Gear Reviews
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
Get the Sound You Want From Your Drums! Part 2: Drumset Tuning
Shortly after introducing the tune-bot electronic drum tuner in 2012, we were flooded with phone calls and emails asking how to tune different brands of drums or how to get the sounds of various well-known drummers. Analyzing thousands of drum…
Shop Talk
It's really sad to say that throughout my years of professional playing, I've come across so many excellent drummers who don't take the time to care for their instrument. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Drum Miking 101, Part 2: Two-Microphone Setups
Last month we began this series by exploring three different ways to record a drumset with a single microphone. The distance between the mic and the drumset was our focus. This month we’re adding a second microphone. We’ll explore the…
Shop Talk: Tuning Your Snare Drum
A common complaint among many drummers is excessive snare drum rattling and buzzing when striking another drum in the set. Another familiar complaint is, "my snare drum just never sounds crisp enough." Bear in mind that there will always be…
The Evolution of the Tom-Tom
To most drummers today, the tom-tom is an indispensable part of the drumset. Aside from cymbals, the toms are the drummer’s main tools for adding color, drama, and excitement to a performance. Throughout the years, the sound of these drums…
GMS - Special Edition Series Drumset
Back in 1987, when Long Islanders Rob Mazzella and Tony Gallino joined forces to create the GMS Drum Co., there weren’t many companies offering custom drumsets that didn’t need some type of “doctoring” (bearing-edge work, hardware upgrades, etc.) in order…
Zildjian 21" K Custom Organic and 20" K Constantinople Renaissance Rides (Video)
Zildjian recently teamed up with two of its artists, drummer/educator Pat Petrillo and jazz great Adam Nussbaum, to create specialized signature rides designed to offer varying degrees of “crashability” and pinpoint articulation. Let’s take a look at each. TO READ…
Castle - Tapered Snares (Video)
Massachusetts-based craftsman David Cheney has developed a unique conical snare drum shell with function as its focus. The shell is created using solid wood staves and features a 14" batter side that tapers down to a 13" resonant end. TO…
Cymgard - Cymbal Accessories (Video)
The drum industry has plenty of cymbal accessories, including mutes, bags, and fancy felts. So what’s next? Cymgard thinks it has the answer, and the company sent us three cymbal mutes/edge protectors to check out: the Standard, the Lite, and…
GoPro - Hero3+ Black Edition Music Bundle (Video)
We drummers have tried everything we can think of to record ourselves, whether in individual practice, in band rehearsal, or on the gig. For me, it started with a cassette recorder that captured only audio, and the sound was never…
Drum Miking 101, Part 4: Four Microphones
A closer distance between the mics and the drums will give you a bit more definition and clarity. But be careful that you don’t get too close with the main overhead microphones, because you’ll start missing instruments. For this article…
Drum Miking 101, Part 5: Multi-Mic Setup
Electronic Insights Drum Miking 101 Part 5: Multi-Mic Setup by John Emerich Over the past few months, we’ve explored miking a drumset in a studio environment by adding microphones one at a time. This article takes all of those concepts…
SJC - Maple/Brass Hybrid Snare
Product Close-Up SJC Maple/Brass Hybrid Snare A powerhouse drum combining the spray and bite of hammered brass with the warmth of maple. When I first started playing, choices for snare drums were a bit more limited than what you see…
Vic Firth - Barrel 5A and 5B Drumsticks, Split Brushes, and Tala Wand Bamboo Slats
Product Close-Up Vic Firth Barrel 5A and 5B Drumsticks, Split Brushes, and Tala Wand Bamboo Slats Clarity, balance, and control are what’s up with these new implements. Always looking to fill voids in its catalog with products that drummers need,…
