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Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.

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HHHusher 

If you’ve ever recorded drums – or watched an engineer wrestle with a drum mix – you know one of the most hard-fought battles is microphone bleed. One particularly common occurrence is the hi-hat cymbals bleeding into the snare mic. Engineers try to squash it with mic placement, drummers adjust their technique, and in the end, everyone accepts a little bleed as “just part…

By Jason Mehler
Feb 1, 2026

Yamaha EAD50

When Yamaha introduced the EAD10 drum recording system, it quietly rewired a lot of drummers’ expectations around recording. Clamp on a sensor, plug in a module, put on headphones, and suddenly you were producing a polished kit sound without fighting with mic placement, cable management, phase issues, and lost inspiration. It was a…

By Jason Mehler
Feb 1, 2026

Slingerland Radio King Outfit 13/16/24 with 6.5 x 14 Snare Drum

Last year, after much anticipation, the Slingerland brand officially returned to the scene. Launched not as a reimagined modern version, but as a deliberate effort to reconnect with the brand’s original construction methods, materials, and tonal concepts that have helped define American drumming for decades. For this month’s Product Close-Up, we’re taking a…

By Jason Mehler
Feb 1, 2026

JK Drum Systems: JK Hooves, Stabilize Your Drum Set!

Direct from the Netherlands comes “The Drum Positioning System of The World!” If you like to set up your kit the same way every time, you need to mark your gig rug with something. JK Drum Systems has an affordable,…

By Brian Hill
Feb 1, 2026

Yamaha Recording Custom Snares: Birch and Brass, Wood and Metal

Yamaha Recording Custom Snares are considered by many to be some of the finest drums made for recording or live use. The attention to detail in any of Yamaha’s Recording Custom drums is second to none! The folks at Yamaha…

By Brian Hill
Jan 1, 2026
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Keyner Drum Key

How many drum keys do you own? After more than 40 years behind the kit, I’ve accumulated more than I can count. Across the endless variety of sizes, shapes, and materials, they all seem to share one common superpower: the ability to vanish precisely when needed most.   The Keyner from DrumKeep seeks to change the odds when it comes to lost drum…

By Jason Mehler
Jan 1, 2026

Evans Accessories: Gels, Rings, Patches, and Keys

Our friends over at Evans (by D’Addario) sent us a box full of fun to check out that included their Overtone Damping E-Ring Pack; Damping Gel EQ and Mini EQ Pods; Bass Drum EQ Patch; and an assortment of Drum…

By Brian Hill
Jan 1, 2026

ARTSTRUMENTS 5PK-L Drum Mounting Kit with Lights

As drummers, our drum kits are more than just tools of the trade. With interesting shapes and textures, mesmerizing finishes, and striking color combinations, they’re visual works of art. Art invites appreciation, but space is a limited luxury for most of…

By Jason Mehler
Nov 1, 2025

YAMAHA DTX8K-M PROX

Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the comfort of home, Yamaha has earned its reputation for building instruments that just work. As a proud owner of a late-90’s Yamaha Beech Custom drum kit, I can vouch for that…

By Jason Mehler
Nov 1, 2025

TUNER FISH Lug Locks

Stay Tuned… hey say you can’t tune a fish… but you can tune a drum! Most of us have had a drum that just won’t stay in tune because the tension rods wiggle loose, thus detuning the head. This can…

By Brian Hill
Nov 1, 2025

5 Core 7-Piece Drum Mic Kit

 While walking the aisles of the 2025 Music City Drum Show in Nashville, a set of drum microphones immediately stood out. They had a brushed copper finish, with a vintage, almost steampunk aesthetic. The company was 5 Core, and I…

By Jason Mehler
Oct 1, 2025

Techra Drumsticks Hammer of the Gods, X Carb, and Colossus 5A

Techra, an Italian drumstick manufacturer, sent Modern Drummer a few more pairs of their carbon fiber drumsticks to bang around. In our last review of Techra sticks (MD 2023), we looked at the Black Diamond series, 5A, and 2B sizes.…

By Brian Hill
Oct 1, 2025
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Trinity Cymbals: 16" Brilliant Holey China

Trinity Cymbals continues to build momentum in the drumming world, carving out space alongside other established cymbal manufacturers. I recently ran into the Trinity team at the 2025 Music City Drum Show in Nashville, TN. They had an impressive display…

By Jason Mehler
Sep 1, 2025

Acon Digital - Drum Production Suite

Acon Digital has earned respect among engineers and producers with several flagship products in different areas of audio production. They’ve built a reputation for solving practical problems such as noise and unwanted reverb, while providing transparent, musical processing tools that…

By Jason Mehler
Sep 1, 2025
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