Best 9 Yamaha Drums Sets – Which One Is Right For YOU?

Did you know that playing the drums can help with the growth and development of the brain? And Yamaha drums are some of the best in this industry. Even among musicians, drummers are shown to have better motor skills and abilities as well as a higher rate of ambidexterity. These benefits are one of the many reasons why countless people begin playing the drums every year.

There are dozens of brands that make excellent drum sets, but Yamaha is one of the most reputable and immediately recognizable names in music. If you’ve been looking into purchasing a Yamaha drum set of your own, we’re here to help. Here are the nine best Yamaha drum sets of 2024 and a quick guide on purchasing your new set.

Best Yamaha Drum Sets of 2024

We’ll go into more detail, but if you’re short on time, here’s our list of the top nine. Further down the line, we’ll discuss the pros, cons, key features, and what makes each of these drum sets one of the best Yamaha options of 2024. 

1. Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack
2. Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 3-Piece Bop Shell Pack
3. Yamaha Stage Custom Hip 4-Piece Shell Pack
4. Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack with 20″ Bass Drum
5. Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack with 22″ Bass Drum
6. Yamaha Tour Custom Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack with 20” Bass Drum
7. Yamaha Tour Custom Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack with 22” Bass Drum
8. Yamaha 3-Piece Bebop Recording Custom Shell Pack
9. Yamaha 4-Piece Recording Custom Shell Pack

What’s the Best Overall Yamaha Drum?

Picking the best drum set overall is a difficult task. The best depends heavily on your own needs and uses. Some of these sets are better for certain genres than others are, for example, making them better than others if you’re a musician in their particular genre. Others are smaller, which will make them better for players that don’t have as much spare room.

Without entering specific use cases and personal choices, our pick for the best all-around Yamaha drum set of 2024 would be the Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple 4-piece Shell Pack. With four drums, you have everything vital to serve as the heart of your drum set. The hybrid construction is sturdy and lightweight and won’t disappoint you.

If you’re looking for electronic based drums, check out our Yamaha electronic drum set buying guide.

Where to Order a Yamaha Drum Set

There are a great number of options on where you can order a Yamaha drum set, or even a newer electronic drum set if you’re looking for something more modern. As one might expect, the most reputable catalog you can find would be on the Yamaha site itself. Yamaha is likely to have the most extensive catalog, as well as knowing that you’re getting it from the best source possible. You also will enjoy their customer service and other benefits.

If you’re unable to purchase from Yamaha for some reason, there are plenty of other options that you can use. Local music shops are likely to carry Yamaha, and drum specialty stores may have a variety of Yamaha drum sets. Consider looking into local music shops to see what they carry or check their online catalogs. Chain stores often have a large online selection.

Finally, many supermarkets that carry beginner instruments may have some version of a Yamaha drum set. Check in on the websites of your chosen supermarket and see if they’re carrying any of the options on our list or another drum set that you would prefer.

The Nine Best Yamaha Drum Sets 2024

These nine sets are our picks for the best Yamaha drum sets of 2024. Regardless of your skill level, expertise, or budget, there’s certain to be something here for you. As a note, these are not in a specific order – think of them all as tied for first place! Your pick should be made based on your needs, so weigh each of these nine options to see which is best for you.

1. Best Overall: Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack

Rating: 4.8/5

If you’re an experienced drummer, this entry is arguably the best choice on this list. We highlight experience because Yamaha charges quite a bit for this particular piece, and it would take an expert to make it shine. That said, if you’re still learning and want a high-quality drum set, you can’t go wrong with this shell pack.

With a 20” bass drum, two toms, and a floor tom, this set can bring everything together for your full rig. The shells are a blended material rather than a single type of wood, brought in with 7-play construction. Aluminum hoops help keep things lightweight and easy to transport while also keeping them reinforced.

There are dozens of details that make this one of the best drum sets of the year. Optimal vent hole positioning on each shell, a perfect blending of construction material, sustain control, and fantastic hardware will not disappoint you. If you’re willing to meet the price point, the Absolute Hybrid is the best Yamaha drum set of 2024.

Pros:

• Hybrid construction
• Optimal sound
• High-quality blended 7-ply build
• Excels in every genre of music

Cons:

• High price

Key Features:

• Blended 7-ply construction
• Optimized vent holes for sound and tone

2. Best Price: Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 3-Piece Bop Shell Pack

Rating: 4.7/5

Starting off our list is the 3-piece birch set from Yamaha, the Stage Custom Birch Bop Shell Pack. The Stage Custom comes with a kick, rack tom, and floor tom, as well as the hardware needed to mount the rack tom and legs for the floor tom. Users can pick between an 18”, 20”, or 22” kick, as well as five different colors.

A 100% birch drum shell construction also comes with an air seal system. 45-degree bearing edges and absolute-style lugs make this a fashionable and effective system. It’s a great – albeit standard and somewhat barebones – set to start our list with. These three drums can make a great core for your next set or be great for practice on their own.

Pros:

• Great construction
• Customizable size and colors
• Simple assembly

Cons:

• Relatively barebones
• No exceptional features

Key Features:

• 100% birch construction
• Included hardware options

3. Best Compact Kit: Yamaha Stage Custom Hip 4-Piece Shell Pack

Rating: 4.7/5

Similar to the set above, the Yamaha Stage Custom Hip 4-piece Shell Pack comes with four drums. One of the greatest features of these pieces is the compact footprint, helping it suit most stages with ease. It also makes it much easier to set up at home for better practice. Additionally, the set is quieter than many, making indoor practice a possibility.

The floor tom on this kit comes equipped with 20-strand snares. Such a feature allows it to change into a 13” snare drum, effectively giving another piece to your set. The 100% birch shells are sturdy and sound fantastic as well.

Overall, this is a fantastic set that may fit your needs better than most. The customizability, strong construction, and versatility of the set match nearly any genre or use case. While it may come with fewer pieces than some may prefer, it’s a great core to your set to pair with the cymbals of your choosing.

Pros:

• Versatile snare/tom set
• Strong birch construction

Simple assembly

Cons:

• Possibly overly compact for some players
• High cost for a few pieces

Key Features:

• Snare/tom hybrid
• Included hardware options

4. Best Rumble: Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack with 20″ Bass Drum

Rating: 4.8/5

Our biggest set yet comes from Yamaha’s Custom Birch 5-piece Shell Pack. The five pieces in question include two rack toms, a snare, a floor tom, and a 20” kick drum. The kick drum can also come in a 22” or 18” model to fit your preferences and size restrictions.

Strong birch construction, as with the other models in this line, helps to make sure that you’re being given fantastic drum shells. There are five available colors as well. These include cranberry red, honey amber, raven black, pure white, and natural wood. Drummers can also pick between just the pack, the pack with hardware, or the pack with a drum throne.

If you’re looking to get your first drum set or upgrade to an acoustic, you can’t go wrong with this pack. A 5-piece shell pack provides everything you need to have a full drum kit and play in any genre an acoustic drum set fits. You’ll also have an excellent basis to build the rest of your set around and build and match as you desire.

Pros:

• Fantastic construction
• Five pieces to add to

Cons:

• No cymbals, stands, kick pedal, or throne included except as addons

Key Features:

• 20” bass drum
• Five pieces

5. Best for Rock Music: Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack with 22″ Bass Drum

Rating: 4.7/5

Maybe you love the thought of the set just above, but a 20” bass drum just doesn’t have enough oomph for you. If that’s the case, upgrading to a 22” bass drum can give you a fantastic sound and a wonderful drum set at the same time.

If you aren’t aware of the differences, drum size will affect the sound your drum makes when hit. A larger drum will often have a deeper, bassier sound – as well as a considerably louder one. Such a sound can also make a larger drum desirable for more aggressive music such as rock and metal. Smaller drums are often found in jazz, pop, or similar genres.

That means that this is a great option if you’re choosing to go for a more aggressive or louder playstyle. Regardless of what you’re playing, the Yamaha Stage 5-piece Shell Pack is a fantastic choice. It may have too many pieces for some beginners, but it makes a great kit for all skill levels.

Pros:

• Fantastic construction
• Five pieces to add to
• Larger, deeper drum than the previous option

Cons:

• No cymbals, stands, kick pedal, or throne included except as addons

Key Features:

• 22” bass drum
• Five pieces

6. Best for Any Musical Style: Yamaha Tour Custom Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack with 20” Bass Drum

Rating: 4.7/5

Moving away from the custom stage, we have the Yamaha Tour Custom Maple. In addition, this is the first set to use maple instead of birch thus far in our Yamaha list.

So why the difference in wood? If you’re familiar with guitars, you may know about tonewood. It’s a hot-button topic with a lot of debate around it, but the gist is that the wood that one uses in constructing an instrument will change the way it sounds.

Many drummers feel that the difference is negligible, if it even exists at all, but just as many feel that the wood a drum is made from will affect the sound. To that end, maple delivers a different sound than birch while still providing excellent build quality, appearance, and construction.

The Yamaha Tour Custom here comes with four maple shells – a kick, two rack toms, and a floor tom. Tom clamps come as well, but this is another pack that will only be coming with drum shells and no cymbals, stands, pedal, or throne.

Pros:

• Maple construction
• Customizable packages

Cons:

• High price
• Lack of additional items

Key Features:

• 20” drum
• Maple construction

7. Best for Two Pedals: Yamaha Tour Custom Maple 4-Piece Shell Pack with 22” Bass Drum

Rating: 4.7/5

Like the Yamaha Tour Custom Maple 4-piece but want a bigger drum? Yamaha offers the choice to go for a 22” bass drum instead if you prefer. As before, this choice is great if you intend to play louder, more aggressive music. 

Another benefit of a larger drum comes if you intend to use more than one pedal. Many drummers – especially in metal – prefer to have two pedals. Such a layout is especially useful for techniques like blast beats, and the larger drum is easier to squeeze two pedals.

Other than the larger drum, this set is the same as the 20”. All other drums are the same, cymbals are not included, and you’ll have a great basis to build your kit around. It’s a fantastic kit for players of all skill levels, but the high price means that most beginners may want to go for something else while they hone their skills.

Pros:

• Maple construction
• Customizable packages

Cons:

• High price
• Lack of additional items

Key Features:

• 22” drum
• Maple construction

8. Best for Beginners: Yamaha 3-Piece Bebop Recording Custom Shell Pack

Rating: 4.7/5

While the Absolute Hybrid is best in the hands of an expert, the 3-piece bebop set is great for beginners. The drums are easy-to-use and even easier to tune, and suitable for any drumming situation. That includes ones with limited space, as the kick drum here is only 18”, shorter than any option thus far on the list.

Using a 6-ply birch construction, the drum hardware is made of steel to stay sturdy and strong even through years of use. It’s “wide open, versatile, and comfortable right out of the box, as Yamaha says, but you can still make as many customizations as you would like.

A 3-piece set may not give everything that some players would like. Especially at this high of a price, one may prefer to get a set that gives more drum shells. If you’re content with three pieces, whether it be your preference or your genre’s requirement, this is a fantastic set to add to your arsenal.

Pros:

• Easy to use and tune
• Solid construction

Cons:

• Relatively barebones set for some users

Key Features:

• Low frequency, reduced interference shells
• 18” kick drum

9. Best for Reduced Interference: Yamaha 4-Piece Recording Custom Shell Pack

Rating: 4.8/5

Closing out our list is the Yamaha 4-piece Recording Custom Shell Pack, and it’s undoubtedly one of the strongest entries yet. Aggressive players will be happy to have the sound of a 22” bass drum, complete with two toms and a floor tom. The construction of these shells reduces the interference of nearby drums without using mutes for a clearer, better sound.

Remo Ambassador heads on the toms help with a warm, clear tone and resonant quality. It’s an easy-to-use kit that helps to redefine the classic sound of an acoustic drum set. These four pieces can easily create the heart of the best kit you’ve ever gotten to play on.

6-ply birch construction and steel hardware help this be a lightweight-but-sturdy set as well. 

Pros:

• Solid construction
• Incredible sound

Cons:

• High price

Key Features:

• Birch construction
• 22” bass drum

Where to Buy Used Yamaha Drum Set

Purchasing a used Yamaha drum set is much easier than many might think it is. There’s a rich used market for Yamaha due to how reputable and well-known the brand is. Many people that are upgrading to another set or simply don’t have the time to play anymore are selling their used kits.

The best place to check will be local shops, as this can help you cut down on shipping and get your drum set as fast as possible. Local music shops are the best for this, but some businesses don’t deal in used instruments. Call ahead to check if your local music shop has used instruments for sale and inquire about Yamaha drum sets.

Second-hand markets like eBay are also a great place to find these sets. Local marketplace apps may have someone that doesn’t want theirs anymore as well. Browse these sites to see if anything catches your 

Frequently Asked Questions

With our top nine set out, all you need to do is decide which one best suits your needs. But to that end, you may have a few more questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions and the necessary answers to help you make your choice.

Does the Wood Used in Construction Matter?

The wood drum shells are made of does matter, but the reasons why are controversial. One thing everyone can agree on is that sturdy woods are best for making sure your drums aren’t fragile. Certain woods also stain better, making some colorations, customizations, and other aesthetic benefits viable.

In terms of sound, however, the consensus is that there will be little to no difference in the tone of your music from the wood used. An absolute expert drummer with a honed ear for music will likely be able to notice the subtle differences in tone between two equal drums with different wood.

However, a beginner – or even an experienced – drummer is unlikely to notice such things, as is the average listener. The difference is minute and ultimately shouldn’t be a make-or-break factor in your decision. 

Maple and birch are two of the most common woods used, and the primary ones present on this list. You may find others, but these two are the most likely you’ll see.

What Factors Go Into Choosing My Kit?

When purchasing a factor, you should consider:

• The genre you play
• The amount of space you have
• Your budget
• Your skill level and time spent practicing
• How long you will have the kit
• If you intend to perform or record

There are plenty of other factors, but these are universal ones. Consider your needs and intentions and choose your drum set from there.

Is Yamaha Good for Beginners?

Yamaha makes instruments of all sorts for players of all skill levels. Some of the kits on this list are great for beginners and others are more suited to professional players. Using a kit that matches your skill level is good for getting the most out of it and staying motivated.

Can I Perform Live With These Drums?

Every drum set on this list would likely translate itself well to a live show. These acoustic sets have a deep, rich sound and are as portable as any kit, as well as sturdy. If your intention is to play live or record, your best drum set is likely in the list above.

Wrapping Up

Finding the best Yamaha drum set of 2024 is tough, but your choice is almost undoubtedly on this list. These nine sets are the best of the best and can fit virtually any player. Whether you intend to play as a hobbyist, learn a new instrument, or play and record your next album, these drums are the cream of the crop.

If you have more questions about drum sets and Yamaha instruments, feel free to contact us or browse our site for more information.

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Sakari Oramo

S. Oramo is a Finnish orchestra conductor born in Helsinki. Starting his career as a violinist, he quickly advanced to become concertmaster of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

His vast experience in the field allows him to provide the best advice and guides around a variety of musical instruments here as co-founder of NT Instruments

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