3 Oak Drum Sets Compared | Ludwig vs DW vs Yamaha!

3 Oak Drum Sets Compared | Ludwig vs DW vs Yamaha!

Tony Interlande |

3 Game-Changing Oak Drum Sets from DCP

Yes, you read that right. It’s not Maple, Birch, or Poplar. Today, we’re going to talk about the best high-end oak drum sets you can find here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth — the largest independently-owned drum store IN THE WORLD!


As you may have noticed — oak isn’t used as a drum shell material that much compared to other woods. Why? Well, for starters — it’s a bit difficult to work with. Oak is a very dense and heavy wood so it requires tremendous skill and craftsmanship to transform into high-end drum sets. Oh, and oak woods are also much rarer to find compared to other materials. Especially Japanese Red Oak Woods, which are said to be much stronger than other readily available oak woods. It’s the hardest wood material produced in Japan!


See how special oak woods are? That’s exactly why it’s not surprising to see that oak drum sets are indeed much more expensive compared to others. Oak drums generally project powerful and deep sounds with lots of attack and sustain. It’s also highly durable and can easily withstand heavy playing styles — perfect for drummers who play an aggressive style or those who are more inclined to heavy rock and metal genres.


What do you think? Are oak drum sets better than others? Do they sound better? And perform better? Ah, there’s only one way to find out. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started! Here are 3 game-changing oak drum sets from DCP!


Kicking off this list is the categorically stunning  DW Collectors Pure 5PC Oak Drum Set  with a gorgeous “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” finish. Compared to the standard satin oil finish, this kit gives off a very high-end feel. The best part? It also comes with elegant nickel-plated hardware that would absolutely make you want to take a second look. Yes, it is that beautiful!

The DW Collectors Pure Oak is 100% made of pure red oak. This oak drum set features 8-ply VLT shells which are slightly thicker compared to other DW Collectors series at 1/32”. This added thickness makes the shell sturdier, making it ideal for high-volume playing and aggressive drummers. Can you believe it? That detail alone already gives us quite an idea of how special this oak drum set really is.


The kit projects a rich, full-bodied sound with a strong, round attack. Perfect for any drummer out there who wants to give a stand-out performance! Its greatest strength would be the amount of low-end it can project while also being able to deliver a bit of warmth in the lower-mids. And honestly — it just sounds amazing. This oak drum set comes with a 10x8 and 12x9 rack tom, a 16x14 floor tom, a 22x18 bass drum, and a matching 14x6.5 snare drum. All for an understandably high-end price point of $6,909.43.

DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 5PC Drum Set
DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 5PC Drum Set
DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 5PC Drum Set
DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 5PC Drum Set
DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 5PC Drum Set

DW Collectors Pure Oak “Hard Satin Natural Nickel” 14x6.5 Snare Drum

High-End Drum Sets

Yes, this equally majestic DW Collectors Pure Oak 14x6.5 Snare Drum also comes with the 5PC oak drum set. And you know what? It fits perfectly with the DW masterpiece. It has a unique sound with a powerful tone and projection. Just exactly what you need to give out a winning performance! 

Coming right up is the  Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid 4PC Oak Drum Set  with a blazing hot “Uzu Magma Sunburst” finish. Now, this wonderful oak drum set not only looks amazing but also SOUNDS ASTONISHING!


As you may have seen from the name itself, it is indeed made of a hybrid shell featuring a 6-ply oak and center phenolic ply. You might be wondering — “What in the world is a phenolic ply?” Well, it’s a shell material typically made of Birch overlaid with multilayer phenol film consisting of a rough wire mesh pattern. This enhances the overall quality of the shell but specifically boosts its wear resistance by a lot.


You thought that was it? Ah, you have no idea how PACKED this oak drum set is when it comes to innovative features. It’s got some Bass Enhancement Weights attached to the bass drum that magnifies the power and presence of the kit’s low-end tone. Single-post lugs that maximize shell integrity and promote maximum resonance. Applied the Air-Seal System Construction technology on staggered diagonal seams for consistency, strength, and wide tuning range. Finally, some 2.3MM Steel Dyna Hoops for tighter sound and tuning ability.


As you can imagine, this oak drum set is very explosive. It packs a lot of power and presence that just fills the room and throws a ton of sound. The drums are also extremely punchy but still have a lot of body that makes them feel powerful and big throughout. Out of the three oak drum sets that we have today, this Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid is definitely the brightest sounding.


This awesome kit is available at DCP for just $3,669.99 and it already comes with 10x7 and 12x8 rack toms, a 16x15 floor tom, and a 22x18 kick drum. Make sure to get yours now!

Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak “Uzu Magma Sunburst” 4PC Drum Set
Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak “Uzu Magma Sunburst” 4PC Drum Set
Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak “Uzu Magma Sunburst” 4PC Drum Set

Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak “Uzu Magma Sunburst” 14x5.5 Snare Drum

High-End Drum Sets

That Yamaha oak drum set was a banger — no doubt! And you know what? The perfect snare drum that should be paired with it is definitely the 14x5.5 Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak Snare Drum which also sports a jaw-dropping “Uzu Magma Sunburst” finish. It’s priced at $659.99 and comes blazing with amazing sound and features just like the 4PC oak drum set. Don’t miss the chance to get yours now from DCP! 

Finally, we have the majestic  Ludwig Classic 4PC Oak Drum Set  with a unique and low-key “Green Burst” finish for $3,199. The Classic Oak is built off the legendary oak shell formula by Ludwig that already captured the hearts of many drum professionals over the past decade.


The Classic Oak drum set is made of a 5-ply, 6.5mm hybrid oak and maple shell. It also features a 3-ply maple core with American red oak in the inner and outer plies. This adds more control and low-end tones to the drum set. The kit also sports a dual 45° bearing edge that provides more focus, attach, and tuning control. On the other hand, the inner and outer plies made of maple maximize the attack and stick definition. See? This Ludwig Classic Oak is definitely engineered to perfection. So you can give an outstanding performance anytime!


The oak drum set comes with 10x7 and 12x8 rack toms, a 16x16 floor tom, and a nice 22x16 bass drum. Oh, and to give you a clear idea — this Ludwig Classic Oak is the perfect middle ground between the DW Collectors Oak and the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak. Why? Well, it has a bit more roundness and warmth compared to the Yamaha. And a bit more attack and throw than the DW Collectors. All in all, this Ludwig oak drum set sounds and feels awesome!

Ludwig Classic Oak “Green Burst” 4PC Drum Set
Ludwig Classic Oak “Green Burst” 4PC Drum Set

Ludwig Classic Oak “Green Burst” 14x6.5 Snare Drum

High-End Drum Sets

The most suitable for the Ludwig Classic Oak Drum Set? It’s no other than this 14x6.5 Snare Drum that also graces us with a beautiful “Green Burst” finish. You can get this masterpiece for $599 and expect to receive a powerful, dynamic, and professional snare drum to level-up your performance every time!

Oak Drum Sets are pretty impressive, right? Make sure to order right away from DCP!

And that’s all of them! Those were the three game-changing oak drum sets that you can find here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth — the LARGEST independently-owned drum store. IN. THE. WORLD!


Want an in-depth head-to-head comparison featuring the actual performance and sound quality of the three oak drum sets? Well, your wish is our command. Catch the live performance of these three amazing oak drum sets. Just check out this video and let our drum experts show you the performance of each of these oak drum sets!


Are you still looking for more remarkable drums and percussion instruments to add to your collection? Feel free to visit our website www.drumcenternh.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel Drum Center of Portsmouth for more amazing content. See ya around!