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: Rumours, predictions and live updates
  • Mad World
  • The Cure's "happy land"
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (June 2013)

News
By The MusicRadar Team published 3 June 2013

All of May's drum gear reviews in one place

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

MXL Essentials Drum Recording Kit

MXL Essentials Drum Recording Kit

Every month Rhythm - the UK's best-selling drum magazine - publishes the finest independent drum gear reviews.

Here we've brought together all of the latest cymbals, kits, electronic drums, percussion and other drum-related gear to have passed through the magazines' pages in the last month.

All the equipment on show here was originally reviewed in Rhythm magazine issue 216, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This kit makes a great introduction to quality drum microphones."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: MXL Essentials Drum Recording Kit review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 215)

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Premier One Series Snares

Premier One Series Snares

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"After a five-year hiatus Premier is back manufacturing on UK soil. Showcasing British craftsmanship of the highest order, the One snares encompass a virtually unlimited range of exotic woods."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Premier One Series Snares review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 215)

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Truth Custom Drum Kit

Truth Custom Drum Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This is a typical American custom kit, powerful sounding and comprising carefully worked Keller shells with generic hardware. Truth undertakes to build any sizes and finish you can dream up."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Truth Custom Drum Kit review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Bullet & Kitch/Natal Double Kick

Bullet & Kitch/Natal Double Kick

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Having experimented with the various settings during the review, the pedals remain set pretty much as they arrived - they feel amazingly natural underfoot and perform beautifully with little compromise on the dilemma of power versus speed."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Bullet & Kitch/Natal Double Kick review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Gear4Music WHD 14"x6.5" Steel Snare And Gigbag

Gear4Music WHD 14"x6.5" Steel Snare And Gigbag

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This might not be the most subtle of snares, but for less than £100 – including a gigbag! – it's a great little drum and is certainly worth checking out."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gear4Music WHD 14"x6.5" Steel Snare review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

BUY: Gear4Music WHD 14"x6.5" Steel Snare currently available from:
UK: Gear4Music

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Cymbal Doctor Home Pro Cymbal Cleaning Kit

Cymbal Doctor Home Pro Cymbal Cleaning Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Used judiciously, Cymbal Doctor is way more effective than anything else we have encountered."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Cymbal Doctor Home Pro Cymbal Cleaning Kit review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Meinl Marathon Series Timbales

Meinl Marathon Series Timbales

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Unleash your inner Latin with these powerful steel shell timbales."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl Marathon Series Timbales review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

BUY: Meinl Marathon Series Timbales currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
J. Leiva Percussion Zoco Cajon

J. Leiva Percussion Zoco Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Leiva's Zoco is a high-quality, versatile addition to the cajon market, sounding impressive in all musical styles and represents unprecedented value for money."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: J. Leiva Percussion Zoco Cajon review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

BUY: J. Leiva Percussion Zoco Cajon currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Meinl RAPC Series Bongos

Meinl RAPC Series Bongos

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Unleash your inner Latin with these powerful steel shell timbales and innovative plywood shell bongos. Marathon timbales and RAPC bongos are reasonably mid-priced with a good choice of attractive finishes."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl RAPC Series Bongos review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 216)

BUY: Meinl RAPC Series Bongos currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

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
Chris Buck RS02CB Revstar Signature Electric Guitar in Honey Gold
“The truest conduit between the acoustic resonance of the guitar and its electric voice” says Chris Buck of the custom P90-style pickups in his new signature Yamaha Revstar
 
 
Mapex Swift belt-drive bass drum pedal
Mapex targets comfort and speed with the Design Lab Swift belt-drive bass drum pedal
 
 
DWe Roland bundles
DW expands DWe line-up with Roland module and cymbal-equipped bundles
 
 
MXR EVH Modern High Gain: this classy, red high-end stompbox was co-designed with the late Eddie Van Halen in 2015.
MXR's high-gain Eddie Van Halen collab headlines Jim Dunlop's fresh pedal drop – and there's an Iron Maiden Killers Cry Baby too
 
 
Arctic Monkeys in black and white
“We hope the record will make a positive difference”: Arctic Monkeys contribute brand new track to HELP(2) album
 
 
Faith Guitars Nexus Neptune and Venus 2026
“For those seeking acoustic power, projection and an enormous amount of volume": Faith unleashes a slew of updates and new models at NAMM
 
 

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...