120-125 Soundlab
3/10/08
3:22 PM
Page 120
DDRUM Dominion Maple Drums THE TOTAL PACKAGE
I
BY BRAD SCHLUETER
f you thought Roland and Yamaha had the electronic drum market cornered, think again. Ddrum has been making
120 DRUM!
some of the finest electronic drum equipment out there for 25 years, products often chosen by touring professionals for their simplicity of use, realistic sounds, and rock-solid
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reliability. The company’s expansion into the realm of acoustic drums initially raised some eyebrows, but those who’ve seen and played the acoustic drums know something the skeptics don’t: Ddrum was able to do for acoustic what it had long been doing for electric. Unlike some newer companies, ddrum is making a full range of drum lines suitable for any budget, which, incidentally, all begin with the letter “D” – Dios, Dominion, Diablo, and so on. Some of its kits are perfect for niche players wanting a punk kit with a tartan finish, or a glam drummer looking for a colorful acrylic kit. But ddrum drums aren’t only about image. A year ago I re-
viewed two high-end yet mid-priced kits from the Dios line. One kit was made from bubinga and the other from walnut, and frankly, I’m still kicking myself for not buying one or both of those kits. Luckily, I got another crack at a ddrum acoustic kit, this time in the Dominion maple line. I wasn’t going to let this one get away so easily.
OUT OF THE BOX
From the Dominion Maple series, I received a Dorian configuration, which is a “one up, two down” 5piece kit consisting of a 14" x 6.5" snare, a 24" x 18" kick, a 13" x 9" rack tom, and 14" x 14" and 16" x 14" floor toms. This kit is clearly a