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.
ddrum DDTi Trigger Interface
Originally heralded for their innovative drum triggers back in the 1980s, ddrum has since evolved into a widely respected name in both acoustic and electronic percussion. The ddrum DDTi trigger interface is a testament to the brand’s efforts to bridge…
A Year In Rundowns
2024 featured 47 episodes of Modern Drummer’s popular “Tour Kit Rundown” YouTube series, highlighting some of the best professional drummers in the game and the gear they use on the road, performing for thousands of fans. Pictured throughout this gallery…
A Year in Reviews
2024 was a wild ride for gear reviews! From acoustic and electronic drum products and accessories to pro audio and software, I’ve learned a ton, and hopefully managed to share my insights in a way that was equal parts fun,…
ROLAND VQD106
The Quietest Electronic Set I’ve Ever Played In October of 2024, Roland announced an all-new addition to their V-Drum product line. The VQD106 Quiet Design kit claims to be the lowest playing noise set in V-Drum history. It comes ready…
NEW SABIAN CYMBALS Sabian 20” Dominator China, 22” Wide Lip China, 22” Tempest Ride, and 18” Rocktagon
As a fan and colleague of the late Dom Famularo, I was always impressed by his passion for drums and his ability to inspire others. Seeing him perform for the first time at a clinic back in 1995, I was…
The ddrum NIO Percussion Pad
With its nine distinct red rubber pads and backlit LCD, it’s hard to miss the ddrum NIO Percussion Pad. It’s been on the market for a few years now and is one of the more popular entry-level percussion pads available.…
ddrum E-FLEX BT9 Electronic Drums
In 2022, ddrum unveiled their E-Flex series of electronic drums, designed to offer a quiet yet highly responsive playing experience. This line featured 6-inch mesh pads that provided both enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise. ddrum recently expanded the E-FLEX series…
Tandem Drums Drops
Tandem Drums has a product that you may have seen. They’re called Drops, and they are weighted felt pads, created as an alternative to sticky gel-style drum dampening pads. Modern Drummer was sent a set of Drops to check out…
Yamaha EAD10
If the Yamaha EAD10 System is new to you, you’re a few years late to the party. Since its debut in 2018, the EAD10 Drum Module has made waves in the drumming world for its ease of use as a…
Al Cleveland III’s Melanie Martinez Touring Kit
Photos by Jason Mehler Drums: Pearl Masters Maple – Matte Olive Burst (color) – 7×10 rack tom, 8×12 rack, 16×16 floor, 16×22 kick. Snares: 6.5×14 Pearl UltraCast, 6.5×14 Pearl Ian Paice signature, Pearl M1060 6×10 Maple. Heads: Remo – 14-inch snare drums:…
KIT Drums – Connor Denis
Kit Plugins out of Nashville, TN has been developing high quality audio plugins for several years now. Their Blackbird Studio series of plugins are regarded as some of the best available. Last month, they stepped into the drum sample world…
Nick Buda’s Kenny Chesney Touring Kit
Photos by Jason Mehler Drums: Noble & Cooley Union Series – 6×10 rack concert tom, 8×13 rack, 12×14 floor, 14×16 floor, 16×22 kick. Snares: main- 6×14 copper, Side 5×13 chrome/maple, 7×14 tulip (union series) Heads: Evans – Snare drums UV1…
Marcelo Novati’s Juanes Touring Kit
Drums: DW Collectors (Maple SSC) in broken glass finish – 18×22 Bass Drum, 10×13 rack tom, 16×16 floor tom, 6 1/2×14 brass snare, 6×12 maple snare in tiger oyster finish (side snare.) Heads: Evans drumheads – Bass Drums: 22 HEAVYWEIGHT clear with DW muffling…
Matchbox Twenty and Liz Phair’s Neal Daniels
You may or may not have heard of pop/rock drummer Neal Daniels, but there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the future. He’s been providing the rhythmic foundation for touring artists like Rachel Platten,…
