’t be able to develop a good kick drum technique, which is crucial. You would also need to buy a drum stool and a speaker or headphones. Don’t go for anything fancy just buy something cheap that looks sturdy.
Drums are fragile and if you don’t take care of them they could break! I know that sounds strange considering you are looking to buy a drum kit but take into consideration that they are usually made out of plastic which could easily snap if not handled correctly. If you’re buying a kit for your child you have to make sure that they understand that drums are not a toy and they have to respect and take care of their kit.
What should you buy?
Yamaha DTX452K
Price range (new): 428 - 500£
It is not a coincidence I’ve put the DTX452K at the top of the list.Yamaha is well known for their reliability and longevity and they are one of the best brands in the drumming world.
The DTX452K is no exception, and it comes well equipped with a real kick drum and a fantastic module loaded with some of the best samples in the world.
The pads are made out of rubber, but they are quiet compared to other kits and have single or dual-zone triggers that provide razor-sharp sensitivity and responsiveness.
The DTX452K is a compact, well built, great sounding kit, that will last years, even in the hands of heavy hitters. It might not have mesh heads which I personally prefer, but the price to quality ratio is well balanced and drummers of all levels chose them over other models.
If their price of the DTX452K is out of your budget you can also look at one of the cheaper models in the DTX range such as the DTX402K
Yamaha DTX402K
Price range (new) - 335£ - 370 (for bundles with drum stool)
The DTX402 shares most of its parts with the DTX452K but it doesn’t come with a real kick drum and it has a different snare drum. Both of those things are upgradable so you don't need to worry that you will need new drums in a few months.
If you want to spend even less, (80-200£) you can always look for a second-hand Yamaha kits on Gumtree and eBay.
Roland TD-1DMK V-Drums Price range (new) - 509£ (without kick pedal) - 609£ (for ready to play bundles)
The other kit that deserves to be at the top of the list is the Roland TD-1DMK V-Drums The TD-1DMK is one of the most popular electric kits in the world.
The patented mesh head technology provides great rebound and realistic feeling with razor-sharp response from the module.
The TD-1DMK is possibly one of the best options for drummers of all playing abilities and my favourite electric kit.
Alesis DM Nitro Mesh Price range (new) - 299£ - 399£
The final kit on the list is the Alesis DM Nitro Mesh Electronic Drum Kit This kit is one of the cheapest mesh head options on the market. The built quality isn't the best, and in my opinion the clamps are poorly designed and require constant tightening to keep in place.
The drum module feels somehow basic and outdated too, but don’t forget about all the pros of having mesh heads. With that said I think that overall the Alesis Nitro mesh offers a lot for the price.
If you want a mesh head kit but you can't afford the Roland , The Alesis is the perfect compromise.
Conclusion
Finding the right instrument is crucial for beginner musicians and If you opt-out for something cheap you might end up not enjoying playing on it, which would be disappointing.
Spending the extra money will definitely make your learning journey more enjoyable and smooth.I advise people to research further and always compare prices on different websites before making a purchase. Checking Facebook market, Gumtree and eBay is also a good option since there are a lot of second-hand bargains on there.
I hope this article helped you with choosing your first drum kit. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to drop me a message. I am always happy to help.