Gear Reviews
Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - DW Collector’s Series Pure Oak Drumset
With all of DW’s experiments in drum shell construction, you may be surprised to learn that it wasn’t until recently that the company began to explore the bright, clean timbre of hard oak. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Paiste
Swiss cymbal maker Paiste does a commendable job of balancing its catalog of creative, specialty products with more general offerings for all types of drummers. This month we have a small collection of cymbals to review, two of which were…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Canopus Solid Brass and Harvey Mason Signature Snares
Canopus has been hand-building high-end drums in Japan since 1977, with the primary focus being on replicating and updating the most coveted sounds of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Shure PGADRUMKIT7 Mic Pack
It’s become increasingly common for drummers to bypass professional recording studios as they acquire the skills and tools to record from home. Shure has made a name for itself by providing some of the most reliable microphones available, especially gold…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - KUMU
Founded in 1984 by Finnish builder Pekka Helanen, Kumu started out making acoustic and electric guitars and basses in addition to drums. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Masterwork
Masterwork, an Istanbul-based manufacturer founded in 2002, specializes in making cymbals using ancient Turkish traditions combined with contemporary tools and techniques. The company offers fourteen different series made from B25 bronze (75% copper and 25% tin). TO READ THE FULL…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Doc Sweeny
Doc Sweeny is a high-end custom drum company whose mission is “to create works of drum art that will enhance the experience of drumming enthusiasts for years to come.” TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Porter & Davies
Porter & Davies is a UK-based company whose silent bass drum monitoring systems are being used by many top touring drummers, such as Ray Luzier (Korn), Billy Cobham (fusion legend), Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree/King Crimson), Jojo Mayer (Nerve), and Tomas…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Dunnett Dreamtime Snare Drums
One of the standout products launched at this past Winter NAMM was a collaboration between notable Queensland builder Paul Warry of Metro Drums and Vancouver-based master craftsman Ronn Dunnett of Dunnett Classic/George Way Drums to build top-shelf snares from some…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Bone Custom
Bone Custom has been handcrafting drums in Slovenia since 2005. This year it launched the Essence series, which is designed to be more affordable without sacrificing the high-end quality and bold look that Bone employs on its custom-shop kits. TO…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Cymbomute
Many drummers struggle to figure out how to practice quietly. Whether we live in an apartment complex or in a house with young children, we don’t always have the opportunity to practice at normal volume. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Innovative Percussion
Innovative Percussion, one of the leading manufacturers of professional-grade percussion mallets, beaters, and drumsticks, recently added two products to its catalog that are poised to become go-to choices for many drummers, regardless of playing style or musical genre. TO READ…
Steven Wilson's Craig Blundell
During his rise to the top of today’s prog scene, the ever-adaptable electroacoustic drummer handily dealt with every physical and technological challenge thrown at him. The only real roadblock, it turns out, came from within. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Product Close-Up - ddrum Reflex Rally Sport Drumset
One of the sister companies to Tampa-based ddrum is Dean guitars, and one of the woods that Dean uses for electric guitar bodies is alder. Alder is considered a semi-hard wood and ranks just above pine and poplar. TO READ…
