Shell Pack or Drum Kit: What's Right For You?

Feeling a little lost in the drum department? With full kits, shell packs, snares, cymbals, hardware and bundles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Let’s simplify things and help you find what suits you best. In our guide, we'll take you through the ins and outs of buying a new kit, exploring what everything means and what to look for to make sure you find the perfect setup for your needs.

SHOP DRUMKITS

Contents

introduction

Whether you're looking for your first beginner drum kit or your dream gigging setup, you will undoubtedly come across the term 'shell pack'. You'd be forgiven for missing it first time - most of the time you'll see images showing a full drum kit with cymbals, stands, snare, and stool included. Read on to find out how to navigate the shell pack vs. drum kit conundrum - here's what we'll be covering:

 

 

what is the difference?

Putting it simply, shell packs are just your toms and kick, where as drum kits are the whole package! The key thing here is what you get in the box. Here it is in a nutshell:

Drum kit

  1. A full drum kit - like the starter kits available at Andertons - typically includes:

 

 

It's ready to go right out of the box - just add sticks!

 

Shell pack

  1. A shell pack, on the other hand, usually comes with just the core drums - or 'shells':

 

  • Bass drum
  • Toms (rack and/or floor)
  • Tom mounts (not always included)

 

No snare, cymbals, pedals, or stands - see the Pearl example below. So why choose one?

 

Why choose a shell pack?

Generally speaking, choosing a shell pack givs you more control and flexibility to build a kit that matches your sound and playing style. But that's not all:

 

  • Customisation: Want a Tama snare, Zildjian crashes, and Mapex toms? Go for it. Our shell pack selection makes it easy to mix and match.
  • Quality control: Kit bundles often include entry-level hardware. Shell packs let you invest in better components where it matters.
  • Room to grow: Start with high-quality shells and build up as you go.

 

What does a shell pack include?

Generally a shell pack includes a kick drum, tom(s), and tom mount(s). f you check out any of our shell pack listings, you'll see a list of what’s in the box. Sometimes manufacturers use generic images featuring a full kit, but we'll always clearly label something as a 'shell pack', with more details in the description.

If you're not sure about which packs include what, contact the manufacturer or our in-house team for a quick answer!

Featured Shell Packs

How to customise your drum setup

This is where things get personal. You’ll be surprised how much a small tweak can impact your playing comfort and control. Watching how your favourite drummers set up their kits can also give you ideas - whether you’re chasing big arena rock vibes or tight jazz grooves.

 
Here are some quick setup and positioning adjustments you can try:

 

  • Adjust throne height for posture and balance.
  • Find the right snare angle.
  • Move your ride or hi-hats around and see what feels natural.


If you're near our Guildford store, you’re welcome to try out some different hardware and pedal combos. Sometimes there’s no substitute for hands-on experience!

 

useful drum terminology

At Andertons, we have more hardware to choose from than you can shake a (drum) stick at, and at first, the choice might seem a little daunting! So let’s try and demystify some of the jargon for you:

  • Single vs Double-Braced Hardware: Double-braced stands are more stable but heavier. Great for gigging; single-braced is lighter and more portable.
  • Boom Stand: A cymbal stand with an adjustable arm, ideal for flexible positioning.
  • Throne vs Stool: Just different names - both refer to your drum seat.
  • Rack-Mounted: A frame system for mounting toms and cymbals - neat, sturdy, and adjustable.
  • Cymbal Arms: Compact mounting arms that save space and allow creative cymbal placement.

 

 

Conclusion: shell pack or drum kit?

YOUR GOAL BEST OPTION

All-in-one, ready to play

Full drum kit                  

Custom sound and setup

Shell pack

It really comes down to how involved you want to be. Want to unbox and start playing right away? Go with a full kit. Want to design your setup piece by piece? Shell packs are the way to go!

ready to shop?

Whether you’re building your first setup or upgrading your current one, the choice between a full drum kit and a shell pack depends on your goals. The team at Andertons Music Co. is always happy to help you get it just right. Next steps:

 

  1. 1. Head over to the Drum Department to shop kits, shell packs, hardware, and more
  2. 2. Pick your shell material; Maple for a warm well-balanced tone, Poplar for punchy sound that's affordable, Birch for bright & focused projection.
  3. 3. Choose your snare, cymbals, and hardware to round out your kit.

 

Useful links:

 

Drum kit vs shell pack - FAQ

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