High-end, hybrid shells blending the punch and depth of bubinga with the powdery explosiveness of aluminum. San Diego–based Doc Sweeney Drums specializes in building top-notch snares and kits out of exotic and domestic woods in solid, single-ply, stave, and now hybrid configurations. The new RX series blends top and bottom rings of stave timber with a center portion that’s rolled from premium-grade aluminum. The wood segments can be crafted from any species. We were sent a four-piece setup featuring bubinga with 8×12 and 14×14 toms, a 14×20 bass drum, and a 7×14 snare. Let’s check it out.   Specs Doc Sweeney prides itself on using the best-quality components possible on its drums. The shells are CNC-milled to very precise dimensions, the proprietary tube lugs are milled from aircraft-grade aluminum, and all of the fasteners are stainless steel. The hoops on our review kit were sturdy “stick saver” types, with an […]

February 2019 Issue