Mapex M Birch Kit £650
The MusicRadar Team, Tue 23 Oct, 12:12 pm BST
Manufacturer's description
The M Birch, new from Mapex, gives you the sound you’ve been waiting for. The shells are made from multiple birch plies with an exterior maple veneer, giving you great tone — and a great look. The shells deliver incredible attack at the high end, a narrower mid-range and significant “punch” at the bottom end. The exterior maple ply is finished with eight coats of hand applied, transparent lacquer for a shell that looks as good as it sounds.
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User comments (3)
-
As michael56 says, a wicked all round kit.
As for the negative points on the snare in the article: get one of Mapex's Back Panthers! Best drumI ve ever heard and so versatile.
Mapex rock! (or jazz, or funk, or metal...) -
I agree with michael56 - this kit does rock!
I brought mine from a friend who was moving to Australia and didn't have the space for it. I think he changed the heads but they sound great. I'm a beginner and this kit has really helped my confidence - highly recommended! -
I have used an M Birch rock kit for the last two years for both gigging and recording. Ireplaced the hoops on the snare drum with die-cast hoops and upgraded the snare wires.I then replaced the supplied Remo heads with Powerstroke 3's on the toms, a Coated Ambassador on the snare and a Remo Powersonic head on the kick drum with a Falam Slam patch in the centre. This kit really rocks! Coupled with Sabian AAX cymbals I rate this kit higher than any I have owned in the past including Ludwig 60's kit, Premier 70's kit etc. I would recommend this kit to anyone on a budget who is looking for an all round kit that looks and sounds amazing for not much outlay.
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Verdict
Pros
Great looks, decent hardware, with excellent bass drum and toms.
Cons
The snare drum is not as versatile as the rest of the kit.
The bottom line
The toms and bass drum acquit themselves very well and it's only the snare that doesn't perform with quite the same gusto as the rest of the kit. In the crowded market the kit is aimed at, specifications grow ever higher. In this regard, the M Birch's professional lacquer finish and good hardware pack help it add more value for money.
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SpecificationShow
M Birch Kit
- Price:
- £650
- Bass Drum Shell Ply:
- 8
- Bass Drum Shell Thickness:
- 7.2
- Bass Drum Size:
- 22 x 18
- Drum Kit Components:
- 1 x Bass Drum, 1 x Snare, 3 x Tom
- Drum Shell Material:
- Birch and Maple
- Kick Shell Thickness:
- 7
- Price at Launch:
- 650
- Snare Shell Ply:
- 8
- Snare Shell Thickness:
- 7
- Snare Size:
- 14 x 5.5
- Tom Shell Ply:
- 8
- Tom Size:
- 10 x 9, 12 x 10, 14 x 12
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tentacle
24 weeks ago.
User rating 4 of 5