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
  • Cyber Monday
  • 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
roland
Tech "It's the most influential drum machine ever created – and has likely featured on more records than any other": A history of Roland drum machines, from the TR-77 to the TR-1000
Roland TD716 Black Friday
Electronic Drums Roland's TD716 electronic drum set is designed to be a VST killer. Now it's had a massive $1,800 wiped off the price at Sweetwater for Cyber Weekend – you’ll get a drum rug and throne worth nearly $500 for free, too!
Pair of Audio-Technica in-ear monitors sat on a case
Studio Monitors Best in-ear monitors 2025: IEMs for stage and studio
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
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
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
Elektron Syntakt Cyber Weekend deals
Drum Machines I love the Elektron Syntakt, mostly because it’s like a Rytm, but cheaper, and it’s got one of the biggest savings I’ve seen this Cyber Monday
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
Fender and Jackson's Iron Maiden 50th Anniversary Collection: FMIC has unveiled a signature guitar and bass collection to celebrate 50 years of the British metal institution.
Artists Fender and Jackson celebrate 50 years of Iron Maiden with limited run signature collection
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
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
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)
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
TempoPad C16
Midi Controllers Meet Synido’s TempoPad C16, the minty fresh MIDI pad controller that’s functional, flexible and a whole lot of fun
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
  • Cyber Monday 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
Read more
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
EVH Gear Hypersonic 5150III 6L6: The new all-digital modelling combo offers the same stylings and super-hot tone as its all-tube predecessor but is 16kg lighter
EVH Gear turns “holy grail” Eddie Van Halen amp Hypersonic with super-lightweight 5150III 6L6 digital modelling combo
 
 
Adrian Belew with the Fender Stratocaster that he and Seymour Duncan relic'd in the back garden
Adrian Belew on how he and Seymour Duncan made one of the first relic’d guitars
 
 
The Electro-Harmonix ABRAMS100 is a compact, guitar amp head with 100-watts, 3-band EQ, effects loop and bright switch, and it has a yellow control panel and black dials.
Electro-Harmonix presents 100-watts of solid-state power in a compact guitar amp head weighing just 2.5lbs
 
 
Josh Freese
“People said, ‘Hey, I saw you’re on that Avril Lavigne record.’ I went, ‘Nah!'”: The drummer who’s played on 400 albums
 
 
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performs during a concert at Federation Square on April 11, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia
Flea teases his first solo album with a seven minute jazz rave single
 
 
Fender and Jackson's Iron Maiden 50th Anniversary Collection: FMIC has unveiled a signature guitar and bass collection to celebrate 50 years of the British metal institution.
Fender and Jackson celebrate 50 years of Iron Maiden with limited run signature collection
 
 

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...