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Tempus Fibreglass and Carbon-Fibre Snare drums £565

A sparkling trio of made to order synthetic snares

Tempus Fibreglass and Carbon-Fibre Snare Drums

Drums come with quality Evans heads and smart Dunnett strainers as standard

1 of 3 » View in gallery

Hands On

We tried the gold fibreglass drum last and it turned out to be fractionally brighter and more resonant than the other two. But then it is a standard size (14"x5"), wider and shallower than the others, so you'd expect it to be snappier. The carbon drums though do have a slightly darker timbre.

Both types of super-thin hard shell, with their narrow bearing edges, deliver pinpoint definition and fabulously responsive outer perimeters. Light press rolls and ghost strokes are easily achieved and sweet toned. Wallop the centre and the impact is sharp, yet fat, with an echoing resonance from the shell. This means rim shots elicit a brilliant clang and we had to dampen the fibreglass drum a little.

The response at about one third of the way in from the rim was livelier and had more body than the usual fairly thin sound.

While suitably impressed at home, the only way to really know a drum is live and we gigged the carbon 14"x7" and the fibreglass 14"x5". Both had plenty of power, but exceptional sensitivity.

The synthetic shells are so dense that while they resonate freely they also impart a pure, in some ways hard, character. There's a wide-open clarity to the fibreglass, which felt more extreme than wood or metal.

Neither fibreglass nor carbon-fibre sounded or felt quite like wood or metal. The carbon-fibre sounds somewhere in between, while the fibreglass, has a special tone, an almost hollow, clonking brilliance.

Verdict

Fibreglass and carbon-fibre are both especially hard and give you clean, bright and versatile drums. The carbon-fibre drums are about 15 percent dearer, slightly darker, warmer and drier toned. All are well worth checking out.

MusicRadar rating:

4 of 5 stars

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User comments (1)

Average user rating 1 of 5

  • Sytubs

    Avatar for Sytubs

    Wed 22 Apr 2009, 9:22 am UTC

    User rating 1 of 5

    I found the review missed a vital piece of information and has some descrepancies.
    " By our measurements the carbon-fibre is an amazing 1/8th" (3mm) thick and the fibreglass just a teensy bit more. "Bear in mind these shells are entirely hand-made (my hands, as it happens) and so exact tolerances don't really apply," comments Mason."
    Seeing as the shells are constructed in a Mold, I would have expected a measurement of their "Roundness/Diameter", and yet, only their thicknesss was measured. If a shell isn't round then Tuning will be an Issue and the heads won't fit properly.
    I'd most certainly check the Shells Dimensional Tolerances if I were interested in purchasing one --- especially after the Builders : "Exact Tolerances don't really apply" comment. Caveat Emptor!
    The Finishes are durable? Not really true, is it. A Gel-coat scratches just as easily as a Laquer. Has anyone seen an Immaculate Hot Tub or Kayak or Corvette after some time? Thought not. Tthey're most certainly not as durabale as a Drum Wrap. That's a Fact.
    They're Seamless? Strange as it seems. I have seen plenty of Pic's of these Drums on ebay WITH seams. And having read about a customers dispute, none of these shells appear to be "Seamless", either. http://tinyurl.com/cvymo9
    Actually there's this mention about the "Seamless" construction by a Tempus customer on this link. It says it's too "Time Consuming" for Tempus to do now. Day 3 point (4) http://tinyurl.com/d5fza6
    Not sure about those Coffin lugs.
    Maybe all that Glitters is not Gold....
    Pete.

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MusicRadar rating

4 of 5

Pros

A genuine, sensitive alternative to wood or metal. Rugged and lovingly handmade to order.
Cons

They are not cheap. Ruggedness won't suit everyone.
Verdict

Fibreglass and carbon-fibre are both especially hard and give you clean, bright and versatile drums. The carbon-fibre drums are about 15 percent dearer, slightly darker, warmer and drier toned. All are well worth checking out.
Review Policy

All MusicRadar's reviews are by independent product specialists, who are not aligned to any gear manufacturer or retailer. Our experts also write for renowned magazines such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Computer Music, Future Music and Rhythm. All are part of Future PLC, the biggest publisher of music making magazines in the world.

User rating

1 of 5

Where to buy

Specification

Fibreglass and Carbon-Fibre Snare drums

Price:
£565
Country of Origin:
Canada
Drum Shell Material:
Carbon-Fibre or Fibreglass

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