Gear Reviews
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
Get the Most Beat for Your Buck - 4 Options for Building a Primo Snare Collection on a Workingman’s Budget
Shop Talk Get the Most Beat for Your Buck 4 Options for Building a Primo Snare Collection on a Workingman’s Budget by Nate Bauman As a single man in my late twenties with few commitments and even fewer resources, I…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Natal - Arcadia Series
The last time we checked out Natal, we talked about their vision to offer a range of high-level drumsets. Each kit comes with the same high-quality components, but it was the species of wood that differentiated each model. The company…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Sabian - HH Remastered Cymbals
For the past couple years, Canadian cymbal company Sabian has been revamping its manufacturing to put greater focus on the old-world hand-hammered stage of its process. We saw the initial results of those efforts with the introduction of the gnarly,…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Van Kleef - Snare Drums
Van Kleef Custom Drums is owned and operated by Alan van Kleef, a UK-based musician-turned-builder who started his career in the ’90s as a live drum & bass performer and studio owner. His workshop is in Sheffield, which is the…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Cymbal Packs
So you’ve never considered a cymbal pack before and generally like to purchase cymbals one at a time based on what your needs are at the moment? That’s totally understandable. But could there be some great advantages to buying a…
RBH Drums - Americana Jump Kit
Product Close-Up RBH Drums Americana Jump Kit Impossibly big and rich tones from a tiny grab-and-go setup. Virginia Beach–based RBH Drums has been quietly but steadily building steam as one of the preeminent custom shops, forgoing flashy, over-the-top concoctions for…
Paiste - PSTX Series Cymbals
Product Close-Up Paiste PSTX Series Cymbals Affordably priced, trashy effects hats, stacks, and crashes, plus a couple of calm, cooling bells. The PSTX series is a complete lineup of effects cymbals designed to achieve trashy tones and clean bell sounds…
Craviotto - Johnny C. Series Snare Drums
Product Close-Up Craviotto Johnny C. Series Snare Drums “Affordable” was never a word associated with the king of steam-bent shells…until now. When it comes to high-end, ultra-sophisticated, custom- made drums, there’s no name quite as ubiquitous as Craviotto. Company founder…
Angel - Black Wenge Segment-Shell Drumset
Product Close-Up Angel Black Wenge Segment-Shell Drumset Rare African hardwood meets Eastern European ruggedness. Angel is a Hungarian company that prides itself on taking no shortcuts and making no compromises when it comes to the quality of its drums. It’s…
V-Classic Hi-Hats, Crashes, Rides, and Jingle Splashes
Product Close-Up V-Classic Hi-Hats, Crashes, Rides, and Jingle Splashes Steeped in history and tradition while keeping an eye on the future. V-Classic is a Turkish company, founded by eighteen-year-veteran cymbalsmith Torab Majlesi, that specializes in bringing the warm, dark tones…
DTS - 6.5x14 Oscar Seaton Hybrid-Shell Snare
Product Close-Up DTS 6.5×14 Oscar Seaton Hybrid-Shell Snare Marrying birch with maple for ultimate clarity and depth. DTS, or Drum Tech Services, was founded in 2011 by acclaimed tech Steve “Steevo” Morrison, who has worked with Tommy Lee, Stephen Perkins,…
Stellar - 3-Ply and Walnut/Bird’s-Eye Maple Wood Hoops
Product Close-Up Stellar 3-Ply and Walnut/Bird’s-Eye Maple Wood Hoops Superbly built options for achieving drier, warmer drum tones. The folks at Stellar sent us two pairs of wood hoops to review. Out of the box, the first thing I noticed…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Bucks County Drum Company
Bucks County is a custom shop located thirty-five miles north of Philadelphia in the small borough of Perkasie. The company offers drums with just about any type and size of ply shell in any lacquer, satin, stain, or wrap finish.…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Zildjian Low Volume Cymbal Pack
Many drummers have had to go to extremes to tamp down the volume of their drumsets to make practicing less disturbing for neighbors, family members, and roommates, whether that’s simply draping t-shirts or blankets over the kit or going all-in…
