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Gear Reviews

Detailed assessments of the latest drum kits and accessories

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What do Charlie Watts, Simon Phillips, and Thomas Lang All Have in Common?

There’s never been a more unlikely group of drummers corralled to record an album than the curious trio of Charlie Watts, Simon Phillips, and Thomas Lang. In 2009, Austrian producer Peter Viehweger assembled some of LA’s finest players to record…

Donn Bennet
Jan 31, 2024

SE Electronics BL8 Boundary Microphone - Get Your Kicks!

In 2023, SE Electronics introduced their BL8. It is a rugged, small condenser boundary microphone, great for kick drums, cajons, pianos, speech, conferencing, room micing / ambience, stage floor miking and more. For this month’s product close-up, I was provided…

Jason Mehler
Jan 31, 2024

Melodics - Now for Acoustic Drums

Melodics is a subscription-based software platform designed to help people develop their skills on various musical instruments. Like popular video games such as Rock Band, Melodics incorporates challenges, levels and points to gamify the process of learning and practicing. Melodics…

Jason Mehler
Jan 31, 2024

New And Notable February 2024

DW Launches New Expansion Pack for DW Soundworks™ Drum Workshop launches new expansion pack for its premium virtual studio instrument (VST) and drum sample library, DW Soundworks™: True-Cast™ Expansion Pack, featuring the limited edition DW MFG True-Cast 5 x14” Snare…

Modern Drummer
Jan 31, 2024

The Evolution of the Hi-Hat

The history of how the modern day hi-hat was invented is a subject that many drummers and drum historians will continue to debate. In this article, I am going to give you historical facts and present actual examples of the…

Tim Northup
Dec 31, 2023
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CTM CE220 IN-Ear Monitors

Founded by a drummer/sound engineer, Clear Tune Monitors (CTM) out of Orlando, Florida has been manufacturing high-quality custom in-ear monitors for over fifteen years. Their premium custom IEMs have accompanied many well-known touring and performing musicians around the world.  CTM…

Jason Mehler
Dec 31, 2023

Chicago Drum’s Solid Walnut Snare

Classic Vintage Sound with Time Honored Craftsmanship   Chicago Drum was officially born in 2011, but the roots of this amazing drum company go back decades, in fact, generations! Three generations to be precise. Jim Moritz, Chicago Drum’s founder and…

Brian Hill
Dec 31, 2023

New And Notable January 2024

DW Design Series Snares: Now In Aluminum The Drum Workshop Design Series® range has been expanded with the addition of two Aluminum snare drums. The new thin, beaded, matte aluminum snares are superbly versatile with a distinctive sound for classic…

Modern Drummer
Dec 31, 2023

Ringo Starr’s “Now and Then” WFL Set

By Donn Bennett Like most musicians of my generation, I was deeply influenced by The Beatles. For years I obsessively studied Ringo Starr’s playing and the minute intricacies of his various drum kits. By the mid-1980s my obsession led to…

Donn Bennett
Dec 1, 2023

Techra Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Sticks: The Ultimate Drumsticks

Techra is an Italian drumstick company that, among a few other music related products, manufactures a patented designed drumstick line made of carbon fiber. Techra says that these sticks could last up to ten times longer than comparable wood sticks…

Brian Hill
Dec 1, 2023

DWe Drum Set: Acoustic-Electronic Drums with Ground-breaking Wireless Technology

As a reader of Modern Drummer, it’s probable that you are well-aware of DW’s venture into the realm of electronic drums, aptly named the DWe Drum Set. DW describes this product as the first-ever wireless acoustic-electronic convertible drumkit. Convertible, meaning…

Jason Mehler
Dec 1, 2023

New and Notable December

Pearl’s New GyroLock Tom Mounts Pearl’s new GyroLock-L tom holder is the first omnidirectional, gearless drum mounting and positioning system made for ultimate adjustability and security. Its solid universal 12mm L-arm offers secure placement from a singular drum key lock…

Modern Drummer
Dec 1, 2023
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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…

Tim Northup
Nov 1, 2023

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…

By Brian Hil
Nov 1, 2023
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