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
  • 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
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
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
A Boss RC-10R looper pedal on a wooden floor
Guitar Pedals Best looper pedals 2025: My favourite loop stations for every budget
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
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
Man in orange shirt playing drums with a guitar player
Drum Gear Best drum thrones 2025: my pick of budget-spanning stools for comfort behind the kit
Drum Kits Where to start with a drum kit
Tama pedals
Drums TAMA Kick Pedals at Drums Week 2025: Precision, Power, Performance — engineered for drummers who demand the fastest, smoothest response
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
Deals of the week
Gear & Gadgets MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
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
Zultan Raw Clap Clap
Cymbals “Offers a very useful solution for clap emulation without needing to use electronics”: Zultan Raw SlapClap review
Zildjan Alchem-e Kit
Drums Zildjian Alchem-e Kits at Drums Week 2025: The feel of real drums meets limitless electronic expression – redefine your sound
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
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
More
  • Radiohead's secret code
  • Blackbird
  • Spooky samples - free
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Captain Fantastic
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

New drum gear of the month: review round-up (April 2017)

News
By MusicRadar published 11 April 2017

Cajon pedals, kits and more!

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

DW Cajon Pedal

DW Cajon Pedal

From intriguing cajon pedals to lush Gretsch kits, we have once again welcomed the great and the good of the drum world into MusicRadar HQ this month.

Here, we present to you a digested look at all the drum gear that was reviewed on MusicRadar in March, starting with the Drum Workshop Cajon Pedal.

MusicRadar’s verdict:

"The concept of the cajon pedal is of course nothing new, but Drum Workshop brings its rich pedigree of pedal engineering to the table here to offer a sleek and highly customisable creation."

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Drum Workshop Cajon Pedal 

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Gretsch Renown Maple 2016

Gretsch Renown Maple 2016

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The 2016 Gretsch Renown hits its target market bang-on. An absolute triumph.”

5 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch Renown Maple 2016

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Istanbul Agop Xist Power Pack

Istanbul Agop Xist Power Pack

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“These are superb cymbals with enough Turkish essence to please a purist pro, while also giving the semi-pro player the chance to own some fine hand-crafted cymbals without breaking the bank.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Istanbul Agop Xist Power Pack 

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Ludwig Raw Copperphonic Snare Drum

Ludwig Raw Copperphonic Snare Drum

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The price is eye-watering but should be considerably less in the shops. You are really paying for that Ludwig sound, which is a mystery, but certainly not a myth...”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Ludwig Raw Copperphonic Snare Drum

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Pearl 150 Series Lightweight Hardware

Pearl 150 Series Lightweight Hardware

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“Pearl’s retro-styled flat-based stands are relatively lightweight, but typically sturdy and stable.”

4 out of 5

FULL REVIEW: Pearl 150 Series Lightweight Hardware

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
MusicRadar
MusicRadar
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the number one 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 craft of music-making that no other music website can.
Read more
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
Tama pedals
TAMA Kick Pedals at Drums Week 2025: Precision, Power, Performance — engineered for drummers who demand the fastest, smoothest response
 
 
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
 
 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
“For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
 
 
Drum kit with a red overlay and blue text saying 'best Christmas gifts for drummers'
Best Christmas gifts for drummers 2025: my pick of affordable festive gifts they'll actually use
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
 
 
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
Lily Allen
"OK, let’s have some backstory”: The group songwriting sessions that yielded Lily Allen’s West End Girl
 
 
Neal Schon
“I love John McLaughlin’s stuff. I admire real musicians”: Journey guitarist Neal Schon on the players who inspire him
 
 
Charli XCX and John Cale
"It made me cry”: Charli XCX on how she ended up collaborating with the Velvet Underground’s John Cale
 
 
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: The early Black Friday sales continue at Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, Reverb and more
 
 
sessiondock
Struggling to keep track of your DAW projects? This free app can help
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park on July 12, 2025 in London, England. Drake is headlining an unprecedented all three nights of Wireless Festival. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Drake’s live sound engineer on why he has to be at the top of his game from first song to last
 
 

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...