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Yamaha Steve Gadd Signature Snare Drum 

This year, Steve Gadd and Yamaha celebrate their 40 year partnership. In commemoration of this achievement, they wanted to invite 800 of us to join in with that celebration and so together they produced this special snare drum. The new Steve Gadd signature drum has a 14" x 5.5" 1.2mm thick steel shell, with aluminium

By | 2020-11-01T12:13:54+00:00 October 31st, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Yamaha Steve Gadd Signature Snare Drum 

Sabian Quiet Tone Cymbals

It feels a bit strange to say that I could happily use cymbals intended for quieter/practice playing on my regular kit, but that’s where I find myself with these Quiet Tone cymbals. Obviously cymbals designed for low volume or practice aren’t exactly new, but I think in these rather more challenging times they’re probably more

By | 2020-10-14T23:31:17+00:00 October 14th, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Sabian Quiet Tone Cymbals

Snare Drum of the Month – Provenance 14×5.25″ 1944 RR Merlin XX Snare Drum

I may have said before that I love a drum with a history or a story, and that’s the whole premise of Provenance Drums; the shell material is made from something that has already had a previous life; in this instance, the material was part of a 1944 Rolls Royce Merlin XX V12 engine. Now,

By | 2020-10-15T12:09:32+00:00 October 14th, 2020|Categories: Features|Comments Off on Snare Drum of the Month – Provenance 14×5.25″ 1944 RR Merlin XX Snare Drum

Aerodrums

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

By | 2020-09-30T23:58:03+00:00 October 1st, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Aerodrums

Snare Drum Of The Month – Sia 12×7” Red Gum

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

By | 2020-09-14T23:46:39+00:00 September 15th, 2020|Categories: Features|Comments Off on Snare Drum Of The Month – Sia 12×7” Red Gum

Sonor Jost Nickel Signature 14×6.25 Snare Drum

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

By | 2020-09-14T23:56:04+00:00 September 15th, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Sonor Jost Nickel Signature 14×6.25 Snare Drum

Sabian Complex Cymbals

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

By | 2020-08-31T23:54:51+00:00 September 1st, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Sabian Complex Cymbals

Sonor Perfect Balance Standard Bass Drum Pedal

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

By | 2020-07-31T23:39:24+00:00 August 1st, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Sonor Perfect Balance Standard Bass Drum Pedal

SDOTM – Tama 14×6.5 Star Reserve iv Snare Drum

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

By | 2020-07-15T00:45:20+00:00 July 15th, 2020|Categories: Features|Comments Off on SDOTM – Tama 14×6.5 Star Reserve iv Snare Drum

Retro Review – Paiste Crystal Thin Crashes and Crystal Hats

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

By | 2020-07-15T00:41:25+00:00 July 15th, 2020|Categories: Reviews|Comments Off on Retro Review – Paiste Crystal Thin Crashes and Crystal Hats
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