The Ultimate Compact Drum Set Picked Out by The “10-Million-Yen Drum” Oji-san

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m known as the 10-Million-Yen-Drum Oji-san.
To date, I’ve poured over 10 million yen into drums, and the current value of the gear I own easily exceeds that amount at retail price.

I’ve owned dozens of drum sets over the years.
Even just among the sets I still have today, here are a few examples:

With all of that experience behind me, let me introduce the best compact drum set I’ve picked so far.

The best compact drum set is: TAMA Club-JAM Mini

TAMA / Club-JAM Mini LJK28S-CCM

Surprisingly affordable — and yet, this is the best!
The appeal of the Club-JAM Mini comes down to these key points:

• Shallow bass drum
• Poplar shells that produce a wide, open sound
• Minimal piece count in the set

Shallow Bass Drum

A shallow bass drum can save a significant amount of playing space.
When using a small-diameter set, people tend to focus mainly on the overall drum sizes, but in reality, the biggest space taker is the depth of the bass drum.

For example, consider a 20×14-inch bass drum versus a 16×14-inch bass drum. Both are common sizes, and for saving space, many would choose the 16-inch. However, the actual playing space required doesn’t differ much between the two.

For playing, the height of the bass drum rarely gets in the way. What really causes trouble is the depth. The part of the bass drum that protrudes forward becomes “dead space”.

In this respect, the Club-JAM Mini excels. Its bass drum depth is only 7 inches — about half that of a typical small-diameter set. In fact, my jazz drum mentor always used this Club-JAM Mini for performances in small venues.

Having a shallow bass drum is the biggest advantage when you want to play in a compact space.

Poplar Wood with Wide Sound Projection

The Club-JAM Mini uses poplar wood, which naturally helps the sound spread out more.
The type of wood used in a drum set greatly affects its tonal characteristics. For example, oak produces a harder, more focused sound, while maple offers a balanced tone with bright highs and nice sustain.

Poplar wood, on the other hand, is known for its softness. Soft woods don’t project sound in just one direction but rather disperse it broadly around the space.
This quality helps compensate for the compact size of the drums, allowing the sound to resonate richly and widely.

Sound projection is a crucial factor for drums, and that’s exactly why the Club-JAM Mini, despite its compact size, delivers surprisingly rich and expansive resonance thanks to its use of poplar wood.

Fewer Components in the Set

Regardless of the overall size, the fewer pieces a drum set has, the easier it is to transport.
A common misconception, especially among those who haven’t transported drums before, is that a smaller drum set automatically means easier transport. The real key factor is the number of pieces.

For example, carrying one large bass drum is far easier than transporting a small kit with a bass drum, toms, and snare all included. The difference between carrying one piece or multiple pieces is significant.

The Club-JAM Mini is composed of just two essential pieces; the bass drum and the snare drum. Both are very compact and made from lightweight poplar wood. These features make it incredibly easy to carry.

Thanks to this minimal setup, the Club-JAM Mini is a highly portable kit that’s perfect for musicians on the move.

The best sound doesn’t always mean the most expensive gear.

I’m the “10-million yen drum” Oji-san and I’ve owned many compact drum sets over the years.
To be honest, if you judge purely by sound quality, the best compact drum set is not the Club-JAM Mini. Naturally, the more expensive models tend to have outstanding quality.

For example, among the compact drum sets I’ve owned, the one with the best sound was the Gretsch Brooklyn Micro Kit. Its list price was about 700,000 yen! But the sound was truly amazing. Even though it’s a small 16-inch kit, it has a rich, full sound that sounds as if it were a regular-sized Gretsch kit just turned down in volume.

However, when considering portability, ease of use, and convenience in different situations, there are few drum sets that can surpass the Club-JAM Mini.

A drum is a musical instrument, and instruments depend on the situation in which they are played. No matter how good the sound quality is, it can sound just like noise in a small bar. In places where a compact drum set is needed, the Club-JAM Mini is an extremely reliable choice.

Its minimal setup consisting of a bass drum and snare is also very appealing. I hope you’ll hone your skills and create amazing music with this simple kit.

When it comes to compact drum sets, TAMA’s “Club-JAM Mini” is definitely my top choice!

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