Beat the Black Friday queue with heavy discounts on 3 electronic drum sets we rate

Roland VAD-706: $1,000 off, $400 of free accessories
The trend for real drum shells equipped with electronics is looking like the future of pro-level electronic drums. Roland’s contribution to this with its absolutely incredible VAD series has been massive. Here, we get a huge discount of $1,000 off the regular price of the flagship VAD-706 in three finishes. Plus, Sweetwater is throwing in a Roland hydraulic drum throne and saddle seat, as well as an official Roland drum rug (together worth $424.98!). 

With the VAD-706 you can experience Roland’s next-level digital snare (PDS-140), ride (CY-18D) and hi-hat (VH-14D) triggering, as well as the most authentic electronic drum set playability on the planet. You get the five-piece kit, ride, 2x crash cymbals, TD-50X module and stands/mounts for all the pieces. Read our full Roland VAD-706 review here.

Alesis Nitro Mesh Special Edition: Was $449, now $299
Alesis is known for pumping value into its electronic drum sets, like the already great value Nitro Mesh Special Edition. But, with $150 rubbed out from the price tag, this big red machine just became an even more irresistible deal. It’s got mesh heads on all the drum pads except for the bass drum, which is served by a just-as-authentic tower. Cymbal-wise there’s a crash, ride and floating hi-hat, and you’ll also receive a hi-hat controller and bass drum pedal. Inside the Nitro module are 40 kits with 385 sounds, 60 play-along tracks, and you can plug your device into the 3.5mm jack socket for jamming with your own music collection.

Elsewhere, there’s USB and traditional MIDI, so this could serve as a bargain controller for software such as Superior Drummer, or give you an easy way to start recording. Once it’s in your basket, check out the next deal to expand it for cheap! Read our full 4-star Alesis Nitro Mesh review here.

Alesis Nitro Mesh Expansion Pack: $119.99, now $59.97
Take your Alesis Nitro Mesh to the next level by maxing out the number of pads. This official expansion pack is comprised of one additional 8” mesh head-equipped tom pad, an extra 10” cymbal pad to match your existing setup. Plus, it comes with all the hardware you’ll need to integrate it seamlessly into your Alesis Nitro Mesh set. This would normally set you back double, so this could be the best $60 you can spend on your kit. Get it in regular black, or Special Edition Red.

Yamaha DTX402K: + free Melodics lessons worth $90!
Yamaha’s DTX range has long been a go-to option for drummers wanting quiet, convenient practice with great sounds to boot. The entry-level DTX402K might have a smaller price tag than its siblings, but it’s not lacking in features. It’s a standard five-piece setup, with a low-noise, beater-less bass drum trigger, plus you get chokeable crash, and ride cymbals and a floating hi-hat pad.

The focus is on quality when it comes to sounds, with 10 editable built-in kits (with 415 sounds), 10 play-along songs, and 10 training functions to help with your speed, timing and even reading notation. What’s more, it’s compatible with Yamaha’s DTX402 Touch apps for iOS and Android, and iOS users can also use the excellent Rec’n’Share app to capture their playing with their smartphone or tablet.

As mentioned, you’ll also receive a free three-month subscription to Melodics, which offers interactive drum lessons to help get you playing faster! Read our full Yamaha DTX402K review.