Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • EVH trance state
  • Antonoff on Please Please Please
  • “Mick looked peeved. The Beatles had upstaged him”
  • 95k+ free music samples

Recommended reading

Drumcraft Bell Brass Snare
Snare Drums “An excellent entry point into the world of cast-shell drums, and a clear bargain”: DrumCraft Bell Brass Snare review
Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set
Electronic Drums “Boasts an array of features, many of which punch impressively above its relatively low price-point”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review
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
A collection of single and double Tama Iron Cobra pedals on a silver corrugated metal sheet
Drum Pedals Best bass drum pedals 2025: single and double bass pedals for every budget
Alesis Strata Club
Drum Gear With the same mesh-head playability and powerful new Strata module as its bigger brothers, Alesis Strata Club brings a new compact form to its best-selling range
Alesis Crimson III
Electronic Drums Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain
Alesis Strike Amp 12 MK2 on a rug
Electronic Drums “At full throttle, this speaker is capable of delivering room-filling volume without strain”: Alesis Strike Amp 12 MK2 review
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Gear

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

News
By MusicRadar published 8 May 2017

The latest drum reviews in one place!

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

North Custom Drums Vintage/Modern Custom Copper-Core Snare Drum

North Custom Drums Vintage/Modern Custom Copper-Core Snare Drum

Just how do you get away with getting in your practice time behind the kit without infuriating the neighbours? 

Our review team answered this question and many more over the last month, as they ran the rule over a set of ‘quiet’ WHD cymbals, a trio of cajons, a mighty Pearl kit and a brace of snares.

Here we take a whistle-stop look at all of the drum gear reviewed on the site during April. We start with a copper snare drum from North.

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Combining mahogany and copper with vintage flat hoops makes for a startlingly vibrant yet warm- sounding drum. We look forward to seeing more from this enterprising UK company.”

FULL REVIEW: North Custom Drums Vintage/Modern Custom Copper-Core Snare Drum

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Gretsch Full Range Hammered Black Steel Snare Drums

Gretsch Full Range Hammered Black Steel Snare Drums

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Handsome drums with the power and sensitivity of steel, controlled by the cast hoops and hammered black-coated shells. Part of the aptly named, revamped Full Range of Gretsch’s Taiwan-built snares.”

FULL REVIEW: Gretsch Full Range Hammered Black Steel Snare Drums

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
De Gregorio Centaur, Tokayo and Chanela De Luxe Cajons

De Gregorio Centaur, Tokayo and Chanela De Luxe Cajons

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Three varying specimens, linked by a high level of playability and attention to detail. The Chanela De Luxe sounds superb while the Centaur opens up a whole new world of playing possibilities.”

FULL REVIEW: De Gregorio Centaur, Tokayo and Chanela De Luxe Cajons 

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Pearl Masters Maple Reserve MRV Series Drum Kit

Pearl Masters Maple Reserve MRV Series Drum Kit

MusicRadar's verdict:

“Pearl goes on tinkering with and refining its longstanding Masters line and in this latest Maple Reserve version we see a genuinely effective blend of the vintage and the cutting edge.”

FULL REVIEW: Pearl Masters Maple Reserve MRV Series Drum Kit  

4 out of 5

(Originally reviewed in Rhythm)

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
WHD Quiet Practice Cymbals

WHD Quiet Practice Cymbals

MusicRadar's verdict:

“These quiet practice cymbals do exactly as they promise to do. Without doubt a massive step up from plastic or rubber pads in terms of musicality, and they won’t break the bank either.”

FULL REVIEW: WHD Quiet Practice Cymbals 

4 out of 5

(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
Drumcraft Bell Brass Snare
“An excellent entry point into the world of cast-shell drums, and a clear bargain”: DrumCraft Bell Brass Snare review
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
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
A collection of single and double Tama Iron Cobra pedals on a silver corrugated metal sheet
Best bass drum pedals 2025: single and double bass pedals for every budget
Alesis Strata Club
With the same mesh-head playability and powerful new Strata module as its bigger brothers, Alesis Strata Club brings a new compact form to its best-selling range
Alesis Crimson III
Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain
Latest in Drum Gear
Zultan Cymbals
"Crafted from Heritage. Tuned for Tomorrow": Zultan Cymbals celebrate their 25th birthday with a new high-end 25 series
Roland DrumLink
Roland's V-Drums go wireless for new simple and seamless WT-10 sensor and DH-10 hub DrumLink system
Millenium Drums book
“This book will serve as a reliable companion on your journey through drumming”: Millenium launches new book for drummers
Alesis Strata Club
With the same mesh-head playability and powerful new Strata module as its bigger brothers, Alesis Strata Club brings a new compact form to its best-selling range
Sennheiser MD421 Kompakt
“A high-quality solution for capturing your drums”: Sennheiser MD 421 Kompakt review
Zultan Z series update
“A reasonably versatile set but these cymbals excel in a rock and metal context”: Zultan Z Series cymbals review
Latest in News
Zak Starkey
"The lie is or would have been that I quit – I didn’t": Zak Starkey sacked from The Who - again
Sebastian Bach in his Skid Row days
“I sometimes do seven shows in a week. A week! I did 91 cities in 2024 — I’m not exaggerating. For an old man I think I deserve a little credit”: Why ex-Skid Row star Sebastian Bach is the hardest working man in showbiz
Sheeran Grohl Mayer
“Mayer on guitar, Grohl on drums. A lot of fun making this”: Ed Sheeran just revealed the cross-brand, multi-star pile-on he’s made for the F1 movie
Lindsey Buckingham Charli XCX
“Getting kinda saucy already”: Watch Lindsey Buckingham react as he checks out Charli XCX’s Von Dutch video for the first time... alongside his daughter
David Lee Roth in 1985
“The acrobatics. The sexuality. In his prime, he was the super frontman of all time”: The rock icon hailed by Gene Simmons as the GOAT
Money
From bedroom to billions… The Sunday Times Rich List 2025 just revealed the wealth and rankings of the UK’s biggest music stars

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
  • 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...