Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Styles' sonic secret
  • I'm Still Standing
  • Stevie Wonder’s '70s synth guru
  • 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.

Read more
Roland SPD-SX Pro
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum pads 2026: for sampling, looping and live hybrid setups
 
 
A Roland e-kit on a rider with a Roland PM-200 monitor sat on the floor
Electronic Drums Best electronic drum amps 2026: Expert-tested drum monitors for every budget
 
 
Millenium Drums MPS-350X
Electronic Drums “It’s hard to argue with the amount of features on offer here for such an affordable price”: Millenium Drums MPS-350 E-Drum Set review
 
 
Millenium Drums MPS-1500
Electronic Drums The new Millenium Drums MPS-1500 e-kit could be the hybrid drum set you've been looking for
 
 
Roland TD-07DMK2
Electronic Drums “Ticks all the right boxes for budding drummers”: Roland TD-07DMK2 review
 
 
Roland TD-07KV2 kit on a rug next to a Marshall amp
Electronic Drums “This new rack trims the often labour-intensive task of setting up an e-kit by a fair margin”: Roland TD-07KV2 review
 
 
Latest in Drum Gear
Millenium Drums MPS-1500
Electronic Drums The new Millenium Drums MPS-1500 e-kit could be the hybrid drum set you've been looking for
 
 
Yamaha EAD50 on a blue wooden floor surrounded by drumsticks
Drum Gear “An immensely powerful tool for recording, live use, rehearsing and practising, teaching, live streaming and more”: Yamaha EAD50 review
 
 
DW Drums 9000X detail
Drum Gear “More drummer-friendly than ever”: Drum Workshop launch updated version of their 9000 series of stands and hardware
 
 
Zultan Raw mini hi-hats
Cymbals “Chunky, organic, trashy and very characterful”: Zultan Raw 8” Mini Hi-Hat review
 
 
Zultan Alaris cymbal set
Cymbals “Well balanced and sit wonderfully with each other in terms of pitch”: Zultan Alaris Cymbals review
 
 
Zultan 25 series
Cymbals “A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals review
 
 
Latest in News
Polyend Tracker update
Samplers Polyend’s Tracker, Tracker Mini and Tracker+ are the latest hardware devices to go open source
 
 
Mick Jagger and Sam Fender
Artists Mick Jagger gives Sam Fender the seal of approval as he covers a Rolling Stones classic for John Lewis
 
 
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple performs at Unipol Forum of Assago on October 17, 2026
Gigs & Festivals “It’s in the best interest all round”: Deep Purple pull their European tour due to “medical problem”
 
 
Fontaines DC
Artists James Ford tells us about the intensity of working with Fontaines D.C.
 
 
Brian May performs on stage during The Sunflower Jam at Royal Albert Hall on September 16, 2012 in London
Guitarists “If I can’t hear it in my head, I can’t play it”: Brian May on his thoughtful, noodle-free guitar style
 
 
Singer Stevie Nicks poses for a portrait in circa 1974.
Singles And Albums “I’m like, OK, I’m going to write a fantastic song”: Stevie Nicks talks about what inspired her to write Landslide
 
 

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 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...