Yamaha Rydeen 5pc Review: Black Glitter Shell Pack for First Kits

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Yamaha Rydeen 5pc in Black Glitter is the shell pack version of Yamaha's entry level acoustic kit. The published specification is direct about what you get: five poplar drums, two CL940LB tom clamps and bass drum spurs, with cymbals, stands and pedals sold separately. It sits in the lower mid-range tier, which is where most brand-name first kits live.

Yamaha describes the Rydeen as the perfect first drum kit, and the spec supports that pitch in a specific way. Six-ply poplar shells, standard rock sizes and proper mounting hardware mean the drums themselves will not hold a student back. What the pack does not include is the rest of the setup, and that shapes the total cost.

A shell pack is a sensible way to buy if you already own stands and cymbals or want to choose them yourself. For a true first kit, add a hardware pack, a cymbal set, a pedal and a throne to the budget. This review treats the Rydeen 5pc as the drums only, which is how the listing presents it.

Shells, Sizes and Sound

Six plies of poplar give a medium-thin shell with a warm fundamental and more sustain than thicker budget shells. The listing claims excellent tone and sustain, and on paper that is fair for poplar, which rings freely and sits between the darker character of mahogany and the brightness of birch. It is a forgiving wood that sounds good at low and medium tunings.

The sizes are the standard rock set: a 22 by 16 inch bass drum, a 10 by 7 inch rack tom, a 12 by 8 inch rack tom, a 16 by 15 inch floor tom and a 14 by 5.5 inch snare. The shallow toms speak quickly, and the deep floor tom provides a long, low note. The 22 inch bass drum has enough air to deliver a full thud without extreme tuning.

Heads are not named in the listing, which is the most important unknown for sound. Factory heads on entry kits range from usable to thin, and the tom and snare response will depend heavily on them. The snare is listed as a 14 by 5.5 inch drum with no shell material stated, so its voice is also an open question.

Hardware and Build

The listing names solid mounting hardware and bass drum spurs as stability features, and it itemizes two CL940LB clamps. Those are Yamaha's ball and pipe style tom clamps, which let each tom rotate and tilt on a locking ball joint. On a first kit that is a practical advantage because the toms stay where you put them through a long practice session.

Bass drum spurs that lock firmly matter more than most beginners realize, since a creeping bass drum pulls the whole kit out of position. The listing does not describe the lugs, the hoops, the bearing edges or the floor tom legs. Yamaha's entry kits are generally built to a consistent standard, but none of those parts are confirmed here.

Durability of poplar shells is good as long as the wrap and edges are protected in transport. Buyers report that the hardware on Rydeen kits is sturdier than on typical starter kits in the same tier. Weight and shell thickness are not published, so those remain unknown.

What Is in the Box

The published inventory is five drums and two clamps: a 22 by 16 inch bass drum, 10 by 7 and 12 by 8 inch rack toms, a 16 by 15 inch floor tom, a 14 by 5.5 inch snare and two CL940LB tom clamps. Bass drum spurs are mentioned as a feature, so they should arrive fitted to the bass drum.

Cymbals, stands and bass pedals are explicitly listed as sold separately. A throne, a drum key and spare parts are not mentioned at all. This is a clean, honest shell pack listing, and it leaves no doubt that the hardware budget is yours to plan before the first practice.

• 22 x 16 inch bass drum with spurs
• 10 x 7 inch and 12 x 8 inch rack toms
• 16 x 15 inch floor tom
• 14 x 5.5 inch snare drum
• Two CL940LB tom clamps
• Cymbals, stands and pedal sold separately

Playability and Setup

With two rack toms, a floor tom and a 22 inch bass drum, the Rydeen 5pc gives a beginner the full standard layout that most lesson books and video courses assume. The ball clamps make it easy to bring the toms close and angle them toward the player. That reduces the reach problems that cause bad habits early on.

Setup requires a tom mounting post or a cymbal stand to carry the clamps, and neither is in the box. Once mounted, the 22 inch bass drum sets the rack tom height, which suits average and taller players well. The floor tom's 15 inch depth lets it sit at a natural height on its legs beside the snare.

Tuning is where poplar earns its reputation as a beginner-friendly wood. The shells tolerate uneven lug tension better than hard woods and still produce a usable note. Moving to better heads will tighten the response of the toms and bring out the sustain the listing mentions.

Finish and Looks

Black Glitter is a wrapped finish with a fine sparkle over a black base. It is the most neutral option in the Rydeen line, pairs with any cymbal brand or hardware color and looks darker and more serious under stage lights than a solid black wrap. Fingerprints and dust show less on glitter than on gloss.

Chrome lugs and the Yamaha badge provide the only contrast. The listing does not mention matching bass drum hoops or inlays on this version, so standard hoops should be assumed. Wraps of this type are easy to wipe clean and resist the minor scrapes of weekly transport.

For a student kit that may live in a bedroom, garage or school music room, a dark glitter is a practical choice because it never looks dated and hides the small marks that accumulate over years. If the kit is later sold on, a neutral finish also tends to appeal to more buyers than a bright color.

Upgrades and Daily Use

The first spend after the shell pack is unavoidable: a hardware pack with a snare stand, hi-hat stand, one or two cymbal stands and a pedal, plus cymbals and a throne. Budget for those before considering any shell upgrades, since the listing is explicit that none of them are included.

Once the kit is complete, heads are the next upgrade. Clear two-ply heads on the toms and a coated head on the snare will add focus and durability. A bass drum head with a built-in dampening ring will control the 22 inch drum without stuffing it with blankets.

For practice at home, the standard sizes and poplar shells produce real acoustic volume, so consider mesh heads or low-volume cymbals if neighbors matter. The kit is light enough for one person to move in two trips, although Yamaha does not publish a weight. The wrap and chrome parts need only a dry cloth to maintain.

Who Should Buy It

The Rydeen 5pc fits a beginner who has a mentor or teacher to help choose hardware, or an adult learner who prefers to pick their own cymbals rather than accept bundled ones. It also suits a drummer who already owns stands and wants a brand-name five-piece shell pack for a rehearsal room or a second location.

It is a less obvious choice for a parent buying a complete first kit for a child, because the listed shell pack is only part of the purchase. Players who want a smaller bass drum, hardwood shells or a complete bundle in one box will find better matches elsewhere.

Drummers upgrading from a very cheap starter kit are another good fit. Keeping the existing stands and cymbals and replacing only the drums with the Rydeen 5pc is often the most cost-effective way to a noticeably better sound.

Alternatives Worth Considering

The Pearl Export is the long-standing rival to the Rydeen and is often sold both as a shell pack and as a bundle with hardware. The Tama Imperialstar is usually sold as a complete kit with cymbals, which can be a simpler route for a true beginner. Both use poplar-based shells and sit in a similar tier.

Within Yamaha, the Stage Custom Birch is the next step and brings all-birch shells with a brighter, more focused voice. The Pearl Roadshow and Ludwig Accent are cheaper and complete, but trade the ball clamp tom mounting for simpler hardware.

The Gretsch Catalina Club is the alternative for players who want compact jazz sizes and a mahogany voice rather than a 22 inch rock kick. Among these options, the Rydeen 5pc stands out for being clearly specified and honestly presented as drums only.

Verdict

On paper the Yamaha Rydeen 5pc in Black Glitter is an honest, well specified shell pack. Six-ply poplar shells, standard rock sizes, genuine Yamaha ball clamps and locking spurs are the right foundation for a first kit, and the lower mid-range price reflects that nothing else is included.

The score of 76 reflects good marks for sound and build, a modest completeness score because cymbals, stands and pedals are sold separately, and credit for value given the brand and the clamps. If you can assemble the rest of the setup, the Rydeen 5pc is a safe and durable place to start.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Gretsch Catalina Club 4

A jazz, acoustic or small-venue drummer who wants a portable four-piece with a warm mahogany voice and vintage styling at a mid-range price.

Read the Gretsch Catalina Club 4 review →

Gretsch Snare Drum

A rock, metal, worship or loud live drummer who wants a deep, powerful hammered steel snare with heavy die cast hoops and a dark modern look at a mid-range price.

Read the Gretsch Snare Drum review →

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 20x17

A Stage Custom owner or kit builder who wants a 20 inch birch bass drum with die-cast claws and a lacquer finish for jazz, funk or small venue work.

Read the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 20x17 review →

Questions Buyers Ask