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
  • 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
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

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

News
By Alex Turner; Rhythm published 2 July 2012

The latest kit tested by Rhythm magazine

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

The past month's drum gear at a glance

The past month's drum gear at a glance

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 and more from Rhythm Magazine's gruelling testing process - first reviewed in Rhythm issue 204 and published on MusicRadar throughout June.

Scroll on for this month's top picks and click through to read each product's full review.

First up: EcHo-Flint snare drums

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Echo Custom Drums Echo-Flint snare drums (£450)

Echo Custom Drums Echo-Flint snare drums (£450)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“These unusual snares will probably appeal to heavier players who want something bulletproof.”

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Echo-Flint snare drums

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Gretsch Catalina Maple Kit (£875)

Gretsch Catalina Maple Kit (£875)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Gretsch delivers the goods once again.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch Catalina Maple Kit

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

BUY: Gretsch Catalina Maple Kit currently available from:
USA: Sweetwater | Full Compass
FR: Michenaud | Star's Music

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons

Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Always forward-looking, these Artisans are a particularly fine testament to the company's continuing success.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

BUY: Meinl Artisan Edition Cajons currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
FR: Thomann | Woodbrass

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Remo Ambassador X14

Remo Ambassador X14

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Quite simply, what's not to like?”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Remo Ambassador X14

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

BUY: Remo Ambassador X14 currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
FR: Thomann | Michenaud | Woodbrass

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Roland TD-30KV (£5779)

Roland TD-30KV (£5779)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Pay out for a high-end acoustic kit and you only get one. With this set-up you get hundreds of kits and the cymbals thrown-in too!”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland TD-30KV

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

BUY: Roland TD-30KV currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Gear4Music
USA: Sweetwater
FR: Michenaud | Star's Music

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Sabian Players' Choice cymbals

Sabian Players' Choice cymbals

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Interesting one-off cymbals, but they won't be for everybody.”

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sabian Players' Choice cymbals

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 204)

BUY: Sabian Players' Choice cymbals currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Alex Turner; Rhythm
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
Line 6 Helix Stadium
Could the Line 6 Helix Stadium Floor be a serious rival to the Quad Cortex?
 
 
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Billy Idol, Steve Stevens and The Warning Rock Band with Alejandra Villarreal, Daniela Villarreal and Paulina Villarreal perform during the GRAMMY celebration of Latin Music on October 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images)
“Digs deep into his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker”: Billy Idol doc to be released next week
 
 
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: The band Gorillaz during their performance at the Pulse of Gaia Festival, at the Universidad Autonoma, on September 20, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. Gorillaz, the iconic virtual band led by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, is in the spotlight this 2025 for the announcement of their new album, "The Mountain," which will be released worldwide on March 20, 2026 through their own label, KONG. The band is celebrating its 25th anniversary with special concerts in London and the tour to present the new album, which in 2026 will tour Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin and culminate at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (Photo By A. Perez Meca/Europa Press via Getty Images)
Damon Albarn suggests that Gorillaz helped to lay the groundwork for the success of KPop Demon Hunters
 
 
Josh Middleton takes a solo on his signature ESP / LTD electric guitar during a Sylosis live show in San Francisco, 2025.
“You can have a great amp but if the speaker sucks it won’t sound good”: Sylosis' Josh Middleton on the most important link in your signal chain
 
 
Close-up of headphones on the table in the broadcasting room at the radio station.
“These chemicals may be migrating from the headphones into our body”: Research suggests headphones contain dangerous toxins
 
 
Gary Clark Jr plays his signature Cobra Burst ES-355 live onstage.
Gary Clark Jr channels the King of the Blues for limited edition Gibson Custom Shop collab
 
 

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...