Take one camera... I started playing drums in the 1980s; the time when electronics and drums really started to properly meet each other head on. At that time, the electronic drums available - certainly initially - generally had a hard playing surface which was, shall we say, not that much fun to play
I like 12x7” snare drums. I like them because not only do you get the higher crack from the smaller head size, you still get some body too and I find that much more useful than something in a more shallow depth. This stave shelled drum is made from Red Gum and the rich colour
I do enjoy having my own preconceptions crushed sometimes. Take this snare drum. The shell of Jost Nickel’s drum is made from 14 plies of beech which come in at 9mm thick. To look at visually, the shell thickness is noticeable, and while this isn’t exactly the world’s thickest snare drum shell, it’s not thin
I first recall coming across the HHX line many years ago when someone I knew was playing them. I liked them immediately because of both their sound and their cool look. Sabian recently sent us a few examples of their fairly new Complex line to try out - 14” medium hi hats, 18” thin crash
I’m pretty sure that many many years ago I reviewed the original Perfect Balance pedal. While I can’t really remember that much about doing that review, I obviously liked the pedal itself as I bought one years later and it’s become one of my favourites. That may mean this review is a little less unbiased
I have no problem admitting this is one of my favourite snare drums, but not because of the way it looks. This is, as it turns out, one of the more polarising finishes of recent years it seems, at least in terms of Tama. People seem to either not mind how it looks or hate
So as something a little different, I thought I would look at a few things from the past and do a review on them. This time round, I’m looking at Paiste’s Crystal Thin Crashes and Crystal Hats which came out about 12/13 years ago Now, you may have come across or seen Paiste’s square bell
Alan Van Kleef has quite deservedly made a good name for himself over the last few years with his drums. I first played one of Alan’s drums a few years ago when I got to review one of the Thomas Lang signature snares he made. What struck me about that snare - and what stayed
This drum comes with two stories, the initial one of which is fairly routine. First of all, and as you’ll have seen, it’s a 12x7” Masterworks in a purple tamo finish which I bought second hand. The shell is made from mahogany with just a hint of maple in there too. It has eight tube
I’ve long maintained the majority of times we’re attracted to a [new] snare drum is initially because of the way it looks. Yes, it is possible these days - in fact, more so now than ever - that we can come across a visual and recording on any social platform and see and hear a
