Jason Mehler
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.
Mike McDermott's Joan Jett Touring Kit
Drums: SJC Custom M5 Maple Shells Black Stain/Black Hardware – 6.5×12 Rack Tom, 12×14 and 14×16 Floor Toms, 14×22 Kick Drum. Snares: CDC Custom 7×14 Maple, Modern Classic 7×14 Maple, Dark Horse Percussion 8×14 Wood Hoop Ballad Snare (Nickname “Santa’s lil’ Helper”).…
Bringing the Groove Home to Nashville
When Yamaha Drums throws a party, it’s not just another industry showcase. It’s a celebration of the very heart of drumming. On July 19, 2025, Yamaha hosted its second annual “A Night in the Pocket” event. An unforgettable evening that…
Morgenstein Tool - Wing Thing
Among the many dilemmas that a drummer or drum tech faces during the chaos of playing live shows, few are as maddening as the dreaded stubborn wing nut. Whether too tight, too loose, out of reach, or just plain evil,…
DeAndre Hemby's Teddy Swims Touring Kit
Drums: SJC Drums – 16×22 Kick, 7×8, 7×10, 7×12 Rack Toms, 14×16 and 16×18 Floor Toms, 6.5×14 Brass Snare, 6.5×14 Maple Snare.Heads: Evans – EC2 and EC Reso on rack toms; EMAD and EC Reso on floor toms; HD Dry on main…
ALESIS STRATA CORE
In October of 2024, Alesis Drums announced the launch of the Strata Core, a compact yet fully featured addition to their Strata Series of e-kits. With a 30% reduced footprint compared to its sibling the Strata Prime and a lower…
Caleb Crosby's Kelsea Ballerini Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom in Satin Tangerine Metallic – 14×22 Kick, 9×13 Rack Tom, 16×16 and 16×18 Floor Toms, 6.5×14 2mm Copper Snare (main,) 8×14 Maple Matching (side,) 6.5×14 Bell Brass (spare.) Heads: Remo – Controlled Sound Coated on all Snares/Clear Ambassador…
TUNE-BOT STUDIO
Overtone Labs of Denver, CO introduced the first Tune-Bot over 12 years ago. Since then, Tune-Bot has become a leader in digital drum tuning, offering a more precise and consistent tuning method for drums. For this month’s Product Close-Up, I…
NORDIC SHELLS - DIY SNARE KIT - WATERFALL BUBINGA
Nordic Shells of Maple Grove, MN has earned a reputation among drummers and custom drum builders for producing some of the finest shells on the market. Their refined manufacturing process and Grade-A materials ensure that each shell delivers exceptional tone,…
Jack Lawless' Jonas Brothers Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom – 9×13 rack concert tom (not pictured), 8×13 rack, 16×16 floor, 16×18 Gong drum (floor tom with no bottom head), 16×24 kick. Snares: Noble & Cooley Custom 6.5×14, Ludwig Black Beauty 6.5×14. Heads (top): Remo – Clear Pinstripe (Rack,…
X-Percussion ARC MK1 Trigger Pad
X-Percussion ARC MK1 Pro Trigger Pad Founded in 2020, Gruv-X LLC is known for its flagship product, the X-Click: a hand-crafted Crosstick accessory that mounts to the tension rods of a snare drum. In 2024, they released a single zone…
KickTone Microphone
Last month I reviewed the KickPort Bass drum enhancer, which I found to noticeably improve my bass drum’s tone. For this month, I’m testing a companion product from KickPort, the KickTone. It is a bass drum microphone that uses two…
Nik Hughes' Bush Touring Kit
Drums: DW Design Series Gloss White Finish – 18×22 Kick drum, 9×12 Rack Tom, 14×16 Floor Tom, 16×18 Floor Tom Snares: 6.5×14 DW Bell Brass snare drum, 5.5×14 Maple snare drum Gloss White finish. Heads: Evans – Toms: clear G2’s on top Clear…
KickPort 2- Bass Drum Enhancer
Although the KickPort by KickPort International has been on the market for years, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a fresh look at its latest version, especially since Modern Drummer hasn’t previously reviewed it. For this Product Close-Up,…
Earthworks Audio DK6 Drum Mic Kit
Earthworks audio has earned its reputation for producing high-precision pro-grade mics and equipment. I have seen their products in-use on several major tours while filming rundowns for Modern Drummer. In July of 2024, Earthworks unveiled the DK6 Drum Mic Kit.…
