Product Close-Up
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.
VIDEO! Product Close-Up: Brady Baritone Series Snares (From the May 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson Brady snare drums are coveted by top studio and touring drummers for their unmatched power and thick, meaty tones. All of these limited instruments are handmade in the company’s facility in Australia, and they’re offered with traditional…
Product Close-Up: Sabian 2014 Cymbal Vote Winners (April 2014 Issue)
by David Ciauro As the hustle of the holidays slows and we’re settled into 2014, we can now focus our energy on coveting all the new gear of the new year. Since being announced at Winter NAMM this past January,…
Product Close-Up: Magnus Opus FiBro-Tone Snare Drums (April 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson Magnus Opus founder and creative director Ron Adams has been fascinated by composite-shell drums since purchasing a Fibes Crystalite set in 1972. He then went on to pursue a degree in metallurgy and materials engineering, and now…
Product Close-Up: DW Collector's Series Cherry Drumset (April 2014 Issue)
by David Ciauro DW’s foray into making all-cherry shells aims to meet the needs of drummers who are fans of maple and birch but are looking for a union of the two that yields slightly darker results. DW executive vice…
Product Close-Up: Crescent Haptic Series Cymbals (From the March 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson Crescent’s new Haptic series was developed for world music artist Jamey Haddad, who wanted cymbals that he could play with his bare hands as well as with sticks. (See Haddad’s Setting Sights feature in the February 2014…
Product Close-Up: Masters of Maple Black Ugly, Bell Brass, and Copper Snares (From the March 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson Founded by Southern California–based drum tech/builder Sahir Hanif in 2002, Masters of Maple began as a custom company that manufactured its own ply shells, with a special emphasis on exotic timbers. These days the company also offers…
Product Close-Up: Zildjian A Series Cymbals (From the February 2014 Issue)
by Michael Dawson When classic rock emerged in the 1960s, Zildjian’s American-made A series cymbals were right there with it, gracing now-classic recordings by Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cream, and countless others with their sweet, bright tones.…
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…
VIDEO! Product Close-Up: DW Collector’s Series Concrete and Thin Aluminum Snares (December 2013 Issue)
by Miguel Monroy DW is renowned for producing top-quality drums and hardware, and the company has had a consistent output of innovative ideas that meet the needs of the drumming community. The two DW Collector’s series snares we have for…
Product Close-Up: Paiste Signature Precision Cymbals (November 2013 Issue)
In April 2013, Paiste launched the Signature Precision series, which is designed to capture all of the distinguished character and sophistication of the renowned Signature series in a more wallet-friendly package. The Precision line uses the same proprietary Signature…
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: Turkish Rhythm and Soul Series Cymbals
October 2013 Product Close-Up Turkish Rhythm and Soul Series Cymbals by Kyle Andrews Turkish is a company based in Istanbul that makes all of its cymbals from scratch. It begins with a proprietary bronze formula and casts each cymbal blank…
