Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • Purdie on the Purdie shuffle
  • Type beats
  • 86000+ free music samples
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • Three-chord trick

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

  1. News

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

By The MusicRadar team
published 2 October 2013

All of September's drum reviews

Ahead Bell Brass Snare
Snare drum ringing in the changes

Ahead Bell Brass Snare

Every month, MusicRadar's sister magazine Rhythm - the UK's best-selling drum magazine - publishes the best independent drum reviews.

Here we're pulled together all of the cymbals, drum kits, electronic drums, percussion and any other miscellaneous drum gear reviewed in September.

All the equipment on show here was originally reviewed in Rhythm magazine issue 22o, or by MusicRadar's own reviews team.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"Whatever sound you wish for, this snare can be heard... clear as a bell."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ahead Bell Brass Snare review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
Tycoon Chiselled Orange Cajon
Flash looks, reasonable price (pic, bottom right)

Tycoon Chiselled Orange Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"This cost-effective Chiselled Orange cajon has a thumbs-up for its price and reasonable sound."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tycoon Chiselled Orange Cajon review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Amedia Ahmet Legend Cymbals
Hand-made Turkish cymbals

Amedia Ahmet Legend Cymbals

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"These cymbals are superb examples of cymbalsmithery of the highest order and represent the tip of the Amedia iceberg."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Amedia Ahmet Legend Cymbals review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Tycoon Cherry Red Acrylic Cajon
Quality hybrid percussion gear (pictured top)

Tycoon Cherry Red Acrylic Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"While this Cherry Red Acrylic cajon is striking - an 'object of desire' - it is on the expensive side."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tycoon Cherry Red Acrylic Cajon review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Echo Custom Drums Apollo 2 Kit
Hand built aluminium custom drums

Echo Custom Drums Apollo 2 Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The partnership of the excellent Evans 360 heads and the aluminium shells seems inseparable - what a great-sounding, versatile kit, suitable for almost any genre."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Echo Custom Drums Apollo 2 Kit review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Tycoon Roundback Cajon
Fun, flexible Thai-built cajon (pictured bottom left)

Tycoon Roundback Cajon

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The Roundback could literally beat other cajons hands down with its full tone and versatility."

3 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Tycoon Roundback Cajon review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Liberty Drums Birch Snare Drum
Birch beauty from the flourishing UK drum firm

Liberty Drums Birch Snare Drum

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"A versatile drum made by a fast-growing UK builder, yet more proof of the drum building talent on these shores."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Liberty Drums Birch Snare Drum review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Ludwig Questlove Breakbeats Kit
Questlove's impressive micro kit

Ludwig Questlove Breakbeats Kit

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"An affordable kit that lives up to its design, this kit will suit any style of 'groove' player and is even a great quality set for kids. Breakbeats offers a cohesive package of portability, sound and all-round style!"

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ludwig Questlove Breakbeats Kit review

(Reviewed in Rhythm issue 220)

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
The MusicRadar team
The MusicRadar team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number 1 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 musicians and stars about their creative processes, and 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.
More about drums
Black Friday headphone deals

Black Friday studio headphone deals 2023: Everything you need to know ahead of this year's Cyber Weekend sales

Cindy Blackman Santana

Cindy Blackman Santana tackles the iconic In The Air Tonight drum fill as she joins Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg on a new version of the song for ESPN’s Monday Night Football

Latest
central cee

SampleRadar: 435 free UK urban samples

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Elon Musk allegedly turned up at the studio with a gun while Grimes was recording dialogue for Cyberpunk 2077: "The studio guys were sweating"

By Matt Mullen22 September 2023

Electro Harmonix unveils the 9 mini Pico effects pedals for its NYC DSP Series – with reworked old favourites and new designs

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

DAW not doing it for you? Cantor is a free “music playground” for looping, sampling and sound design

By Ben Rogerson21 September 2023

Watch bluegrass guitarist Ian Ly become the 2023 US National Flat-picking Champion

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

Audiomovers launches Off The Record interview series with first episode featuring Dire Straits producer Chuck Ainlay

By Matt Mullen21 September 2023

“I thought, ‘have I done something heinous?’”: James Blake reminds Brian Eno that he once accused him of using ‘the arsehole chord’ and demands to know what it actually is

By Ben Rogerson21 September 2023

The Vai, Bonamassa, Di Meola and Abasi-backed guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso dazzles again on new song Silk Road

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

DAACI is the AI-powered 'meta-composition' software that writes music like a human: "It's interpreting what comes from a composer’s brain, rather than trying to imitate something that’s already been made"

By Andy Price21 September 2023

Boss returns to desktop practice amps with the Katana Air Ex – but is the price right?

By Rob Laing21 September 2023

9 time-saving plugins that will speed up your workflow in the studio

By Jon Musgrave21 September 2023

“When it came in as a demo, I assumed the rest of the song was going to be built out”: Kylie Minogue didn't realise Padam Padam was finished when she first heard it

By Ben Rogerson21 September 2023

  1. Marty Friedman
    1
    Marty Friedman’s guitar teacher told him to take a bong hit every time he played an exercise correctly, but the ex-Megadeth guitarist has better advice for students
  2. 2
    "It's become so elitist" – Joe Bonamassa weighs in on players being priced out of the vintage guitar and amp market
  3. 3
    “Sometimes Jimi Hendrix’s girlfriend would go and buy us breakfast because we had no money”: Rod Stewart says early days of the Jeff Beck Group were no picnic
  4. 4
    16 famous musicians who almost joined very famous bands
  5. 5
    Cindy Blackman Santana tackles the iconic In The Air Tonight drum fill as she joins Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg on a new version of the song for ESPN’s Monday Night Football
  1. Cindy Blackman Santana
    1
    Cindy Blackman Santana tackles the iconic In The Air Tonight drum fill as she joins Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg on a new version of the song for ESPN’s Monday Night Football
  2. 2
    “He doesn’t do Zoom”: Mick Jagger reflects on how his songwriting partnership with Keith Richards has changed and discusses Paul McCartney’s bass playing on new Rolling Stones album Hackney Diamonds
  3. 3
    UK synth company Modal Electronics declared insolvent and goes into administration
  4. 4
    Hania Rani on bringing synths and drum machines into contemporary classical: “I spent 20 years playing one instrument, but I’m still interested in investigating others”
  5. 5
    The Vai, Bonamassa, Di Meola and Abasi-backed guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso dazzles again on new song Silk Road

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.