Gear Reviews
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
Earthworks Audio DK6 Drum Mic Kit
Earthworks audio has earned its reputation for producing high-precision pro-grade mics and equipment. I have seen their products in-use on several major tours while filming rundowns for Modern Drummer. In July of 2024, Earthworks unveiled the DK6 Drum Mic Kit.…
Ludwig Universal Model Snare Drums—Six Sweet Cherry Plies
Let’s take a Modern Drummer Product Close-Up look at the newest version of an iconic classic snare drum from yesteryear. But first, let’s take a quick look back in time. The Ludwig “Universal” Model Snare Drums were first introduced in…
DW COLLECTOR'S PURE CHERRY EXPANSION PACK, NEW SHURE SMART MICROPHONE
DW Collector’s Pure Cherry Shell Expansion Pack Now Available DW Soundworks™ has added the DW Collector’s Series® Pure Cherry Shell expansion pack to its growing range of drum samples. Cherry is a very musical wood that produces brighter attack, melodic clarity, and slightly darker…
The Rikki Rockett Poison Drum Collection
Rikki Rockett co-founded Poison in 1983 with his longtime pal Bret Michaels. The band slugged it out for years in their hometown of Mechanicsburg, PA before heading to west to CA. Their debut 1986 album Look What the Cat Dragged…
Baldman Percussion Presents: The Junk Hat 2.0!
New Junk for Sound Junkies! Mike McKee and his partner in comedy (or rather, drumming!), Danny Young, are two bald headed working drummers and percussion builders based in Nashville, TN. They call themselves Baldman Percussion. Through trial and error, these…
ddrum DDTi Trigger Interface
Originally heralded for their innovative drum triggers back in the 1980s, ddrum has since evolved into a widely respected name in both acoustic and electronic percussion. The ddrum DDTi trigger interface is a testament to the brand’s efforts to bridge…
NEW PRODUCTS FROM PDP, DRUM WORKSHOP, SONICCOUTURE, AND SABIAN
New PDP MainStage Complete Drum Kit Pacific Drums and Percussion (PDP) is pleased to introduce the new PDP MainStage Complete Drum Kit. The MainStage is a five-piece drum kit with a three pack of Paiste 101 cymbals and a PDP complete…
The Year’s Best of the Northup Drums Museum
Here at the Northup Drums Museum in Oneonta, NY, we specialize in vintage drums from the 1920s-70s, as well as collectible drums from today. All the drums are on display so you can actually play them! Our collection is always…
A Year in Reviews
2024 was a wild ride for gear reviews! From acoustic and electronic drum products and accessories to pro audio and software, I’ve learned a ton, and hopefully managed to share my insights in a way that was equal parts fun,…
A Year in Reviews
2024 was a great year for new drum gear, in this year alone I have reviewed new drum sets, new snare drums, some new cymbals, and some new thrones. As always, when I review a product, I really review the…
Mighty Bright NuFlex, BrightFlex, DuoFlex, and Encore Musician’s Lights.
Mighty Bright Lights have been around for a while, and any musician or performer that works in a darker environment has probably used them, I have had one in my stick bag for years (just in case.) But Mighty Bright…
ROLAND VQD106
The Quietest Electronic Set I’ve Ever Played In October of 2024, Roland announced an all-new addition to their V-Drum product line. The VQD106 Quiet Design kit claims to be the lowest playing noise set in V-Drum history. It comes ready…
New and Notable December 2024
DW LIMITED EDITION PERFORMANCE BIRCH, ALESIS SETS AND AMPS, LATIN PERCUSSION SIGNATURE 8” COWBELL, SABIAN STRATUS CYMBALS, PROMARK HYBRID HOT RODS, ON-STAGE STUDENT PERCUSSION PACK, BOPWORKS’ STICK STATION Drum Workshop Limited Edition Birch Set and Snare The Drum Workshop, Inc. (DW)…
Tommy Lee’s Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls, Tour Pearl Free Floating Snare Drum, Drastic Plastik Trigger Pads, and Tour Artifacts.
This Pearl snare drum is one of two custom Free Floating snares that Tommy Lee used on Motley Crue’s 1987 Girls, Girls, Girls Tour. Both snares were 6.5 x 14 Free Floating models with custom red hardware. One snare has…
