The Best Micro Kits | Tama, Yamaha, Sonor, Pearl & PDP | Gear Check | Thomann

[@tim6155]

No joke: I played the AQX Micro Set at a Gig in a Church and on the recording, it sounds like a 20" Bass Drum. This Set is amazing!

[@andipolke]

Nice! With the right tuning and the help of some microphones it‘s outstanding what you can achieve with even pretty small shells

[@tim6155]

@@andipolke You're absolutely right. The amazing thing is that the set wasn't even mic'd !

[@Jay19848]

PDP NEW YORKER HAS MY VOTE!!! THE BEST KIT I HAVE EVER OWNED!!! 💪🏽

[@Jay19848]

@@MichaelMiner-k8b I’m actually selling mines with a Tama Iron Cobra hi hat all for $450 reason being is im moving away and selling all my gear let me know if interested

[@jordanduncan2136]

I know this is an old comment/video but I am cross shopping now and I’m wondering what you like about it and which kits you’ve owned to compare them to. Thanks

[@ultragkart]

I have the Tama club jam pancake and I love it! These small kits are sick

[@edpias7881]

I have the Pearl compact traveler and I love it. When the bass drum is mic'd, it's pretty amazing.

[@DavidMScott-cs8pp]

You bet it is. I've had one for 6 years and it's been dragged all over. It's built like a battleship. When the 14 in extra tom became available I bought one and changed the snare system over to it. Now I can use it as a snare at jams and tune down the original 10 in to tom sound. If I'm doing a short duration gig I take a light weight Sonor 5 x 14 snare and detune the 14 in back to a deep sound (C 2). As shown this kit has lots of volume. The 18in kick sounds best tuned to D as any lower and it's muddy. And all three drums go in the custom travel bag. I also have Yamaha aluminum light weight hardware so carrying a hat and one cymbal stand is a dream. Koodos to Pearl for this well built affordable kit !

[@David-l5b9h]

I prefer to hear all of them without mics. That’s the reality everywhere I play. And how much are you doing technically to make them sound bigger than they are?

[@Haroun-El-Poussah]

@@David-l5b9h "And how much are you doing technically to make them sound bigger than they are?" Compressor + gated verb = the enormous 80's sound introduced on Peter Gabriel's "Intruder"... Then... In the air tonight, Born in the USA, etc etc etc...

[@MrBrombomb]

I have both the Tama Silverstar Cocktail Jam & the Pearl Compact traveler. I’m amazed at how full the sound of the cocktail Jam kit is for its size. It’s perfect for my small efficiency apartment. I play it with a regular hi hat , cymbal stand, and two cymbal booms clamped to the drum hardware as well as a boom stacker for the splash cymbal. My cymbal setup for this kit includes Zildjian A series crash, crash/ride, China, hihat, & splash. I love how great this kit sounds, how easy it is to transport, & how little space it takes up. When I can afford to do so, I will be replacing the traditional hihat stand with a cable controlled remote hi hat mounted on the drum hardware. i got the Pearl Compact Traveler when there was no add-on tom pack for it. So I improvised & used a set of Tama mini Tymps as toms for the kit. Out of the 2 micro drum kits I own, I like the Tama Cocktail Jam kit the best for its sound even as partial as I am to Pearl because my full size kit is a Pearl with Pearl hardware.

[@JulianFernandez]

Yamaha did it for me. thanks!

[@darrylpugh6656]

I own and play the Ludwig Breakbeat kit by Questlove. It’s a Micro kit that deserves to be heard.

[@jppavon9504]

I’ve got the tama club jam kit. Not the cocktail kit. And I love it! 18/10/14 with a 13 snare. It’s got a lot of pop!🥁

[@Pigrat.]

For side by side comparisons 1:24 PDP New Yorker (Low) 2:29 PDP New Yorker (High) 4:58 Tama Cocktail Jam Kit (Kick Damp on) 5:30 Tama Cocktail Jam Kit (Kick Damp off) 7:30 Yamaha Stage Custom Hip (Low) 8:44 Yamaha Stage Custom Hip (High) 10:16 Sonor AQX Mictro Kit (Low) 11:38 Sonor AQX Micro Kit (High) 12:43 Pearl Compact Traveler Bundle

[@Michael-xw4er]

The Yamaha Stage Custom normal size kit with birch shells sounds amazing for the price so a shrunk down travel size kit might be the way to go. Wish they made the rack tom just one inch deeper for more tuning options!

[@BrianJones-dq5rh]

Agree about the rack tom depth size. They should just left it the size of the regular stage custom kits.

[@ももーたん]

finally! i picked up the pink pdp kit and have been so excited for it to arrive, i had been looking online for any videos of it and finally found a good vid! can't wait for them to arrive tomorrow!

[@rozgonya]

So how is it?

[@eartraffic]

I have a "RIMS" drum kit. Pretty old by todays standards, but like that pearl kit...just floating heads. And they sound great!

[@elliot245]

Absolutely love the color of the PDP kit. Sounds great too.

[@philipbassist8255]

I just bought that exact kit. Love em!

[@elliot245]

@@philipbassist8255Congrats 😀 I saw this exact kit in my local music shop last week and it looks even better in person.

[@philipbassist8255]

Actually I have the maple bop kit. 18 kick 12&14 toms.

[@elliot245]

@@philipbassist8255 Still looks great regardless of the color 😀

[@soundped]

@@philipbassist8255 I got that one too, and because I'm nuts, also bought the 10 and 16 inch toms :)

[@AlekseyFilippovHuzzah]

Sonor is the best sounding for me here! Yamaha is cool in its own way with the hybrid tom! And pdp is probably a solid go to.

[@vincenzoa2929]

I have the Sonor Safari kit with 16” bass, 10” rack and 14” floor and it sounds and looks great!

[@daleloyola932]

As a professional drummer for over 60 years, too have gone to smaller kits. But what I heard in your video had the bass drum at half or less of the volume of the kit. I play R&B and beat the #$@^% out of my New Yorker 20" BD.

[@claudiopinto8327]

With 🎤 everything sounds good

[@gcorriveau6864]

I'm happy with the Pearl Traveler kit - super portable. But when I want an 'extended' kit, I add a Pearl Short Fuse Piccolo 13x3.5'' Snare Drum. I use the original snare as a hi tom (with the snare off).

[@DerTimLP]

Would have loved to see the Pearl Midtown Kit in there aswell. But overall great comparison and presentation of these kits. I was really surprised by the Yamaha and Soner sets!

[@nicolasdoglio]

Pearl Rhythm Traveler it's also great.

[@drummercarson896]

My favorite of these kits are the PDP New Yorker kit

[@myanrellick]

Nice. I still think that Tama kit sounds the best, even though it is straight up kooky looking!

[@DavidB.Rockin]

Same

[@bowsprite0]

I love my tama cocktail kit. Love it!

[@bowsprite0]

Thank you Andi & Thomann. Very good demonstration video.

[@compucorder64]

I liked how the PDP sounded most. Deep, punchy, but kinda mellow and almost sounding like the drum breaks on a 70s jazz / funk record. I guess people like Elvin Jones played similar sized 18" and even 16" bass drum sized small gretsch jazz kits. Nice nimble woody sound.

[@theskintexpat-themightygreegor]

I really dig the Tama cocktail jam. I had one when I lived in China and I really miss it.

[@misspopcorn-girl]

Boy you are a GREAT drummer....keep on inspiring dude! I bet you could make trash cans sound great!

[@Flight_Fusion]

I like the black sonor kit

[@johnpell2109]

I have the sonor micro . Love it . I think it also sounds the best of what he played in this video.

[@ArchieBC]

I have a rather large Yamaha kit and I love it. I would still go for a small Yamaha, they just always sound so good!

[@user-dd7yk4yz3e]

Thank for such a comprehensive video - and your playing is Super-Cool ! My personal fave,is actually the PDP New Yorker; it's just the one for me, cheers from Texas !

[@DavidMScott-cs8pp]

I had a Pearl Compact Traveller for about 8 years. After 4 years I added the optional 14 in Tom and moved the snares from the 10in over. It was fine all around buy not great looking. I sold it snd bought the Tama Club Pancake kit and it's a winner looks, sound and quality wise. And it's actually lighter in weight as a 4 piece kit than the Traveller was as a 3 piece. I like it so much I sold my Sonor Safari 4 piece.

[@randystephenson291]

Tama Clb Jam kit!!! I own this one and its is amazing . I use a Yamaha AED10 mic and play oudoor gigs at abot 12,000 watts . It totally amazes the audiences!!

[@808airgunsbackyardaz6]

Tama also has a kit. 14" kick, great for small venues. Big sound for this kit.

[@eboone]

the most perfect drum sounds i've ever heard

[@daviewavie112]

Here are my thoughts on the Pearl compact traveler and what I ended doing with my kit: 1. The basic kit only comes with bass drum and 10” snare. I wanted to have a real snare and rack and floor Toms in my set up. 2. The tom expansion is over priced IMO. 3. I got a Pearl 13x3” maple piccolo snare. Still light/compact but has a real snare sound. 4. Instead of getting the tom expansion pack I got the Pearl 14” fat and skinny snare to use as a floor tom/snom. It’s mounted to the ride cymbal stand using a cowbell mount. 5. The tom expansion kit comes with a 10” snare/tom anyway, so the snare is now being used as the rack tom. The existing snare mount can be positioned for a rack tom as well, no need for another auxiliary mount. 6. The only extra things you’d need are a snare stand and a cowbell mount to attach the floor tom to the ride stand.

[@jorymil]

I ended up doing something similar. I have a 12x5 Gretsch snare with a tom mount, which I mount to my throne, so no snare stand. If I want a "floor" tom, then I have a Pearl frame drum that's tuneable. 18" cymbal mounts to the bass, and I've got a very lightweight hi hat stand. Whole package fits into a cymbal bag and a Rubbermaid tote and lives in my car. Setup is maybe 15 minutes.

[@WxkR]

I took the same path. If you need to add something first is a “real” snare. The expansion pack has the same 10 inch tom but without the wire/snare, so it makes a lot more sense to add a different size and improve the sound. I don’t mean that the included snare is unusable, but will not work great in a number of cases. The fat and skinny ads a lot of options. Besides the tiny, very particular snare, my only other problem with this kit is simply the looks, mostly the bass drum support. In any case, there’s nothing more convenient space-wise with real drum set sounds.

[@myobmyob2215]

Pictures please

[@ZaneColquhoun]

As someone considering the Pearl Compact kit, I really appreciate this insight. That snare sound just wasn't really sounding right to my ears. Thank you for taking the time to advise on your setup. Great ideas.

[@cameronblacklock4250]

I've got a tama club jam and it's fantastic for a gigging kit it's perfect for orchestras and jazz gigs as well as rock gigs with changing drum heads, strongly recommended!

[@patrickwayne9074]

I love that low tuning early in the video. My Keller maple shells 10” and 12” are tuned about exactly like this

[@daveseretti8492]

This is great information, thank you for sharing. I only wish these kind of kits were available back some 40 years ago, but at least they're here now. Recently I picked up a TAMA Club-JAM Flyer 4-piece Shell Pack kit. It has a 14 inch bass, 8 inch tom, a 10 inch floor and a 10 inch snare. Honestly I just started tuning the heads, and the sounds I'm getting already are great and quite different from a regular sized kit. If you continue with more videos on micro kits please include the TAMA Club-JAM Flyer 4-piece. THANK YOU..... Dave (Pittsburgh Pa.)

[@MrSoundsandVision]

I have a first edition of the Premier Artist Club Kit, they sound great, look great and fit into small places! Have surprised many sound technicians at concerts!

[@grandcrappy]

I have a 1996 Sonor Jungle kit with the rare folding cymbal boom.

[@mrmisfit635]

Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove for the win! ✌🏼❤️

[@williamcarney5479]

Very thorough review. Thank you so much and great job with the mics.

[@tiztumta]

Excellent video! The yamaha and the pdp are amazing kits! On the comparison, i missed the ludwig questlove and pearl midtown (my favorite).

[@PureEnergy6549]

The second set, the kick drum vibrated so much without the vibration reducer pad, it literally sounded like a bass guitar playing along.

[@NK-ov6kd]

Schön, dass es pearl Traveler wieder zu kaufen gibt. Für mein fast 40 Jahre altes syncussion rimms set gibt es keine Felle mehr und mit Roto toms spart man kaum platz beim Transport.

[@PooNinja]

Lil kits, big sounds! Easier to fit in a hatchback. 🤘🏽

[@andipolke]

I personally switched to a Yamaha Stage Custom Bop kit at some point and played all gig with one of those. It just makes carrying your stuff around so much easier. Light weight hardware is a game changer as well!

[@bacarnal7659]

looking at the stage custom hip quite seriously now. the fact that it comes in blonde is really selling me on it.

[@eartraffic]

I have a PureCussion "RIMS" kit. Great travel kit for smaller gigs. Also, it is set up with triggers.

[@CristianRM.05]

What a about “Tama club jam flyer” I got it and it’s really amazing! ❤ but about these ones, I prefer the Yamaha! It’s or the pdp. 🥁

[@shawnbruce6934]

Great video. I Love that room.

[@paulsummerside]

I have a set of Arbiter Flats, which is fairly similar to the Pearl Traveller kit. After having used it at home for some time, I had to conclude that I was never totally satisfied with the tones I get with it. That said, it’s loud enough to cope with your average pub gig. In the Arbiter flat kit, it does have a proper snare wires. However, the snare and the bass drum in my Arbiter flats kit is the weakest link really tonewise. Moving on to the kits you reviewed there, there are three kits that I would be very tempted by for my next kit. The tones you got in both low tune and high tune in the DW PDP kit, the Yamaha Kit and the Sonar kit comes out best to my ears. The Yamaha kit is certainly an interesting proposition with the ability to get low & high snare sounds, with that snare/tom, was cool in both low & high tunings. And that shallow large headed bass drum was quite something. Must say though that those smaller headed bass drums in the pdp and sonar kit were nice and had a quirky look which I liked.

[@zakdamonmusic]

I happen to own both Al Foster and Rick Marotta HIP GIGs by YAMAHA.. hands down the best micro kit I’ve ever messed with in sound and in design. They are WAY more portable, saves WAY more space, requires less hardware. Unfortunately they are no longer made.

[@jcox616]

They are sooooooo heavy though. Sold mine because they weigh more than a full size kit packed up. The Rick morrotta 10 and 13 toms mounted on a 22x14 with a 16 inch floor tom though........ Amazing.

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Pearl is the go for most compact and sounds good but would use regular snare. Gretsch microkits sound great but pricey.

[@questionsanswers1108]

Tama club jam for the win!!(not shown)

[@oldsledpurgatory3595]

Gotta admit, I was hoping he was going to combine them all together into one big monster micro kit.

[@C_475]

can confirm for the Sonor kit a local bar has it set up for the open mic and me and my band plays there and I am always baffled at the sound that comes out

[@johnathanwebb6127]

That pdp New Yorker is sick. I want it now

[@dekotherat]

good content quick simple and complete info

[@diiegopc]

First time I hear a demostration of not burying the beater, with the Sonor AQX

[@360.Tapestry]

nice rundown. these all make great candidates for a3e conversions, as well

[@ofabianopereira]

Amazing video bro! You rock!

[@stretch1807]

This video is so good I subscribed.

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

I'd like to see an 80s hair drum kit. Double bass, 4 rack toms, 2 floor toms, and a snare. Tommy Aldridge style. That would be so badass.

[@georgefromgreece4119]

Great presenter, bravo.

[@stigohara1]

Hi… I really enjoyed the video… I’d like to ask you what is the small splash/crash cymbal (with the holes) played with the Tama cocktail jam kit?..thanks much!?

[@tiszakalmanistvan]

Birch shells are still expensive and therefore a premium choice compared to other hardwoods such as Basswood or Poplar.

[@briane.paulson]

What kind of cymbals do you use? They sound great!

[@danoweston6185]

These kits all sound good, but how do they sound without mics? If you have to bring all the mics, set up, dial in the sound , are you saving any time or equipment?

[@kevincallanan2584]

I have the pdp new yorker.. it's a great kit

[@steviep7145]

I really like the PDP. But what really sounds great are those cymbals. What make/series are they.

[@rogerstarz]

the smaller and simpler the drumkit, the better drummer you have to be :D

[@PippeML]

Great Kits! Lot of options for the on-the-go, you should to the Pearl Roadshow 18BD, 13S, 12T, 14FT

[@DavidB.Rockin]

Check out the DW Performance Series Low Pro kit

[@duffybishop]

I've been using Taye Go Drums. They easily do the job in a live venue.

[@farshimelt]

I had Taye Go kit, after 1 yr and 3 days, the kick drum batter side rim fell apart. I contacted Taye and they said sorry, it's out of warranty. I'll never buy another Taye product.

[@superglidemustang]

All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning is see your eyes Rosanna, Rosanna

[@badriance8407]

The Sonor or Yamaha take my vote.

[@AnKlMa]

Not impressed with the Pearl kit... Had the Traps A400 which is a similar concept, but didnt like the sound too much. So I gave it back and bought the Sonor AQX Jungle kit. Best decision, I love that kit!!

[@meist3rbrau]

I would like a proper review of the Tama Club Jam Pancake. Maybe you just film a second session with some of tose kits mentioned in the comments like the Mapex.

[@gregjohnston3504]

Great comparisons! Thank you!

[@seanguaraldi2787]

I have an Odery Cafe kit that I really enjoy. It’s a 10x14 bass drum (with 4 legs in addition to a riser which is neat!), 5x12 snare, 5.5x10 rack Tom and 6x12 floor tom. I’ve played it as a regular kit as well as put mesh heads on it with low volume cymbals. I also have a compact aluminum kit made by INDē, it’s a 10x20 bass drum, 5x12 rack and 10x15 floor tom.

[@redfin382]

I want the tama cocktail but with a double bass.

[@MichaelJones-dj2xj]

Loving the PDP. Are those the heads that came with the kit?

[@11000038]

I'd keep the kick low and maybe use the snare and toms high.

[@cactusland88]

I'd like to see you to review a Taye kit.

[@Mr88karats]

Sonor 👍🏾👍🏾

[@michaelaiello9525]

I saw this PDP New Yorker set through a storefront home studio window on a dog walk. I was really impressed by the appeal and compact footprint. I’m looking for a starter set for my daughter.. the pale rose has quite a look. I do wish that shell packs ,especially for starter options , came with logical hardware sets. I’ve almost worked that out now , which was a chore for a guitarist. It’s down to this compact shell set , hopefully my correct hardware choices, and some Sabin b8’s off Craigslist… or… a Mapex Venus Fusion complete set. This New Yorker sounds pretty great here (to my newbie/guitarist ears) and a 4 piece seems like a better starting point for a 14 year old. Any thoughts? I have the PdP down to almost the same cost as the Mapex Venus(a bit more for a better throne… and I’m pretty sure 2nd hand Sabians are better than the stock Mapex hi hat and crash)… What would you buy between these 2 starter scenarios that also take looks into consideration? Thanks you sound great!

[@perecanyelles6469]

It would be nice to compare the Bop kits.

[@DieterLo1]

Very good presentation) Thanks!

[@bigotonbrand]

The best one ever made os the pearl rhythm traveler

[@rod4real]

PDP kit is the best sound.

[@rofferdal]

Love these small kits. Just need to know: What is that tiny cymbal used with the Tama cocktail kit? Sounds great for the size.

[@steennordberg-nielsen3012]

I really like the Pearl.

[@ronspagnola607]

How about showing us a Sonor Safari Mirco Kit This kit is a vintage 2017 before Sonor downsized their Bass Drum, also this kit made in China. The shell are a mixed 7 ply wood.

[@TPspunk]

Excellent video. Meanwhile, what are those cymbals? Very smooth sounding.

[@duncanstewart6982]

Premier Artist Heritage🤘🏻

[@gefuehlsfrech]

What about a Traps Kit? Especially the A-400, i had bought one and it sounds amazing.

[@ThomannsDrumBash]

Also a good choice. There are many great options out there. Glad you're happy with the A-400

[@samuelstein5175]

I like the comparison very much! @ArtOfDrumming can you please tell me which splash you use for the tama cocktail jam kit in the video?

[@Gasior66]

Little Roamer from Dixon are also great piece of smaller drums.

[@_defalt_8371]

Hey, my band wants to start playing in the street, is the pdp a good choice for that situation? Is there a better option than the pdp? Thanks

[@cplee9]

Wonder are any of these kit quieter than a regular acoustics kit that it is possible to play in an apartment?

[@universe7632]

To be honest, I do not own any of theese but I will definitely go for one. Cheers!

[@x-town7007]

Where is Tama Pancake kit ?

[@freddysands]

Great presentation