Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
DrumCraft Urban Beats
Drum Kits “A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats review
Man jams with a guitar player and bass player on an electronic drum kit
Drum Gear 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
Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook
Drums “An extremely well-thought-out and all-encompassing piece of drum education”: Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook review
Yamaha Stage Custom drum set in a studio with spotlights behind
Drum Kits Best drum sets 2025: Top drum kits for beginner to pro drummers
Millenium Drums book
Drums Millenium launches new book for drummers of all ages and abilities
Alesis Strata Prime electronic drum set in a blue room
Electronic Drums Best Alesis electronic drum sets 2025: My pick of Alesis electronic drums for beginners to pros
A collection of single and double Tama Iron Cobra pedals on a silver corrugated metal sheet
Drum Pedals Best bass drum pedals 2025: single and double bass pedals for every budget
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (December 2012)

News
By Rhythm Team, The MusicRadar published 3 December 2012

November's new products at a glance

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

Gear4Music BDK-1

Gear4Music BDK-1

Every month, MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm and Future Music - publish the best independent and in-depth music-making gear reviews.

This is a collection of kits, percussion, accessories first reviewed in Rhythm magazine issue 209 or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Though you might also want to invest in a course of drum lessons and perhaps some sound-dampening (to retain parental sanity and maintain a good relationship with the neighbours), this kit represents great value for money and gives you everything that's required to get up and drumming."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gear4Music BDK-1

BUY: Gear4Music BDK-1 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Pearl Throne Thumper

Pearl Throne Thumper

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Whether gigging or practising, this monitoring aid not only boosts your bottom-end but your confidence too - taking it away again is simply unnerving!"

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Throne Thumper

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

BUY: Pearl Throne Thumper currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | DV247 | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Murat Diril Cymbals

Murat Diril Cymbals

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"With their remarkable heritage and Murat Diril's special experience, these cymbals offer another hugely attractive alternative in what is becoming a crowded market of genuine hand-made cymbals from Turkey."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Murat Diril Cymbals

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Gear4Music GD-5

Gear4Music GD-5

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This is yet another Gear4Music starter kit which offers good value for money and will, no doubt, give many hours of playing pleasure to any budding drummer who plays it."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gear4Music GD-5

BUY Gear4Music GD-5 currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Roland HD-3 V-Drums Lite

Roland HD-3 V-Drums Lite

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"You can't tweak the presets on the HD-3 but the choice of sounds now gives the kit a wider scope and, along with several other improvements, creates an enjoyable playing experience."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland HD-3 V-Drums Lite

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Gear4Music DD501 electronic drum kit

Gear4Music DD501 electronic drum kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"You soon forget that you are playing a smaller sized rack, quickly acclimatising without having to alter your technique. This is a great little kit which will give any beginner a good foothold into the world of drumming."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gear4Music DD501 electronic drum kit

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
DW Airlift Stands

DW Airlift Stands

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Like all the best ideas, Airlift stands are ingeniously simple yet brilliantly effective."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DW Airlift Stands

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

BUY: DW Airlift Stands currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Lion 3-in-1 Cajon

Lion 3-in-1 Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Lion 3-in-1 Cajon will set you apart from players of the mass-produced models, and considering the customisation and such reasonable outlay, you'd be wise to try them."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Lion 3-in-1 Cajon

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Gear4Music DD502(J) electronic drum kit

Gear4Music DD502(J) electronic drum kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Even though technology has moved on significantly since the DD502(J) was first introduced, this electronic kit still represents good value for money."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gear4Music DD502(J) electronic drum kit

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
PDP Concept Series Kits Birch CB5

PDP Concept Series Kits Birch CB5

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"With this kit, the gap between DW (the premium brand) and PDP (the budget brand) has been dramatically reduced."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PDP Concept Series Kits Birch CB5

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Lion Pro-Active Bass Cajon

Lion Pro-Active Bass Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A highly musical, hand-made cajon drum that offers very good value for money."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Lion Pro-Active Bass Cajon

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
PDP Concept Series Kits Maple CM5

PDP Concept Series Kits Maple CM5

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The standard of build, components, finish and performance of the Concept Series is exceptional, all the more so considering the pricepoint."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PDP Concept Series Kits Maple CM5

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 209)

BUY: PDP Concept Series Kits Maple CM5 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
The MusicRadar
Read more
DrumCraft Urban Beats
“A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats 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
Yamaha Stage Custom drum set in a studio with spotlights behind
Best drum sets 2025: Top drum kits for beginner to pro drummers
Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook
“An extremely well-thought-out and all-encompassing piece of drum education”: Millenium Drums Legendary Drumbook review
Millenium Drums book
Millenium launches new book for drummers of all ages and abilities
Alesis Strata Prime electronic drum set in a blue room
Best Alesis electronic drum sets 2025: My pick of Alesis electronic drums for beginners to pros
Latest in Drum Gear
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
Roland DrumLink
Roland's V-Drums go wireless for new simple and seamless WT-10 sensor and DH-10 hub DrumLink system
Latest in News
Exodus Gary Holt
"It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
blur and oasis
“I am happy to accept and concede defeat”: Damon Albarn just admitted that Oasis won
Jeff Lynne ELO
"Jeff is devastated": ELO's last ever mega-gig plunged into jeopardy after last-minute cancellation of last night's Manchester show
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Amerie
How Amerie created a ‘00s R&B/funk classic with producer Rich Harrison

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

  • 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...