Ludwig Pocket Kit Review: For Clueless Parents Shopping for Kids Drums

Like every instrument, there is a learning curve for new drummers.

But if you’ve absolutely no understanding about drumming but want to gift your kid their first drum kit, you don’t have to learn all about drumming.

Instead, the Ludwig Pocket Kit is here to solve all the questions you might be asking.

I’d even go as far as saying that this is the perfect 1st drum kit any clueless parent should get for their child who wants to start drumming.

And I’ll explain why in this review.

Now, when you are buying a drumkit for your child, there are some questions that you’ll definitely be asking.

We’ll answer those questions and more in this review.
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First up, here’s my two cents about the Ludwig Pocket Kit:

My Review on the Ludwig Pocket Kit by Questlove

The Ludwig Pocket Kit is a great solution for parents who are looking for a drum kit for their child, but don’t know anything about drums.

This all-in-one kit was crafted and put together for you by a professional musician, so that you can help your child to start drumming with ease.

Pros and Cons

I’ll go deeper as we answer your questions in the sections below but first, here are the pros and cons about the Ludwig Pocket Kit in a nutshell:

Pros	Cons
Complete Drum Kit in the box, no additional parts or accessories needed Affordable Great value for money at its price point Designed for 4 – 10 year olds who want to drum Perfect as the 1st drum kit for any child Instructional videos provided, great for parents who don’t know anything about drumming Excellent portability due to size and weight	Cymbals sound flat and dull Drum heads may not be very durable Need to upgrade drum heads and cymbals when child gets better Drumsticks might be too heavy for your child, in that case get a kidstick Size is not suitable for taller/bigger adults

 

My Two Cents

The Ludwig Pocket Kit is perfect for kids who have never played the drums before, or are about to start learning to drum.

However, parents would want to take their height into consideration. The throne (aka drum seat) might be too high for kids who are less than 41″ tall, you will need to use a regular chair as a substitute until your child is taller.

Other than capturing the hearts of many grateful parents, this kit has also gained a following among adult beginner drummers who want a complete drum kit without the hustle of having to compare or research deeply into the instrument.

My view is that this kit is great for kids below 12, but is definitely not suitable for serious adult beginner drummers who really want to learn to drum.

The size is too small for people who are taller than 6″1 and if you force yourself to learn and get used to this kit, it can lead to the development of bad posture and technique.

If you belong to this group of adult beginners, I’ve included a comparison at the end of this review of other complete drum kits that are more suitable.

Let’s move on.

Now that I’ve given you my 2 cents, let’s dive into the questions that you might be asking about Ludwig’s “The Pocket Kit” by Questlove.

 

What is the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

 

Questlove has worked with Ludwig to produce this ‘complete drum kit in a box’ product that is perfect for clueless parents with kids who want to start drumming.

Basically you get an entire functioning drum kit with The Pocket Kit, solving the main struggle of finding a suitable drum kit, that most if not all new drummers face.

 

What’s included in the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

Parents are raving over this kit because it includes everything you need to get start. Talk about a fuss free way to get your kid started on the drums.

Inside, you’ll get a mini standard kit and all the essential accessories that a drummer need to start playing which includes:

• 1 x 16″ Bass Drum + Drum Heads + Legs
• 1 x Foot Pedal (for the bass drum)
• 1 X 13″ Floor Tom+ Drum Heads
• 1 X 10″ Rack Tom (aka Tom Tom) + Drum Heads
• 1 x Arm/Rack for Rack Tom
• 1 X 12″ Snare Drum+ Drum Heads
• 1 X Snare Stand
• 1 X 12″ Crash / Ride Cymbal
• 1 X Cymbal Arm
• 1 X 10″ Hi Hat
• 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal
• 1 X Drum Throne (the seat)
• 1 set Drum Sticks (7A Ludwig wood drumsticks)
• 1 X Drum Key (for tuning drums)

Plus, you get access to:

• Video Tutorials on Racking up the drumset, Tuning the drumset, etc (perfect for the clueless parent)
• Video drum lessons on rudiments, basic sticking techniques, etc (for the child/aspiring drummer)

How will it be delivered? 

Everything will be delivered in a 20.2″ x 21.2″ x 21.2″ box that weighs about 62 pounds, so look out for it.

 

Color Options

Oh, and it comes in 3 color options:

• Wine Red Sparkle (aka Red)
• Silver/White Sparkle (aka Silver/White)
• Black Sparkle (aka Black)

 

What is the price of the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

 

For a complete, functioning drum kit, the Ludwig Pocket Kit comes with an affordable, value-for-money price tag.

DISCLAIMER: As of the point of writing, all prices mentioned here are accurate. Do check with retailers for latest pricing.

At the point of writing, it is available on Amazon at about $249, you can check out the latest pricing and offers for the Ludwig Pocket Kit on Amazon here. It is also retailing at local music stores for a similar price.

Comparatively, here are the prices of similar kits:

• the Pearl Roadshow 4 piece drum set is listed at USD$399 on Guitarcenter
• the Ludwig Accent Beginner Complete 5 piece Drum Set is listed at USD599 on Musician’s Friend

 

How much space does the Ludwig Pocket Kit take up?

 

You’ll need to dedicate about 41″ (width) by 47″ (length) area for the drum kit and throne, for comfortable movement.

You might also want to consider getting a drum mat or exploring methods to dampen or reduce the sound of the drums if you are living in an apartment.

 

Does the Ludwig Pocket Kit sound similar to full sized drums?

Here’s how the Ludwig Pocket Kit sounds like:

Overall the drum kit sounds good for something of its price point. 

However, if you’re used to playing on a full sized, regular acoustic drum kit, you’ll notice that;

• the original drum heads are pretty good but
• the cymbal and hi-hat are a little flat and fake sounding

But remember, taking its price tag into consideration, it is still a very value for money drum kit. Especially for new drummers.

Just make sure that your kid practices on the Ludwig Pocket Kit a day after his drum lessons, if he is taking lessons at a school. Ha! #parentinghackfromanonparent

And oh, you can choose to upgrade the drum heads quite easily as the drum shells are of standard sizes. Plus, they are made of pretty good sounding material too.

Likewise, the cymbals can be upgraded as your child improves.

Someone on a forum has mentioned that The Pocket Kit’s cymbal arm can hold a 17″ Zildjian cymbal, so it is quite hardy.

 

Is the Ludwig Pocket Kit suitable for my child?

 

Questlove created this drum kit for children between 4 to 10 years old.

The size of this kit is about 2/3 of a regular drum kit, but your child should be about 41″ tall to play comfortably with the drum throne provided.

This can be solved easily by using a shorter stool or chair until your child grows tall enough.

As for whether you should be getting your child a standard, functional drum, the answer is up to you.

You might want to watch this adorable kid before you decide:

 

What’s next for my child after he gets the drum kit?

 

Well, considering that you’re probably a clueless parent in terms of drumming…you might want to send your child for drum lessons.

Alternatively, the Ludwig Pocket Kit does come with beginner drumming tutorials that will get your child started in drumming.

All you need to do is to login to your Pocket Kit account to access the videos.

Or, you can refer to this playlist:

Learn to Drum with these videos from Ludwig

 

How do I set up the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

 

The Pocket Kit comes un-assembled, so you’ll need to put the kit together before your kid can start drumming.

But fret not because the assembly instructions are included in your kit.

And it’s not too complicated, you’ll only need to do 3 main things during the assembly:

1. Put drum heads onto drum shells
2. Set up the hi hat and cymbal stands
3. Set up the foot pedal for the bass drum

 

Here’s a picture reference of The Pocket Kit with the main components pointed out for you:

 

Do I need to tune the drum kit? How?

 

Yes, you’ll need to tune the drum kit.

The drum heads for the toms and bass drums come separate, so you’ll need to put them together.

No worries though because The Pocket Kit comes with the required video tutorials.

All you need to do is to login to your ThePocketKit.com account with the details that come with your kit.

Alternatively, I’ve also put together a YouTube playlist from Ludwig that will give you the basic steps to setting up and tuning The Pocket Kit.

You can watch the videos here:

Playlist of videos to help you put your drums together and tune them up

 

Is there after-sales support or someone I can reach out to for help?

 

You can contact your local Ludwig dealer for help, you should be able to find their contact here.

Or, message them on Facebook via the Ludwig Drums official page.

 

Does this kit makes sense for an 18 months old child?

 

Yes.

However, he or she might not be able to reach the pedals while seating on the accompanying throne just yet.

And, the drumsticks that come along in the Ludwig Pocket Kit might be a little too heavy for them. Get kids sized drumsticks like the Vic Firth Kidsticks instead.

With that said, your child could still have fun while picking up fundamentals to drumming.

After all, it makes much more sense for a child to be learning to play on a real kit rather than one of those fake plastic toys with buttons for each drum…

Drummer parents and doting grandparents have left reviews and feedback on how their 18 months and 2 year olds love the kit.

You can read their reviews on Amazon here.

 

Are there other junior drum kit options and how do they compare to the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

The Ludwig Pocket Kit has its pros and cons, and it really isn’t perfect.

Here are some popular junior drum kits that you can consider for your child:

	Ludwig The Pocket Kit by Questlove	Ludwig Junior Drum Kit	ddrum D1 Junior Drum Set	GP Percussion Junior Drum Set (GP55WR)	Mendini by Cecilio Junior Drum Kit
No of drums	4 piece drum kit	5 piece drum kit	5 piece drum kit	5 piece drum kit	3 piece drum kit
Weight	62 pounds	57.4 pounds	50 pounds	42.6 pounds	33 pounds
Playing Area	41" (breadth) x 47" (width)	41" (breadth) x 52" (width)	41" (breadth) x 52" (width)	40" (breadth) x 52" (width)	16" (breadth) x 20" (width)
Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal
Toms	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom) 1 X 8″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom) 1 X 8″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 x 12" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom) 1 X 8″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 X 6″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)
Snare Drum	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 10" Snare
Cymbals	1 X 12″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm	1 X 12″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm	1 X 12″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Stand	1 X 9.5″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm	1 X 9.5″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm
Hi-Hat	1 X 10″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal	1 X 10″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal	1 X 10″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal	1 X 8″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal
Throne
Drumsticks
Drum Key
Who is it for?	4 - 10 years old	2 years and up	4 years and up	4 years and up	3 to 8 years old
Afterthoughts	Affordable, value for money drum kit for young kids who want to start drumming.	A close competitor to the Ludwig Pocket Kit. The drums don't sound as full and the cymbal is a tad too high pitch. These are small details that could leave you with a headache after your child is done playing..	The cymbals on this kit sound worse than the Pocket Kit. But if you'd want a durable drum kit with an extra tom for your child, this provides great value.	A close runner up to the Ludwig offerings. You get a rather good sounding junior drum kit with bearable cymbals, all for a lower price tag.	Mendini by Cecilio seems to be a popular brand among parents. They offer 5 piece drum kits as well. However, we have not been blown away by any of their junior kits. In our opinion, the cymbals that they use sound horrible as well.

We’ll be adding more in a bit, stay tuned!

 

Can an adult play and learn to drum using the Ludwig Pocket Kit?

 

The size of this kit is about 2/3 of a regular drum kit.

If you are a tall adult of more than 73″ (6 ft 1), it might be a little uncomfortable for you.

Plus, you might develop some pretty bad posture and drumming habits because of the kit.

If you are still on the fence about drumming and don’t wish to commit to a full budget drum kit yet, you might want to consider renting a studio with a drum kit instead.

This might be better for you over the long term.

Otherwise you can consider alternatives to the Ludwig Pocket Kit that are more suitable for adult beginner drummers.

See the next section for more:

 

Quick Comparison of Drum Kits similar to Ludwig Pocket Kit

 

If you are still wondering if the Ludwig Pocket Kit is suitable for your needs, here’s a quick comparison of similar complete drum kits designed for various purpose:

 

Ludwig Pocket Kit vs Ludwig Breakbeats

	Ludwig The Pocket Kit by Questlove	Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove
Weight	62 pounds	48.5 pounds
Playing Area	41" (length) x 47" (width)	estimate: 41" (length) x 41" (width)
Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum with Riser + Foot Pedal
Toms	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10" Tom Tom
Snare Drum	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 14" Snare 1 X Snare Stand
Cymbals	1 X 12″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm
Hi-Hat	1 X 10″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal
Throne
Drumsticks
Drum Key
Who is it for?	4 - 10 years old	4 years and up
Afterthoughts	Affordable, value for money drum kit for young kids who want to start drumming.	Good to note that the drums come with Remo Drumheads which are way better than those in The Pocket Kit. This kit is very compact, I would not recommend it for adults who are beginner drummers.

Update: If you’d want a versatile drum kit that both you and your child can play on, check out our latest article on small drum kits for adults.

 

Quick introduction to the Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove

Breakbeats is another product by Questlove. It was designed originally for city dwellers who struggle with limited space in their apartments and for street musicians who need to move around often.

Hence, it features maximum portability, minimal footprint and is fitted with the Remo Pinstripe heads for gig ready sounds.

Because it was created for musicians struggling with the issue of space, this drum kit is small and sounds better than The Pocket Kit out of the box.

Hence, it has gained popularity among parents who has knowledge about drums and want to get a virgin drumkit for their children.

However, you’ll want to note that the Ludwig Breakbeats Drum Kit is NOT a complete out-of-the-box drumkit, instead it is a Shell Pack.

It only includes:

• Bass Drum with riser
• Rack Tom,
• Floor Tom and
• Snare drum
• accompanying drum heads
• carrying drum bags

You’ll need to buy the cymbals and throne separately.

So, if you are clueless about drumming, you might want to think twice about opting for the Ludwig Breakbeats pack.

Here’s an unboxing video of the Breakbeats by a father who drums [13 mins video]:

 

Ludwig Pocket Kit vs Ludwig Accent Drive Complete Drum Kit vs Pearl Roadshow 4 piece Drum Kit

 

In this section, we’ll compare 2 better drum kit alternatives for adults who want to buy a no-frills drum kit and start learning to drum.

They are slightly more costly than the Ludwig Pocket Kit but you’d get a way better learning and drumming experience:

	Ludwig The Pocket Kit by Questlove	Pearl Roadshow 4 piece Drum Kit (RS584CC31)	Ludwig Accent Drive Complete Drum Kit
No of drums	4 piece drum kit	4 piece drum kit	5 piece drum kit
Weight	62 pounds	70 pounds	88 pounds
Playing Area	41" (length) x 47" (width)	estimate: 47" (length) x 51" (width)	66" (length) x 72" (width)
Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	16" Bass Drum + Foot Pedal	18" Bass Drum with Riser + Foot Pedal	22" Bass Drum + Improve Chain Drive Kick Pedal
Toms	1 x 13" Floor Tom 1 X 10″ Tom Tom (Rack Tom)	1 x 14" Floor Tom 1 X 10" Tom Tom	1 x 16" Floor Tom 1 X 12″ Mid Tom 1 X 10" Tom Tom
Snare Drum	1 x 12" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 13" Snare 1 X Snare Stand	1 x 14" Snare 1 X Snare Stand
Cymbals	1 X 12″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm	1 X 16″ Cymbal (Crash / Ride) 1 X Cymbal Arm	1 x 16" Crash 1 X Crash Stand
Hi-Hat	1 X 10″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal	1 X 14″ Hi Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal	1 X 13" Hi-Hats 1 X Hi Hat Stand with Pedal
Throne
Drumsticks
Drum Key
Who is it for?	4 - 10 years old	5 years and up	8 years and up
Afterthoughts	Affordable, value for money drum kit for young kids who want to start drumming.	Slightly larger drum kit that is closer to a full sized drum kit. Suitable for both kids and adults	Great value 5 piece drum kit for older kids and adults who want a complete, no-fuss drum kit for beginners to pick up drumming.

 

Let’s take a closer look into each of these drumkits:

What is the Ludwig Accent Drive (LC175) Beginner Complete Drum Kit?

 

The Ludwig Accent Drive is a full sized, 5 piece complete drum kit that comes with everything you’d need to start drumming out of the box(es).

This is everything you’ll get with the kit:

 

You can think of it as the adult sized version of The Pocket Kit.

And yes, it comes in various colors; Black, Red, Silver, Blue

There are no video tutorials hidden behind login screens included in this kit, but Ludwig does have video tutorials to setting up, tuning and even start playing on it’s YouTube Channel.

I’ve made 2 playlists that you can refer to if you ever need help.

In case you’re wondering, this is how the Ludwig Accent Beginner complete drum kit sounds in (raw) reality:

As you can see from the video, the size of the Ludwig Accent Drive is comfortable for an adult.

Also, the cymbals are usually the weakest part of complete drum kits but I’d think that Ludwig has provided a pretty decent cymbal and hi-hat pack with this set.

If you have sharp eyes, you might have also noticed that this kit is a complete 5 piece kit that is suitable for pop or rock music unlike the 4 piece Pocket Kit which is more suitable for Jazz.

And, if you’re wondering about it’s price, yes it is slightly more expensive than The Pocket Kit.

However, I’m pretty sure that it’s a fair tradeoff for the additional comfort, sound quality and playing experience you’ll get out of the Ludwig Accent Drive kit. Click here to check the latest pricing on Amazon now.

 

What is the Pearl Roadshow 4 piece Drum Kit (RS584CC31)?

The Pearl Roadshow 4 piece drum kit is very similar to The Pocket Kit with exceptions to the size of the drums and the sound.

It also comes with everything you’d need to start drumming, including the throne and drumsticks.

Good news, the snare and rack tom are already pre-tuned, so you’ll only need to put the floor and bass drums together for your child.

This is how it sounds, right out of the box (and in need of a little more tuning):

From the video, you might be able to tell that this kit is a mid-sized drum kit which is suitable for both younger kids and beginner adults as well.

If you are slightly taller (>6″1), you might find this kit a little too cramp for you.

The Pearl Roadshow 4 piece kit’s price is between that of Ludwig Pocket Kit and Accent Drive kit, check the latest pricing for the Pear Roadshow 4 piece drum kit here.

You might want to consider this kit if you are a shorter adult or if you are looking for a drum kit for a growing child.

 

Conclusion

 

I’ve covered some of the questions that most new drum owners will ask before they buy their first drum kit in this review as well as give you a comparison of drum kits that are similar to the Ludwig Pocket Kit.

Do drop me a comment below if I had missed anything or check out the questions answered by Ludwig Pocket Kit distributors on Amazon here.

And oh, if you own the Pocket Kit, do share your experience with us in the comments too.