It’s been a busy 2022 here at Drum Center of Portsmouth! Over the past 12 months, we’ve been fortunate enough to play and review quite a few of the industry’s finest drum sets. We’ve curated this list of the ten very best kits 2022 had to offer!
Gretsch Catalina Maple 7pc Rock Drum Set Gloss Natural - DCP Exclusive!
This Gretsch Catalina Maple Rock 7-piece Drum Kit in gloss natural finish delivers explosive tone at a price point that is hard to beat.
At the core of this kit is the Gretsch-formula 7-ply maple shell with a 30 degree bearing edge that projects warmth and punch with robust midrange resonance. The quality 2.3mm flanged hoops and low-profile GTS suspension system allow the shells to sing out with just the right amount of sustain. This huge, versatile kit will lend itself to any type of musical situation.
Sizes are: 22x18 kick with round "Gas Cap" mount plate; 8x7, 10x7, and 12x8 rack toms with GTS mounts; 14x14 and 16x16 floor toms; 14x6 snare drum; double and single tom arm (1 each). Drums/tom arms only; stands/cymbals sold separately.
Mapex Armory Series 6pc Studioease Drum Set - Black Burst - DCP Exclusive!
The NEW Armory Series finishes are the latest realization of the Mapex hybrid shell concept. Mapex has taken the popular Armory series and added beautiful veneers, making this one of the most stunning looking and sounding drum kits in its price-point. As in the prior Armory Series finishes, the shells are a fusion of birch and maple, delivering the ultimate in tonal expression. The SONIClear™ bearing edges allow the drumhead to sit flat, bringing out the best response by optimizing the relationship between the head and shell. The included Tomahawk Snare Drum provides the crisp, cutting attack with razor edge precision. These are serious drums!
Rogers Cleveland Series 3pc Drum Set
Handcrafted for the modern player with a vintage soul. Cleveland drums pay tribute to Rogers' classic signature style - paired with an exclusive new shell design to herald the next chapter in Rogers' drum kit innovation. With the goal of achieving the Rogers Sound for today's music, the Cleveland Series was designed with a sonic profile that's open, warm and punchy, along with a low fundamental to produce a wide spectrum of tone for any genre of music.
DW Performance 5pc Drum Set 24/13/16/18/14
This is a DW drum set in every way. No detail has been overlooked, nor any corners cut. Its look and sound are decidedly DW. Custom-inspired, with a new Quarter Turret lug, low mass die-cast claw hook, new badge, logo head and a Lacquer finish that is sanded down to give the "Hard Satin" look, it's designed to get noticed and most importantly, Performance sounds like what you'd expect from DW. Easy to tune, superior sounding HVX shells, along with DW heads by Remo USA, STM (Suspension Tom Mounts), True Pitch Tuning and DW 45 degree back-cut bearing edges, all make these drums sing.
British Drum Company Legend Series Drum Set
The Legend Series is constructed from 10 ply 100% Scandinavian Birch, cross laminated and cold-press moulded into a shell only 6mm thick. Adding 2-ply reinforcement rings and precision-cut 45 degree bearing edges results in super-strong, thin shells that promote naturally lower fundamental tones with immediate attack and deep controlled sustain.
With a wide tuning range these precision hand-crafted drums are ultimately versatile. Tune them up to produce clean delicate highs for more subtle playing, and tune them down to get deep and punchy bass drums and thunderous toms with unparalleled low-end growl.
Legend Series drums are equally at home on any stage or any studio and will take you to anywhere your music demands.
Ludwig Legacy Mahogany 4pc Bonham Drum Set
The return of the sound that built Ludwig. As Ludwig's flagship professional drum line, the Legacy Mahogany Series is a decidedly modern twist on our vintage shell formula featuring a 3-ply Mahogany / Poplar / Mahogany layup with solid maple support rings.
26x14 kick (no mount)
14x10 rack (no mount)
16x16 floor
18x16 floor
Gretsch USA Custom Drum Set
For over 65 years, Gretsch USA Custom Round Badge drums have been the classic American drum sound. At the heart of "That Great Gretsch Sound" is the legendary 6-ply maple/gum shell with its expertly formed 30-degree bearing edge, the exclusive "Silver Sealer" interior finish and rugged die cast hoops. These custom drums are handmade in Ridgeland, South Carolina using the highest quality traditional finishing techniques. You simply won't find a higher quality drum than a Gretsch USA Custom.
Sonor SQ2 5pc Drum Set - Birch
The SQ2 Drum System represents Sonor's extensive know-how in drum making and sound design. Building upon more than 137 years of manufacturing experience this range of custom instruments offers the ultimate in Sonor craftsmanship. It is the flagship within the Sonor drum program. With an almost unlimited variety of shell, size, and finish combinations, SQ2 is the most individual instrument Sonor has ever made and the most unique drum you could ever dream of playing. It will let you speak with your personal musical voice. It is your signature sound.
Pearl Masterworks 8pc sTODDio Drum Set
Paying tribute to world-class drummer and friend to DCP Todd Sucherman, we configured this kit to be very much like what he uses on the road with Styx. It's the sTODDio kit! Sizes are:
6x7 Tom
8x7 Tom
10x8 Tom
12x8 Tom
14x14 Floor Tom
16x16 Floor Tom
22x16 Bass Drum
14x5.5 Snare Drum
All toms feature triple flanged hoops and Optimounts. The snare features die cast hoops and an SR017 strainer/butt. All drums are outfitted with Remo USA heads. This kit will blow your mind! This kit has since sold, but check out our other magnificent Masterworks drum sets here!
Noble & Cooley Horizon Series
Noble & Cooley is located just south of us in Granville, Massachusetts. No other drum manufacturer has the history of innovation and production that Noble & Cooley has. The company can trace its lineage all the way back to 1854, when Silas Noble and James P. Cooley started making drums in the Noble farmhouse kitchen. It wasn’t long before they packed up and moved into a small building to create their very first factory. The rest was American history. Horizon series drum sets feature a unique horizontal ply design and offer a sound distinct from conventional ply drums. The horizontal plies create a strong attack which is balanced with an inner veneer of Mahogany that adds warmth to the tone. The result is a clarity of sound which cuts through the music yet remains musical and vibrant.
There you have it! The top 10 greatest drum sets, according to us. Let the drum experts at Drum Center of Portsmouth help you find YOUR ideal drum set for the upcoming year!