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
A collection of Boss Katana amps in our testing studio
Guitars With these massive Black Friday savings on Boss Katana amps and compact pedals, it's time to rethink your home practice rig
Man presses acoustic bridge pin into an acoustic guitar
Guitar Strings Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: Find your favourite acoustic strings
Yamaha CSP-255 review
Keyboards & Pianos Best digital pianos for beginners 2025: 8 beginner-friendly pianos handpicked by a professional piano and music gear reviewer
A Boss RC-10R looper pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best looper pedals 2025: My favourite loop stations for every budget
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Acoustic Guitars Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
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
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
Pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors sat on a case
Studio Monitors Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
Two guitars and a pedal on a blue and white background
Guitars Thomann just carved some serious cash off Harley Benton guitars, pedals and accessories for Black Friday - here's 4 of my favourite deals for you
Man in green jumper received a gift from a man in a red jumper
Guitars Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)
A Fractal Audio VP4 Virtual Pedalboard multi-effects pedal on a concrete floor
Guitar Pedals Best multi-effects pedals 2025: Our pick of the best all-in-one guitar FX modellers
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
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
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
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals
  • Pete Townshend on smashing - and fixing - his guitars
  • AI slop hits #1
  • The pain that birthed Don't Speak
  • Europe vs AI
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

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

News
By Rhythm, Alex Turner published 6 June 2012

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

Drum gear of the month: June 2012

Drum gear of the month: June 2012

Every month MusicRadar's industry-leading sister magazines - Guitarist, Computer Music, Total Guitar, Rhythm, Future Music and Guitar Techniques - 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 203 and published on MusicRadar throughout May.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: a great new set of cymbals from Zildjian...

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Zildjian K Constantinople Cymbals (TBC)

Zildjian K Constantinople Cymbals (TBC)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“If you've got the cash, the K Constantinoples are well worth the investment.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Zildjian K Constantinople Cymbals

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

BUY: Zildjian K Constantinople Cymbals currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Spaun Custom LED kit (£2499)

Spaun Custom LED kit (£2499)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The ultimate visual stunner from a top-notch custom drum builder.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Spaun Custom LED kit

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Tama SLP Metal Snare Drums (TBC)

Tama SLP Metal Snare Drums (TBC)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“It would be impossible to choose one drum over another in the review set - the choice will come down to style.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tama SLP Metal Snare Drums

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

BUY: Tama SLP Metal Snare Drums currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music | DV247

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Toontrack Americana EZX (£54.95)

Toontrack Americana EZX (£54.95)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Take your time and you'll love its simplicity.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Toontrack Americana EZX

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

BUY: Toontrack Americana EZX currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Alesis Samplepad (£99)

Alesis Samplepad (£99)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The potential is immense while the price isn't.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Alesis Samplepad

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

BUY: Alesis Samplepad currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Yamaha DTX540K (£1599)

Yamaha DTX540K (£1599)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The 540K continues to uphold Yamaha's increasing reputation as a serious electronic drum brand.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Yamaha DTX540K

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 203)

BUY: Yamaha DTX540K currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Alex Turner
Deals not to miss
A collection of Boss Katana amps in our testing studio
With these massive Black Friday savings on Boss Katana amps and compact pedals, it's time to rethink your home practice rig
 
 
Close up of a Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: Top picks for strummers on a budget
 
 
Close up of Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster
Best electric guitars under $500/£500 in 2025: Affordable electrics
 
 
Kids hands on a beginner keyboard
Best keyboards for beginners 2025: Get started with our expert pick of beginner keyboards for all ages
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
Pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors sat on a case
Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
 
 
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
A collection of Boss Katana amps in our testing studio
With these massive Black Friday savings on Boss Katana amps and compact pedals, it's time to rethink your home practice rig
 
 
Childish Gambino performs during Camp Flog Gnaw music festival at Dodgers Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
"I had a really bad pain in my head and did the show anyway,” Childish Gambino reveals he had a stroke in 2024
 
 
Queen perform in concert with Freddie Mercury wearing black leotard at the Forum on December 22, 1977 in Inglewood, California
“I’m very taken with the idea that we can be the original Queen again” Brian May says he's looking at a possible hologram show
 
 
A Universal Audio Apollo Twin X audio interface on a blue background
I’ve tested 12 audio interfaces this year and 5 of my favorites are already on sale for Black Friday with some hefty discounts – find out which is best for your workflow
 
 
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Billie Eilish performs onstage during "Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour" at Kaseya Center on October 09, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Billie Eilish wraps her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour… then immediately confirms the release date for her 3D film
 
 
Jimmy Cliff at Island Records' Studio One in London
“His music lifted people through hard times, inspired generations”: Jamaica, and the world mourns Jimmy Cliff
 
 

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...