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
TC Electronic Polytune clip-on tuner on a Martin acoustic guitar headstock
Guitar Tuners Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: Top headstock and soundhole tuners to buy right now
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
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
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
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
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
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
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
More
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

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

News
By Rhythm published 4 January 2016

All of the latest drum gear reviews

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

Sonor Vintage

Sonor Vintage

As we entered the new year, the MusicRadar team was hard at work casting an eye over all of the latest and greatest drum gear.

We had a cracking month of reviews, with everything from Foo Fighters-approved snares to lush vintage kits via a drum made from an old rat catching van. Seriously. Everything in this round-up was reviewed on the site in December 2015, and we start with Sonor's stunning Vintage series.

MusicRadar's Verdict

“With its beech shells, rounded bearing edges, Superprofil hoops and teardrop lugs, Sonor's Vintage Series recalls a fondly- remembered defining period in the German company's 140-year evolution.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonor Vintage

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Sonor Vintage currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Ruach MK Cajons

Ruach MK Cajons

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The MK1 may be vanilla, but it gets the nod from us.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ruach MK Cajons

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Ruach MK Cajons currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Provenance VW Rat Snare

Provenance VW Rat Snare

MusicRadar's Verdict

“The ethos of Provenance is to build unique instruments from historically noteworthy reclaimed materials. This rusty VW 'Rat' may be the boldest experiment yet, but it sounds fantastic.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Provenance VW Rat Snare

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Ludwig Atlas Classic Hardware

Ludwig Atlas Classic Hardware

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Ludwig has updated its 1960s flat-based stands in line with popular retro trends. The Atlas Classic series is practical, stylish and boasts many clever and genuinely useful design details.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ludwig Atlas Classic Hardware

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Ludwig Atlas Classic Hardware currently available from:
UK: Thomann
US: Sweetwater

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
J Leiva Medina Cajon

J Leiva Medina Cajon

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Though lacking in bass tones this cajon still sounds good but lends itself to being miked up with a slight tweaking in the eq department.”

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: J Leiva Medina Cajon

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Pearl Vision Birch VBL

Pearl Vision Birch VBL

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Pearl's Vision Birch Lacquer kit brings professional features such as custom-style finishes and hardware with affordable shell construction.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Vision Birch VBL

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Pearl Vision Birch VBL currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Gretsch Taylor Hawkins Snare

Gretsch Taylor Hawkins Snare

MusicRadar's Verdict

“Chad Smith's signature Pearl snare has built a reputation as a brilliant all-rounder on a budget over the last decade, and now Hawkins' Gretsch is set to do the same.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch Taylor Hawkins Snare

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Gretsch Taylor Hawkins Snare currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
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
 
 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
“For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
 
 
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
Rick Rubin and Anthony Kiedis during Lost in Translation DVD Launch Party - Inside at Koi Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, United States. ***Exclusive*** (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
"Anthony sounds old": Rick Rubin's unusual mix feedback on 2006's Stadium Arcadium
 
 
Disclosure
“One of the greatest electronic music songs of all time”: Disclosure officially release their edit of a ‘90s club classic
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Black Friday has officially kicked off, with the likes of Sweetwater and Guitar Center dropping massive sales
 
 
Artificial intelligence music and sound concept. Represented with digital circuits and advanced algorithms in a high-tech setting, showcasing modern technological advancements and innovation
It’s now nearly impossible to detect whether a track is human or AI-made, new survey reveals
 
 
Alex Skolnick of Testament shows off his signature ESP singlecut as he performs at Belgium's Alcatraz Festival in 2024. On the right, Kiko Loureiro and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth photographed in the corridors backstage at Wembley Arena in 2015.
Alex Skolnick on the time he was on standby for Megadeth – and what to do when you can’t match a player lick for lick
 
 
An Alesis Strata Core electronic drum set on a yellow background
I’ve seen a lot of Black Friday sales, but this one’s next level - Sweetwater just dropped thousands of discounts of up to 80% off guitars, drums, keys, and 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...