Drums, like an musical instrument should be considered an an investment.  This is to say that due care and consideration needs to be taken when purchasing drums.

Identify your purpose.  What is that you are looking for?  A kit to learn on?  An upgrade from your entry level kit?  Or a professional kit at a bargain price?

Knowing your intentions can assist in sorting through the many options available to you.  However, if you are beginning to learn the drums as an instrument, there is a lot to get your head around. 

This guide is designed to assist you in making informed choices so that you end up with a kit you will be happy to play.

The initial outlay to purchase drums can easily go beyond your intended budget if you have not thought through what it is that you are buying.  Drums involve more than simply the drums themselves, including cymbals, hardware (stands and pedals), sticks, stool, cases and pads.

Check which listings offer whole packages of drums, cymbals, hardware or cases and other accessories as this can save you dollars.

Do your research and know what a drum kit and cymbals retail for as some of the listings have purchase prices that are inflated above what you would normally expect to pay.  The resale value of a drum kit can be significantly lower than what you might expect to pay retail.

Check the online stores like Billy Hydes and Drum City as they frequently list new gear and it will give you a gauge as to the new cost of the kit that you want, remembering that their listings often do not include cymbals or other accessories. 

Visit your local music store and discuss with the staff what your needs are (beginning, upgrading) and the limit of your budget.  They will be able to point you in the right direction and perhaps give you a good price on a package that includes drums, cymbals and accessories. 

You can then use this information to compare various listings.

Purchasing an "entry level" kit does not necessarily mean that you are purchasing "cheap" drums.  The relative quality of entry level kits has increased in recent years, meaning better value for money.  If you are serious about drums, invest in professional level cymbals and upgrade your drums at a later date.

If you are a beginning drummer, how do you know what to look for when there seem to be so many brands of drums and various lines within them?  The information below will help you sort out what's what.  Each category is listed with an approximate price range.  The price is for new drums at retail prices and do not include cymbals or other accessories.  The brands listed below are based on current series being offered and is not an exhaustive list.  Some drum kits that appear on eBay are superseded lines and it would pay to do some research into the history of that drum company and line of drums.

Entry Level ($800 - $ 1500)
Pearl Forum, Pearl Export (superseded); Mapex Q and V series; Tama Imperialstar and Superstar; Gretsch Blackhawk; Ludwig CS, Premier Cabria

Midrange (Semi-professional $1500 - $3500)
Pearl Vision; Pearl Masters Custom; Mapex Pro M and M Birch; Tama Superstar Custom; Gretsch Catalina; PDP (Pacific Drums and Percussion); ddrum; Sonor

High End Professional ($4000+)
Pearl Masterworks, Masters Premium and Reference series; Mapex Orion and Saturn series; Tama Starclassic; Gretsch; DW (Drum Workshop); Brady; Sleishmann; ddrum; Ludwig; Sonor, Premier.

What makes a drum set more expensive than another?  One factor is the type of wood used in the construction of the drum shell.  Mid range and high end drums use woods like maple and birch as they have particular sonic characteristics.  Maple is a "warmer" sounding wood with more low end while birch is "brighter" and has more attack in its sound.  Entry level kits use woods like mahogany, basswood and polar, which have similar sonic properties to maple and birch, but are cheaper to produce.  Brady uses an Australian hardwood, jarrah, in the shells of their drums.

Read the information for each listing carefully and ask questions to get as much history and information that you can about the instrument.  Do your research carefully and thoughtfully.  Time well spent means that you can end up with the drum kit that you really want.

Keep the Rhythm.