Geoff Nicholls

Articles by: Geoff Nicholls

The snare (top) has 2.3mm triple-flanged steel hoops and all metal fittings are finished in antique silver

Odery Custom Araucaria Snare review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £599

Another distinctive drum from Brazil

UFIP's Supernova range cymbals have a super-smooth hand-buffed finish

UFIP Supernova cymbals review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £73
  • €65

Bright young 'tings'

There's a choice of 27 finishes for Sakae's beech snare. Here we have black-to-blue acrylic and silky oak veneer

Sakae Beech snare review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £525
  • €833

Hand-made with choice of finishes

UFIP's Rotocasting process results in a super-pure B20 alloy that 'increases durability'

UFIP Class Brilliant cymbals review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £117
  • €105

Brilliant by name and nature?

The finish in a dark stain is satin smooth

Leiva Pro Omeya Bass Studio Cajon review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £375
  • €380

Pro percussion box

You'll have noticed the striking finish, a rich and glittering Magma Red lacquer fading from deep red to black

Mapex Armory Series Kit review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £849
  • €1032
  • $1399

New kit for the mid-priced market

Once The Beatles broke through, Ludwig's previously unfashionable Oyster Black wrap became a massive seller.

Ringo's Ed Sullivan kit

By Geoff Nicholls published

Ringo's iconic Ludwig kit in detail

Circa 1949

Vintage drum gear: Leedy kits

By Geoff Nicholls published

A pair of beautiful '40s kit from the innovative US drum maker

Circa 1963

Vintage drum gear: Rogers Dave Clark kit

By Geoff Nicholls published

A kit once owned by a '60s drum icon

Ed at the 2013 NAMM show

Ed Shaughnessy RIP: Ed's final Rhythm interview

By Geoff Nicholls published

Our last interview with The Tonight Show drummer reprinted

American walnut was one of the popular woods of early drum-making and has made a small comeback in recent years

Animal Custom 2012 Series Kit review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £2550

A UK custom drum kit in wild walnut

The new Brooklyn kit revisits the round badge and double flanged hoops of some of the classic drums produced in the Brooklyn factory

Gretsch Brooklyn Kit review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £2050
  • $3115

Gretsch pays tribute to a classic drum kit, adding some modern twists

Murat Diril cymbals are wood (not gas like others) 'cooked' in a process which involves hammering and lathing in three separate cycles

Murat Diril Cymbals review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £160

Hand-made by a master Istanbul cymbalsmith

Byzance cymbals are individually cast and hand-hammered in Turkey before sending on to Germany for cosmetic finishing

Meinl Byzance Rides And Crashes review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £337

A flagship Turkish-made, German-finished range

The fast-growing Chinese maple used on the Meridian is of good quality

Mapex Meridian Maple Jazz Kit review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £585
  • $1249

The affordable answer to jazz players' prayers

The Club Date kit recalls Ludwig's student kit of the '60s

Ludwig Club Date Special Edition Kit review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £925
  • $1215

Ludwig bridges the retro gap

Circa early-'70s

Vintage drum gear: Zickos Transparent Drum Kit

By Geoff Nicholls published

We take a look at - and through - this classic '70s setup

Circa 1930s

Vintage Drum Gear: Slingerland Sea Green Pearl kit and '30s snares

By Geoff Nicholls published

A kit and two snares from the 1930s

Circa 1960

Vintage kits Trixon

By Geoff Nicholls published

A pair of Trixon 60'

Currently the website lists 16 series and Amedia is able to make 1,300 different cymbals

Amedia Crash, Ride and Hi-hat Cymbals review

By Geoff Nicholls published

Truly individual styles and sounds from Istanbul

Zildjian's two new K Custom rides (top) are medium-thin with a special proprietary satin giving them a muted old-gold look; the 19" Trash-Smash (bottom) has eight hammered and slightly raised 'spokes' radiating across its body.

Zildjian K Custom new additions review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • €400

Zildjian introduces a pair of classy rides and a sparkling Trash-Smash to its K Custom contemporary jazz line

Circa 1920

Vintage drum gear: George B Stone Deluxe Combination Stage Outfit

By Geoff Nicholls published

A historical drumset dating from the early 1920s

The AAX Aero Crash cymbal (bottom right) has 19 rows of four small holes radiating from the centre to the edge.

Sabian Players' Choice Cymbals review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • $338

Four brand new and wildly different Sabian one-offs, the winners of Sabian's online player selection scheme

The EcHo-Flint snare features an ingenious free-floating, 'suspended shell' system.

EcHo-Flint snare drums review

By Geoff Nicholls published

  • £450
Circa 1951

Vintage drum gear: Leedy & Ludwig and Ludwig & Ludwig

By Geoff Nicholls published

Two classic kits bearing the Ludwig name

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