A 7-piece drum set provides wider sound possibilities than a standard drumkit. Typically, 7-piece drum sets expand their tom selection with two more tom drums. It may be a new rack tom or a floor tomf; nevertheless, the percussive sound variability of a 7-piece kit is on a new level.
4 of the Best 7-Piece Drum Set at a Glance
As drummers, we all want our chops to be sharp and mind-blowing as much as possible. If you want this, you’ll have to expand your sound to get the most percussive options available at your disposal. That’s why having a 7-piece drum set is a great option, especially if you’re upgrading from a cheap drumkit.
If you’re looking to expand your drumkit’s sound, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I collected four of the best 7-piece drum set perfect for all drummers regardless of skill!
The Best 7-Piece Drum Set for Live Performances
Sawtooth Command Series 7-Piece Drum Set
Overview:
If you want to have a 7-piece drum set that can easily cut through a dense mix, you’re in for a treat! The Sawtooth Command Series arms you with excellent shells that will surely punch within high SPL levels. That’s why if you have a gig downtown, you’ll love the Sawtooth Command Drum Set!
Drum Shell Construction
Sawtooth crafted this shell pack using 6-ply poplar materials. When talking about drum shells, poplar delivers warm low-end, and delicate mids and highs. In addition, this shell construction also allows this drumkit to deliver punching drum sounds perfect for a dense mix.
Snare and Tom Drums
Second, the Sawtooth Command Series features 10 mil clear resonant tom heads. This drumhead construction provides the kit’s tom drums with better sustain and deeper tones. The kit’s toms and snare feature 10 mil texture-coated batter heads which deliver a warm tone. Moreover, the snare and toms come with 1.6mm triple-flanged hoops that help preserve the quality of drumsticks.
Bass Drum
Third, the kit’s bass drum comes with a 10 mil batter head and 10 mil coated resonant head. Similar to the Sawtooth Command’s snare and toms, this bass drum head provides users with a warm but punchy tone. Furthermore, the bass drum features telescopic bass drum spurs for a stable performance.
Key Features:
- 22”x18” bass drum
- 12”x19”, 10”x8”, and 13”x10” tom drums
- 14”x14” and 16”x16” floor toms
- 14”x5.5” snare drum
- 6-ply poplar shells
Pros:
The Sawtooth Command Series is an excellent 7-piece drum set for drummers looking for a cutting drum tone for live performances. Not to mention, the Sawtooth also delivers a warm tone despite its punchy sound, giving it more tonal characteristics.
Cons:
What’s frustrating about this product is that it doesn’t come with any hardware. However, you can still get a drum rack to house this 7-piece drum kit.
The Most Resonant 7-Piece Drum Set on this List
Tama Superstar Classic Maple 7-Piece Drum Kit
Overview:
Tama has been a world-renowned drum brand since the 70s. Over time, Tama has been a crucial part of the music industry. Trusted by legendary drummers, such as Lars Ulrich and Mike Portnoy, you can never go wrong with TAMA Drumkits!
Drum Shell Construction
Some drummers love drumkits that have a fast attack and decay, providing them with that explosive tone and projection. Conversely, some drummers love a resonant tone with a healthy amount of sustain. If you like more of the latter, you’ll love the Superstar Classic Maple Kit!
The Tama Superstar Classic 7-piece drum kit utilizes thin maple shells. Consequently, allowing users to have balanced highs, mids, and rumbling lows. In addition, TAMA utilized low-mass lugs, decreasing the overall weight of the shell. This results in better shell resonance in every hit.
Snare and Tom Drums
Tama incorporated the Duo snare drumhead on the Superstar Classic, providing users with a colorful sound without compromising projection. In addition, the utilization of low-mass lugs gives the snare’s shell better breathability, enabling it to maximize its overall resonance.
Furthermore, the Tama Superstar Classic toms come with Power Craft II drum heads. These drumheads are specifically picked to give the tom drums a better sound signature. Similar to its snare drum, the Tama Superstar Classic toms feature low-mass lugs to improve their resonance.
Moreover, the included tom hardware improves the already incredible resonance and flexibility of the Superstar Classic Maple kit. The Superstar Classic features the Tama L-Rod and Omnisphere tom holder system, allowing users with convenient tom positioning. On the other hand, the Tama Star-Mount System delivers a stable playing feel without obstructing the tom’s vibration.
Bass Drum
Aside from having low-mass lugs, the Tama Superstar Classic’s bass drum also comes with the Power Craft II drum heads. What separates this bass drum from other bass drums in the market is its utilization of ring mufflers. This feature eliminates the need for internal muffling to get a better tone. In addition, it’s also an incredible piece of equipment that can save you money in the long run.
Key Features:
- 18”x22” 8-ply bass drum
- 7”x8”, 8”x10”, and 9”x12” 6-ply tom drums
- 12”x14” and 14”x16” floor toms
- 14”x6.5” snare drum
- Power Craft II Drumheads
- Tama L-Rod and Omnisphere tom holders
- Low-mass lugs
- Star-Mount System
- Dark Indigo Burst finish
Pros:
Not only does this drumkit boasts an incredible level of resonance but it’s also lightweight! That means that it can also be a great gigging drum. Although it won’t cut as a portable drumkit, it’s still nimble enough to move around thanks to its thin shells.
Cons:
I wouldn’t recommend this for drummers who want a drum tone that decays quickly. In addition, due to its thin shell, it has a noticeable weakness in terms of sound projection. That’s why you’ll have to use a drum mic kit if you’ll use this 7-piece drum set in live settings.
Incredible 7-Piece Drum Set for Studio Recordings
Gretsch (CM1E826PWG) 2014 Catalina Maple 7-Piece Rock Shell Pack
Overview:
Quick response and a wide range of tones, that’s what we look for when buying the best 7-piece drum kit for studio recordings. Luckily, the Gretsch Catalina delivers a lively sound that cuts through a mix. That’s why if you’re looking for the best drum for studio drum recording, you’ll love the Gretsch Catalina Kit.
Drum Shell Construction
Gretsch constructed the Catalina 7-piece Drum Kit using 7-ply maple shells. These maple shells deliver a balanced level of mids and highs. In the low end, this specific shell material delivers a warmer tone than other woods, such as Mahogany and Beech.
Moreover, the Catalina Drum Kit features 30-degree bearing edges, maximizing the surface area between the shell and hoop. The bearing edge construction provides the kit with an instantaneous response, strong sound, and an even warmer sound.
Snare and Tom Drums
Just like every drum in this kit, the Gretsch Catalina’s snare comes with Remo drumheads. Consequently, allowing it to have a vibrant yet punchy sound for recordings. The snare’s 30-degree bearing edges allow it to have a faster response in every hit while enhancing its warmth.
Furthermore, the kit’s tom drums also come with 7-ply Maple shells and 2.3mm triple-flanged hoops. What makes this tom set special is its usage with the Gretsch low-profile GTS tom suspension system. The GTS Tom Suspension makes tom setup, tweaking, and tear down mind-blowingly easy!
Bass Drum
The Gretsch Catalina’s bass drum features an 18”x22” sizing, allowing users to still have a biting thud despite its usage of maple shells. In addition, the bass drum comes with maple bass drum hoops that improve its overall look and performance thanks to its lacquer and inlay look. Lastly, the bass drum’s usage of a G memory lock mount plate offers better playing stability, especially when tracking drums.
Key Features:
- 7-ply Maple shells
- 18”x22” bass drum
- 7”x8”, 7”x”10, 8”x12” rack tom drums
- 14”x14”, 16”x16” floor toms
- 6”x14” snare drum
- 30-degree bearing edges
- Low-profile construction
- Remo Drumheads
Pros:
The kit’s utilization of maple shells provides it with a warm tone that doesn’t lack the punch required for a cutting tone. In addition, its utilization of 30-degree bearing edges delivers incredible sound response suitable for recording user drum mics.
Cons:
Although this kit comes with great hardware and drums, it’s still kinda hard to get the best sounds off it. However, don’t get it wrong, if you dial a great tone through this kit, you’ll be satisfied with its warmth and punch.
Great 7-Piece Drum Set with Premium-Level Specifications
PDP By DW 7-Piece Concept Maple Shell Pack
Overview:
As drummers, we’re always on the lookout for bang-for-the-buck specifications. As much as possible, we’d love to have better gear without spending a fortune— I know I do. With the PDP Concept 7-Piece Drum Kit, get premium-level quality and sound without busting the bank!
Drum Shell Construction
The PDP Concept features 7-ply maple shells its tom and kick; moreover, it also uses 10-ply maple shells on its snare. The kit’s maple shell combination allows it to deliver a versatile sound that can pass in both live and studio settings.
In addition, the Concept also comes with premium-level hardware that is rare to see at this price point! For instance, the Concept kit comes with true-pitch tension rods, die-cast low-mass claw hooks, aesthetically-pleasing lacquer finish, and more!
Snare and Tom Drums
As stated, the Concept Maple 7-Piece Drum Set snare and toms feature 10-ply and 7-ply shells respectively. However, more specifications are lying within these drums!
The PDP Concept Shell features true-pitch tuning that allows users to have an easy and accurate tuning experience. Not to mention, this tuning system also allows the snare to have an incredible level of precision. The snare drum also comes with a MAG snare throw-off that allows users to engage and disengage their snare easily.
Similarly, the Tom drums also boast true-pitch tuning! In addition, the Concept tom drums also feature F.A.S.T. tom sizing and STM mounting systems for optimal performance.
Bass Drum
The PDP Concept bass drum features a 7-ply shell construction and true-pitch tuning. Aside from those, the kit’s bass drum features die-cast claw hooks that help with the bass drum’s tuning and tensioning. It also allows for better bass drum resonance thanks to its low-mass construction. The bass drum also comes with retro-styled dual-turret lugs that are functional and stylish!
Key Features:
- 18”x22” bass drum with Die-cast low-mass claw hooks
- 7”x8”, 8”x10”, 9”x12” rack toms
- 12”x14” and 14”x16” floor toms
- 5.5”x14” snare drum with MAG Snare Throw-off
- Remo Drumheads
- Suspension Tom Mounts
Pros:
The DW PDP Concept 7-piece drum set provides users with premium-level specifications while keeping the price down. In a nutshell, this drumkit features incredible construction and hardware suitable for any musical setting.
Cons:
Although it doesn’t come with premium-level pricing, the PDP Concept is still the most expensive kit in this guide.
What to Look for When Buying 7-Piece Drum Sets— A Buyer’s Guide
When buying a 7-piece drum set, buyers should know the things to look for to get the best performance possible. Of course, considering the amount you’ll be spending, you wouldn’t want to end up with a 7-piece drum kit that doesn’t live up to its price. Therefore, I crafted this buyer’s guide to help you find the best drum kit suitable for all your musical needs.
Shell Material
The shell material of a drum kit determines its sound and tone. Your kit’s timbre and details will be highly dependent on its shell material. That’s why it’s crucial to find ample shell considering the type of music you play.
Here are the most popular shell materials you can find today:
- Ash– delivers a warm tone that offers tons of projection.
- Bubinga- boasts balanced highs, mids, and detailed low-end sound.
- Birch- offers better projection than Ash; loud high-end and detailed low-end.
- Beech- heavy shells with powerful low-end and loud high-end sound.
- Cherry- excels in highlighting the mid-range; highly detailed sound.
- Maple- perfect all-around sound; healthy amount of highs and mids, soft low-end.
- Mahogany- delivers an incredibly warm tone but lacks in terms of projection.
- Poplar- bright-sounding and budget-friendly drum shell.
- Oak- soft and warm highs and lows with a fast attack.
- Walnut- balanced and warm-sounding highs, mids, and lows.
Hardware
To get the best flexibility and usability out of a 7-piece drum set, buyers should find the kits with the best hardware. For instance, if you want incredible tuning stability, you might want to go with the PDP Concept Drum Kit.
There are tons of 7-piece shell packages in the market. You can save more money in the long run through free and high-quality hardware. Therefore, I would suggest finding the ones that come with ample hardware.
Purpose
There are tons of musical possibilities for drummers. That said, each musical setting calls for a specific type of drum performance.
For instance, if you’re playing within a high SPL environment, you’d want the best drum projection possible. Conversely, if you’re recording, you might want the best resonance or warmth possible.
As a drummer, you will want to match a drum’s performance with the purpose you intend for the best playing experience. That’s why I indicated where each drum kit in this guide excels to help you find the one suitable for your purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions about a 7-Piece Drum Set
What is a 7 piece drum kit?
A 7-piece drum set features a better drum selection than a standard drumkit. Typically, 7-piece drum kits come with an extra rack and floor tom, expanding its sound in the process. If you want better sound flexibility, then you’ll want to consider getting a 7-piece drum kit.
Is a 5 piece drum set enough?
A 5-piece configuration is the standard specification of most drum kits today. This specific drum construction provides users with the necessary equipment to lay down a beat without losing sound versatility.
However, sometimes a 5-piece configuration lacks performance in some genres. For example, some metal subgenres require a huge tom selection since it requires intricate fills and chops. That’s where a 7-piece drum set beats a standard drum kit.
How much does a decent set of drums cost?
Usually, an entry-level drum kit will cost around $300. While intermediate kits cost around $800 up to $1,000 on average. Professional drumkits cost more than the former kits by a huge margin. On the other hand, decent 7-piece drumkits cost around $1000 up to $2000.
What is in a 5pc drum set?
As stated, a 5-piece drum set is the standard drum kit configuration today. A 5-piece set includes a floor tom, bass drum, snare drum, and two rack toms. These drums are enough for most drumming styles, but they can still lack in color and versatility for demanding genres.
How many drums do you need?
If you’re a beginner, a 4-piece or 5-piece drum kit would be enough for you to learn the ropes of drumming! However, if you need more detail and versatility in your sound, then a 7-piece drum set is what you need.
Enjoy your New 7-piece Drum Set!
In conclusion, expanding to a 7-piece drum kit isn’t a bad idea. If you feel that your skill is being limited by a standard kit, then it’s time to switch things up. Although these kits are somewhat pricey, they can still do wonders for your sound and approach to drumming.
Hopefully, this guide helped you find the best drum kit according to your needs. Which 7-piece drum kit did you like the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. If you enjoyed reading this article, make sure to check other drum-related guides on this website!