Geoff Nichols

Articles by: Geoff Nichols

Black Swamp Percussion Dynamicx Live! Series snare drum

Black Swamp Percussion Dynamicx Live! Series snare drum review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £799

Solid-shell snare handmade in the US

Spaun Mahogany Series drum kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £2,648

US bespoke drum company Spaun branches out at a surprising new angle

These Byzance Extra Dry hi-hats (right) measure 16" in diameter and offer darker tones that your usual 14" sets

Meinl Byzance Extra Dry 16" hi-hats review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £562
  • €349
  • $900

Sizeable cymbal offering darker tones

These 14" hi-hats (top left and centre) combine a heavy Brilliant cymbal with a slightly thinner unlathed Extra Dry one

Meinl Byzance Serpent Series hi-hats review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £393
  • €409
  • $690

Derek Roddy signature cymbals

TekTuner is a lathed aluminium/steel tuning tool, calibrated to measure the exact torque applied to your tension rods

TekTuner review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £156

Drum tuner promising perfect torque

Odery's kits certainly stand out from the crowd with a vibe of old-world, traditional craftsmanship about them

Odery Custom Kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £3499

Top-of-the-line, hand-crafted drums

The Vintage-style tom shells are three-ply with reinforcing rings

Sakae Drums Trilogy Drum Kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £1999
  • $3990

Yamaha's ex-top-end drum-makers fly solo

We were sent the smallest 31⁄2" (8.8cm) and the largest 61⁄2" (16.5cm) in a set of four cowbells (top right)

Natal NSTC Cowbells review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £17

More cowbell for less money

The Aces High snare (right) has a complex finish in hand-cut natural cherry and green dyed sycamore, soaked to absorb the colour throughout

Premier Aces High snare review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £699

Nicko McBrain's anniversary present

The whole cajon is well finished and satin smooth, except for the seat which has a roughened surface for grip

Natal Large Cajon review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £109
  • €155

Affordable noise-box percussion

The Nicko Sicko (left) has an outer sycamore veneer finished with a hand-applied natural satin oil. It's tasteful, but genuinely beautiful

Premier Nicko Sicko snare review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £499

New Nicko McBrain signature model

Our congas (left) were finished in pure white, though there's also a Special Edition 'Hand Splattered' paint finish

Natal Classic Series Congas review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £408

The return of Natal's fibreglass conga

The cajons' super-sturdy build means you feel confident sitting on them

Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • €460
  • $669

Hand-crafted flamenco percussion

This unique hybrid shell (left) is made from three rings of maple/walnut enclosing two rings of half-inch thick clear acrylic

Truth Custom Drums Maple/Walnut/Acrylic Snare review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £1259

A stare-inducing snare

With its dramatically finished brass-to-red fade shell (right), this 14"x8" brass drum is a true individual

Truth Custom Drums Brass Snare review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £728

A strikingly individual snare

The Superior Shell Technology (SST) shells are a six-ply blend of Asian mahogany with poplar, scarf jointed and 7.5mm thick

Pearl Export Series Kit review

By Geoff Nichols last updated

  • £785
  • €823
  • $999

The innovative affordable drum kit returns

These Precision cymbals are cast from Paiste's proprietary Signature phosphor bronze

Paiste Precision Series Cymbals review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £149
  • €171
  • $222

Signature cymbal quality, affordable prices

Bongos (front) are of 'Radial Ply Construction' using plywood shells of poplar

Meinl RAPC Series Bongos review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £221
  • $298

Poplar-ply percussion

Circa 1950s

Vintage drum gear: Reno Pressure Ring Drum Kit

By Geoff Nichols published

One screw tuning or one screw loose?

These timbales (rear) are made from 1mm gauge steel with two circumferential flanged beads

Meinl Marathon Series Timbales review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £453
  • $620

Percussion that will take a beating

The kit includes a rugged electric polishing tool and pads

Cymbal Doctor Home Pro Cymbal Cleaning Kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £199
  • $199

Bring back the shine

A thinly applied stain shows the shell's grain and is expertly finished

Truth Custom Drum Kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £2099

A wallet-wounding custom kit

The finish on these shells employs the same oils used on Rolls Royce dashboards. Classy...

Premier One Series Snares review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £550

UK built, hand-made, one-offs

The finish is sensational and the bottle green gloss lacquer looks and feels glorious

Tama Star Bubinga kit review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £6514

A dark, punchy pro-level drum kit

The Acrolite Classic and Limited Edition are the same drum, but the latter has a 'brushed aluminium'-style hardware finish

Ludwig Acrolite Classic Snare Drum review

By Geoff Nichols published

  • £519
  • $577

Limited edition brushed aluminium snare

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