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
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
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
Yamaha DTX6K5-M
Electronic Drums "Remarkably the DTX Pro is capable of layering up to four individual samples - one more than Roland’s flagship V71 module": Yamaha DTX6K5-M review
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
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 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
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
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
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
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
Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator
Drum Machines “Promises a lot and mostly delivers – although it’s not without a few teething issues”: Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator review
Roland TD313 with Black Friday logo
Electronic Drums Roland only just released its next-level TD313 electronic drum set, but you can already save £200 with this surprise Black Friday deal
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
Roland TR-1000 drum machine
Tech Roland's TR-1000 combines analogue 808 and 909 recreations with the best parts of the TR-8S and more
More
  • Black Friday plugin deals - LIVE
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (June 2015)

News
By Rhythm published 4 June 2015

New kits, snares and triggers

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

Provenance Drums Ark Royal snare

Provenance Drums Ark Royal snare

Once again the Rhythm reviews team has been hard at work testing the latest drum gear, including new kits from Mapex, Sakae and Sonor.

All of the reviews were originally published in Rhythm magazine and featured on the site last month. First up it's the Provenance Drums Ark Royal snare...

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Regardless of its origins, this is a beautifully crafted, fabulous-sounding drum. Adding in the historical resonance of its wood takes it to another level altogether."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Provenance Drums Ark Royal snare review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
AD Drums Padauk snare

AD Drums Padauk snare

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Carl's design prowess and attention to detail never wavers or wanes."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: AD Drums Padauk snare review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Mapex Saturn V

Mapex Saturn V

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This is a fantastic all-rounder kit which is equally happy on stage or in the studio - on a jazz gig or playing rock."

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Mapex Saturn V review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Mapex Saturn V currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Sakae Almighty Maple Kit

Sakae Almighty Maple Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Uncompromising in design, build, looks and sound, Sakae's Almighty Maple is appropriately named. It's an unambiguously pro spec kit and the level of quality it offers justifies the asking price."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sakae Almighty Maple Kit review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
VK Drums Aluminium Snare

VK Drums Aluminium Snare

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Alan van Kleef is clearly a seriously talented man and it's remarkable to think that this drum is the work of just one individual."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: VK Drums Aluminium Snare review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Roland RT-30 Triggers

Roland RT-30 Triggers

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Reliably transforming an acoustic set into a fully fledged hybrid has now become a cost-effective reality - the best of both worlds just got better."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Roland RT-30 Triggers review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Roland RT-30 Triggers currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Sonor Martini Special Edition (SE) Kit

Sonor Martini Special Edition (SE) Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"In a world where space is premium the mini kit is king. With its tiny bass drum, the good looking Martini will appeal to drummers looking for a particularly compact kit."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Sonor Martini Special Edition (SE) Kit review

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

BUY: Sonor Martini Special Edition (SE) Kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Rhythm
Deals not to miss
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
 
 
Roland TD-02K and TD-02KV V-Drums electronic drum sets
Best electronic drum set for kids 2025: child-friendly electronic drum kits
 
 
Yamaha DTX6K5-M
"Remarkably the DTX Pro is capable of layering up to four individual samples - one more than Roland’s flagship V71 module": Yamaha DTX6K5-M review
 
 
Roland V-Drums VAD 5 series
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
 
 
Alesis Nitro Ultimater
Alesis's new 9-piece Nitro Ultimate electronic drum kit is its new flagship, and the hi-hat is the star
 
 
Roland VAD316
“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
 
 
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
TC Electronic Plethora X1 pedal
Just £99 for 14 effects pedals in one? Surely this TC Electronic Plethora X1 compact multi-effects deal makes it the most value-packed stompbox this Black Friday
 
 
Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 and Cre8audio Boom Chick
Buy bleeps, get beats free: These synth and drum machine combos are the most tempting Black Friday deals I’ve seen
 
 
Apple iPad Air M3
I’ve scoured the Earth for the best Black Friday iPad deal, and this is the one I think musicians should go for
 
 
Squier Sonic Strat deal
This amazing-value Walmart Squier Sonic Strat deal proves beginner guitarists have never had it so good - get 25% off for Black Friday
 
 
Roland TD313 with Black Friday logo
Roland only just released its next-level TD313 electronic drum set, but you can already save £200 with this surprise Black Friday deal
 
 
Moog Messenger and Walrus Audio Qi Etherealizer deals at Sweetwater
Get $200 off the Moog Messenger at Sweetwater this Black Friday
 
 

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...