Over the next few updates we’ll be looking at Mapex’s new snare drum offerings for 2020. Mapex designed and created all of these drums with top drummer/endorser Russ Miller. There are fourteen new drums in this selection and we’ll be looking at five drums in this first batch. In the video, and with the exception

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

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

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

In “Jost Nickel's Snare Book”, Jost explores rudimental work and snare drum based exercises to improve your hand technique and independence. In the intro of his book, Jost promises us exercises and an approach to rudiments that will make us WANT to practise rather than feel OBLIGED to, and I must say the slightly unconventional

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

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