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Die-cast hoops add focus to the sound but are where the drums diverge from the usual Brady formula

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Like real Brady drums, the finishes are flawless and mirror-deep.

The shell hardware consists of tube lugs that are all but indistinguishable from those found on Brady drums, with the 14" drums being equipped with 10 and the 13" drum sporting eight. Snare tensioning is controlled through a Dunnet throw-off and the snare wires are of a similarly high quality.

The most obvious area where the Dixon drums diverge from the Brady formula is in the fitting of die-cast hoops, which the Brady company actively discourages on its own drums. On this component, Dixon felt that the added focus that die-cast hoops bring (to cross-stickings and rimshots in particular) benefited these snare drums enough to justify their inclusion.

Hands on

"We have to admit that our first reaction when learning of the existence of these drums was one of mild incomprehension. We're delighted that our prejudices have been comprehensively trashed".

The emphasis on quality extends all the way to the heads, with Evans G1 coated or Power Centre Reverse Dot batters fitted across the drums and 300 Hazy resonants in place below. With the drums' illustrious origins it's hard not to compare them with Brady drums costing twice the price, but it's a comparison that would find them in favourable light.

The 14"x5½" model is a tight, snappy, loud drum that ticks all the boxes, straight out of the box. Tuned up, it gives a precise, funky response, while slackening it off reveals a fatter, altogether dirtier sound. The 14"x6½" drum offers a beefier take on things, delivering a substantially thicker and crunchy performance. Standing out from the two 14" drums, for me, is the 13"x6" model. Possessing a supremely sharp level of attack, it has an extra 'oomph' that makes it utterly irresistible. Fair dinkum indeed.