Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Keyboards & Pianos Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
Sennheiser in ear monitors on a lit up dj controller
Studio Monitors Best budget in-ear monitors 2025: My pick of cheap in-ears for every type of musician
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Drum Kits Where to start with a drum kit
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Drums Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Electronic Drums Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Drums Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
Roland VAD316
Electronic Drums “Roland has always been extremely good at marrying the playability of its samples with the physical feel of its hardware - this kit is no exception”: Roland VAD316 review
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
Drums “For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
Drums Roland's big V-Drum 3 and 5 series drop adds 6 kits to its e-drum range, including V71-lite modules and on-trend acoustic-look options
TAMA STAR Drums
Drums TAMA STAR at Drums Week 2025: Unmatched craftsmanship, iconic sound — the strongest name in drums just got even stronger
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Roland TD-02K and TD-02KV V-Drums electronic drum sets
Drum Kits Best electronic drum set for kids 2025: child-friendly electronic drum kits
More
  • Charlie XCX + John Cale
  • Lily Allen's songwriting camp
  • Fleetwood Mac for Glasto?
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Simon Phillips
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (August 2016)

News
By Rhythm published 9 August 2016

All of the latest drum reviews

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Gretsch Bell Brass Snare Drum

Gretsch Bell Brass Snare Drum

The summer has brought some stunning gear to the MusicRadar office. Our drummers have been particularly spoilt as top-name kits, snares and more have come in.

Here, we look back on all of the drum reviews that appeared on the site in July. We start with a chunk of seriously heavy metal in the form of the Gretsch Bell Brass snare.

MusicRadar's verdict

"A very loud drum that is surprisingly versatile but certainly suited for heavy styles due to its ability to slice through the mix. Heavy in more ways than one."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch Bell Brass snare drum

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Stagg CAJ-60M Mac Cajon

Stagg CAJ-60M Mac Cajon

MusicRadar's verdict

" As ever with Stagg you get a well-made honest product at a price which does not feel like you're being taken for a ride.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Stagg CAJ-60M Mac Cajon

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Yamaha Manu Katche Junior Kit

Yamaha Manu Katche Junior Kit

MusicRadar's verdict

"Yamaha's dedication to building great kits across the board has come through once again. Forget the kids and think of this as a hugely viable second kit for portability, easy set-up and great sounds."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Yamaha Manu Katche Junior Kit

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Yamaha Manu Katche Junior Kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
UFIP Bionic Cymbals

UFIP Bionic Cymbals

MusicRadar's verdict

"This is a fantastic set of cymbals which will be equally at home in a rock or metal environment and many other genres too."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: UFIP Bionic cymbals

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Pearl Session Studio Classic

Pearl Session Studio Classic

MusicRadar's verdict

"Pearl offers a decent amount of bang for your buck with the SSC. With a highly versatile tuning range and a crisp attack, this kit promises to be a strong contender in the mid-range market."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Session Studio Classic

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Pearl Session Studio Classic currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Rhythm
Read more
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
Man playing Roland TD716 electronic drum set in a studio
Best electronic drum sets 2025: Top picks for every playing level and budget, tested by drummers – plus video and audio demos
 
 
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
 
 
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
“Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
 
 
Latest in Drum Gear
Zultan 25 series
“A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals review
 
 
Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook
“An extremely well-thought-out and all-encompassing piece of drum education”: Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook review
 
 
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
 
 
Sleep Token drummer II Drumeo
“I’ve taken inspiration from the UK dance music scene": Mixwave put Sleep Token’s drummer in a plugin
 
 
DW SonicPly
Neil Peart called him 'the Wood Whisperer' and now he's blended metal and timber in DW's new SonicPly shells
 
 
Zultan Cymbals
"Crafted from Heritage. Tuned for Tomorrow": Zultan Cymbals celebrate their 25th birthday with a new high-end 25 series
 
 
Latest in News
Universal Audio UAFX pedals: the company has updated its amp modelling pedal lineup, adding MIDI connectivity, improved presets and app integration.
Universal Audio gives its UAFX amp modelling and effects pedals an almighty power up, adding MIDI connectivity, improving presets and app integration
 
 
app
KV331 Audio is giving away one of the best iPad synths we've ever tested for free
 
 
Johnny Marr demoes his new signature Jaguar Special with its trio of custom-wound lipstick pickups.
Fender and Johnny Marr reimagine the Jaguar with signature stunner featuring three custom-wound lipstick single-coils
 
 
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 19 -- Pictured: Young FIne Cannibals during the musical performance on May 13, 1989 (Photo by Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Fine Young Cannibals confirm that She Drives Me Crazy was recorded at Paisley Park using Prince’s gear
 
 
Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini: featuring a brightly-coloured rosette graphic designed with the musical polymath, this beginner friendly acoustic has a bold five-string design for his signature DAEAD tuning.
Taylor teams up with Jacob Collier for signature acoustics that declare standard tuning DAEAD – and they’re accessibly priced
 
 
A Warm Audio tube condenser microphone
The early Black Friday guitar deals don't get much better than this sale at Thomann - save up to 69% on two top-rated guitars, a Warm Audio condenser mic, a Behringer synthesizer, and loads more
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...