Gear Reviews
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
1928 Ludwig Rialto and 1933 Ludwig Pioneer Trap Kits
The drum set has come a long way from the simple trap kits of the 1920s and 30s. Ironically, many drummers today are returning to these very simple sets for busking (type) gigs, favoring the convenience and ease of packing…
Drum Workshop’s New Hybrid Purple Core Shells, Serious Low-End with Serious Durability
Drum Workshop’s John Good has been experimenting for years with a hybrid shell idea that would provide the lowest fundamental tone from a drum shell without sacrificing strength. After much experimenting, he finally succeeded. That prompted DW to send Modern…
Cymbal Swap: Try Cymbals Before You Buy
If you’ve ever shopped for cymbals, you know that it can be frustrating and expensive to find the perfect cymbal that harmonizes flawlessly with your drum kit and produces the sound you desire. A new service called Cymbal Swap is…
New and Notable
Lauten Audio Snare Mic Family-owned microphone maker, Lauten Audio, has announced the release of Snare Mic — a purpose-built FET condenser microphone designed explicitly for use on snare drums. At only 4.2” in size, Snare Mic is optimized for use…
Rick Allen’s Def Leppard Collection
It was a thrill when I got a call from the iconic Def Leppard. They started out in 1976 like countless teenage bands in Sheffield, England. Over 100 million albums later, they are still going strong, selling out stadiums all…
ddrum SE Flyer Pitstop 4 Piece Shell Pack, Vintage Sparkle, Vintage vibes in a small footprint
Beginning last year, ddrum has offered what they refer to as the “Pitstop” configuration of their SE Flyer line of shell packs. The Pitstop configuration features smaller drum sizes than the original SE Flyer kit, which makes it very compact.…
New And Notable October 2023
Pearl’s Masters Maple Gum Series drums When it comes to drumming in the modern recording environment, the Maple/Gum shell combination has a sublime history. Pearl first incorporated this legendary blend on Masterworks drums with the Sonic Select Studio shell recipe.…
Pearl and Drummer Dennis Chambers Create New 10-over 8 Signature Snare.
To be truly great, one must evolve over time. Drumming legend Dennis Chambers took this to heart when considering the transformation of his snare drum sound. Designed for sonic evolution, the new Pearl Dennis Chambers Signature Snare drum employs the…
Vic Firth Terra™ Series
Vic Firth’s new series of drumsticks celebrates the natural beauty our earth gifts us in each drumstick we make. Using a proprietary staining process, the unique and beautiful grains are exposed so that no two pairs are alike. Crafted from…
Roland Zenology Pro
For decades, Roland sounds have had a massive influence on music. Our legendary instruments have defined genres like techno, house, rap, trap, and hip hop, and deeply influenced pop, rock, and film music. This long legacy has culminated in the…
Latin Percussion Launches New Range of Frame Drums
Latin Percussion continues to develop their collection of world percussion instruments with the introduction of a new range of Frame Drums to include the Tar and Bendir. Based on some of the most ancient musical instruments the new Tar and…
ddrum Dominion Birch 4PC Shell Pack With Paper White Birch Wrap Quality Drums, Compact Price
In 2005 ddrum raised the bar when it comes to drum quality and price when they released their Dominion series drums. They recently introduced an upgraded version of their Dominion Birch series drums, improving upon both quality and aesthetics. This…
ProMark Retractable Nylon Brushes
ProMark has introduced two new versions of retractable nylon brushes in heavy and light weight versions. The Heavy Nylon Brush comes in a 2B size handle with black bristles and offers increased volume and attack. This brush might be more…
Two 1930s Slingerland Green Trap Kits
Here’s a little history of how Slingerland got into the drum business. In the 1920’s the banjo was very popular in music of day. Up until 1927 Slingerland was a banjo company. Ludwig had been a drum company since 1909.…
