What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £600 (~$799) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £510 (~$679) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £390 (~$520) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £270 (~$360) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £150 (~$200) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Neck and truss-rod problems on stringed instruments, and undisclosed repairs — especially a repaired headstock break, which permanently changes what an instrument is worth.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a drum kit is worth what is being asked:
- Cracked cymbals, which are effectively finished
- Missing stands, pedals and clamps
- Damaged bearing edges that prevent proper tuning
- Wrapped shells with lifting or peeling covering
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Complete kits with hardware, stands and pedals
- Shells with no cracks or bearing edge damage
- Recognised makers with a resale following
- Cymbals included, which often carry much of the value
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeits of premium guitars exist and usually show in the headstock shape, the logo decal and the serial format.
Ask for the serial number and where it was made, whether anything has ever been repaired or replaced, and for a photograph sighting down the neck from the headstock.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a drum kit, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Say so in the title and the description. Cymbals are frequently worth as much as the shells and it is the first question every time.
List each stand and pedal. A shell pack with no hardware is a very different purchase from a complete kit.
Take a head off and look. Damaged edges stop a drum tuning properly and are expensive to recut.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Lay out every shell, stand, pedal and cymbal and photograph together
- Check each cymbal edge carefully for cracks
- Inspect the bearing edges by removing a head
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The kit fully set up, from the front
- Each shell showing its size badge
- All hardware laid out together
- The bearing edges and lugs, plus any wrap damage or crack
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, series and the size of every shell
- Every piece of hardware included, listed individually
- Whether cymbals are included, and which
- Shell, wrap, bearing edge and head condition
Live drum kit listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse music & instruments for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts in September and before Christmas. Complete kits with hardware sell far faster than shell packs.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a drum kit sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell drum kit for what to photograph and how to price, or what drum kit is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used drum kit?
Around £78 to £390 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a drum kit before buying?
Ask for the serial number and where it was made, whether anything has ever been repaired or replaced, and for a photograph sighting down the neck from the headstock.
Is buying a drum kit second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Neck and truss-rod problems on stringed instruments, and undisclosed repairs — especially a repaired headstock break, which permanently changes what an instrument is worth.
See also: all buying guides · drum kit value guide · selling drum kit · Music & Instruments · condition grades.