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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.
Product Close-Up: ddrum Paladin Walnut Speakeasy Drumset (From the February 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson When ddrum first arrived in the 1980s, it made only electronic drums and triggers and was owned by Clavia, the Swedish maker of Nord series keyboards and synthesizers. Ddrum was sold to Armadillo Enterprises—which also owns Dean…
Product Close-Up: Meinl Signature Ride Cymbals (From the January 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson In addition to its vast and diverse catalog of stock models, Meinl also offers an array of rides designed in collaboration with key endorsing artists who represent a wide range of playing styles and who have particularly…
Product Close-Up: TRX CRX Series Cymbals (From the January 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson The California-based TRX offers a full range of Turkish-made cymbals for the contemporary drummer. Earlier this year, the company launched a new collection of lower-cost B20 cymbals, which are made in China. This line, called CRX, comprises…
Product Close-Up: Gretsch Renown RN1 Drumset (December 2013 Issue)
by Michael Dawson The Renown series was devised to offer working drummers a sturdy, tour-ready kit with all the classic Gretsch appointments (30-degree bearing edges, die-cast hoops, rock maple shells), for a more manageable price. This year, the company overhauled…
Product Close-Up: Canopus 8x14 Zelkova Snare Drum (November 2013 Issue)
Japanese drum maker Canopus’s flagship snare, the Zelkova, features a thick 14 mm solid shell made from 200-year-old zelkova redwood. To eliminate the potential for cracking, Canopus dries the wood for three years, until it reaches a moisture content of…
Product Close-Up: Acoutin Custom Metal/Wood Snares
September 2013 Product Close-Up Acoutin Custom Metal/Wood Snare Drums by Stephen Bidwell I first became aware of Acoutin Custom at PASIC 2012. Owner/operator Cooper Acoutin was sharing a booth space with fellow builder Ronn Dunnett, and while I was there…
Product Close-Up: Taye Specialty Walnut/Mahogany Hybrid and MetalWorks Vintage Brass Snares
August 2013 Product Close-Up Taye Specialty Walnut/Mahogany Hybrid and MetalWorks Vintage Brass Snares by Michael Dawson Early in 2013, Taye introduced a duo of professional-grade snares designed to appeal to drummers looking for classic sounds at a more affordable price…
UPDATED! Product Close-Up: TRX DRK Thunder and BRT Lightning Cymbals
August 2013 Product Close-Up TRX DRK Thunder and BRT Lightning Cymbals by David Ciauro Vented cymbals are increasingly popular among drummers across numerous genres, from gospel to extreme metal. The vents have a threefold sonic impact, making cymbals sound darker,…
Product Close-Up: Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Thin Ride
August 2013 Product Close-Up Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Thin Ride by Anthony Riscica From the ever-growing collection of cymbals Meinl comes the new 22" Byzance Extra Dry Thin ride. The ride complements its previously released medium-weight counterpart, with a…
Product Close-Up: Bosphorus Black Pearl Series Cymbals (UPDATED)
July 2013 Product Close-Up Bosphorus Black Pearl Series Cymbals by Michael Dawson Two of Bosphorus’s most popular jazz-style cymbal lines are the Master and the Master Vintage. The Master series comprises fully lathed, soft-feeling cymbals with traditional, warm, and dark…
Product Close-Up: Ego Drum Supply 6x14 Single-Ply Myrtle Snare
July 2013 Product Close-Up Ego Drum Supply 6x14 Single-Ply Myrtle Snare by David Ciauro The initial endeavors of the Oregon-based Ego Drum Supply were aimed at using aerospace alloys and digital technology to make lugs, but the company has since…
Product Close-Up: RBH Monarch Drumset
July 2013 Product Close-Up RBH Drums Monarch Drumset by Michael Dawson RBH Drums is based in Virginia Beach and is operated by Bruce Hagwood, who’s a trained percussionist, retired firefighter, and master woodworker. Hagwood got into building drums in the…
Product Close-Up: Ancient Tree Conquistador Snare
June 2013 Product Close-Up Ancient Tree 6 1/2x14 Conquistador Stave-Shell Heartwood Snare by David Ciauro Ed Mendel, founder of Ancient Tree, uses river-reclaimed heart cypress and heart pine to handcraft stave-shell drums. The snare on review here is made from…
Product Close-Up: Crescent Cymbals
May 2013 Product Close-Up Crescent Cymbals An Assorted Selection by Michael Dawson Crescent is a new brand created by Cymbal Masters, a company comprising the well-known drummers Jeff Hamilton and Stanton Moore and industry veterans Michael Vosbein and Bill Norman.…