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  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (May 2011)

News
By Rhythm magazine, Tom Porter published 3 May 2011

April 2011: kits, cymbals, snares and percussion

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Drum gear of the month: April 2011

Drum gear of the month: April 2011

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 snares, cymbals, percussion and kits - including Pearl’s acoustic/electronic hybrid E-Pro Live set - from Rhythm Magazine's gruelling testing process. First reviewed in Rhythm issue 188 and 189 and published on MusicRadar throughout April.

Scroll on for this month’s top picks and click through to read each product’s full review. First up: the aforementioned Pearl hybrid kit…

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Pearl E-Pro Live drum kit (£2725)

Pearl E-Pro Live drum kit (£2725)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

This is evolution, not revolution. By using an existing module, but offering the opportunity to add your choice of (excellent) sounds from other developers, and by coming up with a real-looking and nice-feeling kit, Pearl may not have provided us with a game-changer, but the e-Pro is a great addition to the market. Those who have baulked at space-age pads until now should take particular note…

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl E-Pro Live drum kit

(Reviewed by Jordan McLachlan - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

BUY: Pearl E-Pro Live drum kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music
US: Sweetwater | Full Compass

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
PDP Mainstage drum kit (£525)

PDP Mainstage drum kit (£525)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

At over £500 the Mainstage kit is at the upper end of the entry-level price band, but still represents good value for money. It would appear to have been designed as much to a drummer's specifications as it has to meet a price, and, as we've come to expect from PDP, the build quality is faultless.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: PDP Mainstage drum kit

(Reviewed by Adam Jones - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

BUY: PDP Mainstage drum kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
DW Performance Series drum kit (£1780)

DW Performance Series drum kit (£1780)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

Taking a premium brand into a lower pricepoint can be tricky – get it wrong and the prestige of the name could be permanently undermined. However, DW seems to have got the Performance Series spot on. The kit is located firmly in pro territory; the standard of the shells and components is unquestionably high and the usual DW details abound. While being distinctive enough to stand alone from other DW products they are clearly DW drums.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: DW Performance Series drum kit

(Reviewed by Jordan McLachlan - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

BUY: DW Performance Series drum kit currently available from:
UK: Thomann | DV247

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Meinl Classics Custom Series cymbals (from £60)

Meinl Classics Custom Series cymbals (from £60)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

A massive step-up from your budget starter cymbals in quality and tone, a 20" ride, 18" crash and 14" hats basic set will knock you back almost £600 (RRP). But that's cheaper than, say, Paiste's Rudes and Alphas or Sabian's APXs. We didn't get the two so-called Powerful rides - they're too toppy and to our ears unpleasant, but maybe that's the idea? Three stars for them, but four stars for everything else.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Meinl Classics Custom Series cymbals

(Reviewed by Geoff Nicholls - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

BUY: Meinl Classics Custom Series cymbals currently available from:
UK: Thomann | Gear4Music | DV247
US: Sweetwater

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Morgan Davies Snare Drums (£529)

Morgan Davies Snare Drums (£529)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

We have here two of the finest drums imaginable. Every care has been taken with the choice of woods, veneers and finishes, the top quality lugs and hardware and the attention to detail is outstanding. The end result is that both drums sound great, particularly the glitter drum, which is as good as any we can remember reviewing.

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Morgan Davies snare drums

(Reviewed by Geoff Nicholls - Rhythm Magazine issue 188)

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Duende Duo and Latino Cajons (£270)

Duende Duo and Latino Cajons (£270)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

With so many mid- to top-range models on the market you do owe it to yourself to try before you commit, as the sound and feel varies greatly. These professional-level Duende models aren't cheap, but considering the sound and build quality, the two-year warranties and included gig bags, they do offer the serious player a great deal.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Duende Duo and Latino Cajons

(Reviewed by Charlie Price - Rhythm Magazine issue 188)

BUY: Duende Duo and Latino Cajons currently available from:
UK: DV247

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Toca Freestyle Mechanical Djembe (from £60)

Toca Freestyle Mechanical Djembe (from £60)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

The drums tune up so easily, but having to take those rubber tubes off the lugs to tune them is frankly a chore, and we can imagine that many will simply leave them off to retain their sanity. The Goatskin versions keep their tuning really well, but if you're playing outside or in humid venues then the Freestyle II might be the one to beat. All the drums represent great value for money, sound good for the outlay and now with this 'mechanical' tune-ability, sturdy construction and head choice, should prove even more popular than Toca's first Freestyle wave.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Toca Freestyle Mechanical Djembe

(Reviewed by Charlie Price - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

BUY: Toca Freestyle Mechanical Djembe currently available from:
UK: Andertons Music | Thomann | DV247

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Tycoon Percussion Acrylic Cajon (£395)

Tycoon Percussion Acrylic Cajon (£395)

MusicRadar’s verdict:

Carrying bags are a must with a weighty cajon such as this, and if you fly a lot with your playing then the excess baggage might well be an issue if you compare it to a wooden cajon. The price could deter some, but Tycoon are definitely turning a lot of heads with their comprehensive and well-crafted catalogue, and with instruments like this they're blending tradition and innovation to great effect.

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tycoon Percussion Acrylic Cajon

(Reviewed by Charlie Price - Rhythm Magazine issue 189)

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Drum gear of the month: March 2011

Drum gear of the month: March 2011

Now read: Drum gear of the month: March 2011

Skip to:

Guru Drumworks Walnut drum kit with Oak snares

Premier Genista Maple and Genista Birch drum kits

Dixon Artisan Custom Traditional Maple Series drum kit

Techtonic Unplugged Rock drum kit

Meinl M-Series cymbals

Matt Nolan cymbals

Robert Daniels Fine snare drum

Remo Tar Frame Drums

Samson 7kit

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Drum gear of the month: Feb 2011

Drum gear of the month: Feb 2011

Now read: Drum gear of the month: Feb 2011

Skip to:

PDP Blackout snare drum

2Box DrumIt Five electronic drum kit

Odery Fluence Fusion Series drum kit

Performance Percussion PP300R Starter Kit

Stagg Vintage Bronze thin crashes

Remo Apex and Advent Djembes

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Drum gear of the month: Jan 2011

Drum gear of the month: Jan 2011

Now read: Drum gear of the month: Jan 2011

Skip to:

Gretsch Renown Maple Drum Kit

Stagg TIM322BK drum kit

Puresound Custom Pro snare wires

Porter And Davies 'BumChum' BC2 silent bass drum monitor

ddrum Hybrid drum kit

Remo Tattoo Skyns

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
Tom Porter

Tom Porter worked on MusicRadar from its mid-2007 launch date to 2011, covering a range of music and music making topics, across features, gear news, reviews, interviews and more. A regular NAMM-goer back in the day, Tom now resides permanently in Los Angeles, where he's doing rather well at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).

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Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set
“Boasts an array of features, many of which punch impressively above its relatively low price-point”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review
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“An excellent entry point into the world of cast-shell drums, and a clear bargain”: DrumCraft Bell Brass Snare review
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Alesis Crimson III
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Sennheiser MD421 Kompakt
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