Professional Drum Kits
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Professional Drum Kits in Fareham, Hampshire
Professional Drum Kits: Try Before You Buy in Our 5,000 Sq Ft Showroom
If you’re searching for the professional drum kit of your dreams, you won’t have to look too far when you visit Graham Russell Drums. With simply huge stocks of professional level drum kits from all of the leading brands on display and ready to try before you buy in our incredible 5000 square foot showroom facility, you’ll be suitably impressed & overwhelmed.
You may also see these referred to as pro drum kits, premium drum kits, top-of-the-range kits or touring-grade kits. Below you will find every professional brand we stock, a guide to shell woods and how to choose.
Professional Drum Kits by Brand
Yamaha, Tama and Sonor each have their own page for every series, with sizes, finishes and the details that separate one from the next. Every other professional brand we stock is listed below.
Yamaha Drum Kits
Birch, maple, oak and hybrid shells, from the Recording Custom to the flagship PHX, plus vintage 9000 kits.
Recording CustomPHXAbsolute Maple HybridLive Custom Hybrid OakTour CustomVintage 9000
Tama Drum Kits
The Star, built in Japan, and the Starclassic family, in maple, walnut, birch and bubinga.
Sonor Drum Kits
Hand made SQ2 kits, the Vintage Series, Momentum and the 150th Anniversary editions, plus vintage and used Sonor.
Every professional drum kit brand we stock
Shell Woods and Construction
The shell is where a drum’s sound starts. Wood, thickness and how the plies are layered change the attack, the sustain and the low end.
Maple
Softer and more open, with a longer, rounder tone.
Found in
Tama Star and Starclassic Maple, Yamaha Tour Custom, Sonor SQ2 and Momentum
Birch
Stiff and dense. It trims the low midrange and pushes the attack.
Found in
Yamaha Recording Custom and 9000, Sonor SQ2 and Momentum, Tama Performer
Oak
Denser still, and it projects hard.
Found in
Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak
Beech
Full and warm, with evenly balanced lows, mids and highs.
Found in
Sonor Vintage Series, SQ2 and Momentum
Hybrid shells
Layers different woods, or a phenolic sheet, to get more than one character at once.
Found in
Yamaha PHX, Absolute Maple Hybrid and Live Custom Hybrid Oak, Tama Performer
Walnut and bubinga
Exotic woods found in some of the most distinctive kits in the range.
Found in
Tama Star and Starclassic Walnut/Birch, Sonor Signature reissue
The best way to settle it is to hear them side by side. Ask a member of the team in the showroom to set up two kits so you can compare.
How to Choose a Professional Drum Kit
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Start with the sound you want
Decide whether you want the attack of birch, the openness of maple, the power of oak or the warmth of beech. The shell woods above are the quickest route to a shortlist.
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Decide where you will play it
A kit for the studio and a kit for the stage are not always the same kit. Yamaha designed the Recording Custom with Steve Gadd, and built the Live Custom Hybrid Oak for live playing.
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Choose your sizes
Sizes shape how a kit feels and sounds as much as the wood does. Our Drum Kit Sizes Explained guide covers the options.
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Play it before you buy
Come and try kits in our showroom, or contact the team and we will help you narrow the list.
Brand new
New Drum Kits
A large range of new kits to try in the showroom. We are a main dealer for several leading drum brands.
Checked and serviced
Used Drum Kits
Used professional kits are checked and serviced before sale.
Collectable and classic
Vintage Drum Kits
Vintage kits from makers including Gretsch, Sonor, Yamaha and Ludwig.
Other levels and kit types
Professional Drum Kit Buyer’s Guides
Advice from our team of working drummers on choosing between the series.
More reads
Try Before You Buy
Play professional drum kits in person
Our 5,000 sq ft showroom has professional kits set up to play, with working drummers on hand to help. Check the product page before you travel to see whether a kit is in store.
Unit 5 Axis Park, Newgate Lane, Fareham, PO14 1FD
01329 834012
Plan your purchase
Professional Drum Kit FAQs
What is a professional drum kit?
A premium kit built for working drummers, with higher grade shells, hardware and finishes than a beginner or mid-range kit. Brands include Yamaha, Tama and Sonor.
What is the difference between maple and birch drum kits?
Maple is softer and more open, with a longer, rounder tone. Birch is stiffer and denser, trimming the low midrange and pushing the attack.
What is a hybrid drum shell?
A shell that layers different woods, or a phenolic sheet, to combine more than one character. Examples include the Yamaha PHX and Tama Starclassic Performer.
Which professional drum kit brands do you stock?
Yamaha, Tama, Sonor, DW, Gretsch, Ludwig, Mapex, Pearl, Gewa, PDP, Rogers, Sakae, Slingerland and Tamburo. Yamaha, Tama and Sonor have a page for every series, listed above.
Is the Sonor Vintage Series a vintage drum kit?
No. The Sonor Vintage Series is a current line inspired by the 1950s and 1960s. For old Sonor kits, see Vintage and Used Sonor.
Can I order a custom Sonor SQ2?
Yes, SQ2 kits are built to order. Configure yours and bring the code to us, or ask the team for help.
Do you sell used professional drum kits?
Yes. Used kits are checked and serviced before sale, and you can browse them on our Used Drum Kits page.
Can I try a professional drum kit before I buy?
Yes, in our Fareham showroom. In-stock items can be at the store or the warehouse, so check the product page before you travel.
