Mixdown #244 Drum & Percussion Special

I NTRODUCTI O N It’s that time of year when we pull focus from the rest of the band you see frontand-centre of stage and show some love to the guys hitting the tubs up back, the drummers.

Our highly experienced team of drummers and percussionists have taken the wheel and personally road-tested and reviewed the latest drum gear to hit the market.

They’ve spent their time hitting, beating, smashing and reviewing a whole range of full drum-kits, snare drums, cymbals, sticks

T H E

and accessories to bring you professional insight into what to look for with your next piece of kitl.

Our annual Drum and Percussion Special has you covered if you’re looking to build onto your existing set-up, or looking for a whole new kit.

Remember to head down to your local music retailer to test, try and buy the right gear that will suit your playing needs.

D R U M

K E Y Hi-Hat Clutch Crash Cymbal

Crash/Ride Cymbal High & Middle Toms

Tom Mount Bracket

Snare Drum

Cymbal Stand Hi-Hats

Hi-Hat Pedal

DISTRIBUTION DETAILS Bass Drum

DISTRIBUTOR

PHONE

WEBSITE

AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES ELECTRIC FACTORY JADE AUSTRALIA YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA DYNAMIC MUSIC SENNHEISER AUSTRALIA

(03) 95491500 (03) 9474 1000 1800 144 120 (03) 9693 5111 (02) 9939 1299 (02) 9910 6700

WWW.AUSTMUSIC.COM.AU WWW.ELFA.COM.AU WWW.JADEAUSTRALIA.COM.AU WWW.PAISTE.COM WWW.DYNAMICMUSIC.COM.AU WWW.SENNHEISER.COM.AU

DRUMCRAFT SERIES 6 DRUM KIT

Floor Tom

RRP: $1599

Bass Drum Skin

MAPEX ARMORY DAISY CUTTER SNARE DRUM

RRP: $399

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM KIT DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC

PRODUCT TYPE: SNARE DRUM DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers of all levels and players wanting a great rock sound, projection and the full sound that only Birch can give.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers of all standards and playing ability, looking for a loud metal snare built for cut and projection without wanting to hand over the life savings.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Series 6 has a classic, full, rock tone. Bass drum is big and punchy and the toms have warmth and projection with a slightly shorter sustain – thank Birch for that. Snare drum (14x5 standard / 10x5” and 12x5” are available) is warm with a good tuning range. You can go low and fat or high and cracky. The smaller snares are also worth a look for the real ‘pop’ factor.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: Loud! The Daisy Cutter is certainly up for the challenge of tackling the Marshall stacks in the rehearsal room and at the gig. Amongst its volume however, is a welcomed sensitivity and fairly dry, complex sound overall. The hammerings really alter the way the sound travels on the shell. You would rarely need dampening as overtones are very well behaved. The drum was comfortable in a variety of tuning levels, making it more versatile than one might initially think.

PLAYABILITY: The kit has a very usable sound that would suit a variety of musical applications. Birch just seems to behave well under tuning and moving from room to room. They feel good to play and all the fittings give confidence that the kit would be gig-worthy. The drums are loud too so they do the work for you.

CONSTRUCTION: The Series 6 is made from Birch with 8-ply shells that are cross laminated to provide less tension in the shell itself. The drums feature a 6/7 45 degree inner bearing edge and a 1/7 45 degree outside counter cut. The edge is sharp for resonance. Each 6 series comes with Zero Gravity mounts on the drum minimises the amount of metal touching the shell and provides complete rotation adjustment. The kit also features heavy duty hardware, choice of chrome or black powder-coated shell hardware, die-cast bass drum claws, triple tom holder bass drum mount, Nickel Drumworks throw off on snare drums and Remo drumheads as standard. Available in Rock or Fusion sizes with 7 quality finishes.

OVERALL: This is a good kit. Drumcraft are really making a name for themselves in the market.

There’s nice attention to detail and the price is right. Genuine Remo heads is a nice touch too.

Check out the Series 6 soon, you wont regret it.

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PLAYABILITY: The drum feels nice to play and all the fittings work well. The throw off isn’t quite the buttery smooth version you get on a Black Panther drum but works fine just the same. The drum tuned easily and with minimal fuss. The Daisy Cutter would be an easy drum to live with.

CONSTRUCTION: The Daisy Cutter is a 1mm steel monster. The high polished shell is 14”x6.5” and features heavy, large hammerings and a bearing edge rounded to 45 degrees. You get solid Mapex quality fittings such as 2.3mm power hoops, tube lugs and a piston throw off. The Daisy Cutter looks fantastic too. The shell gives real presence and makes the drum look more expensive than it is.

OVERALL: The Daisy Cutter is fine piece of work. It looks great, has bags of volume, low end from the extra depth and a dryness that makes it totally easy to work with day to day. Overall, it’s a winner in this price bracket.

MAPEX ARMORY EXTERMINATOR SNARE DRUM

RRP: $399

RRP: $349-$499

ISTANBUL MEHMET NOSTALGIA CYMBALS

PRODUCT TYPE: SNARE DRUM DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBALS DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers of all levels and players who want to step away from the standard maple shell; desiring projection, a full sound and plenty of cut.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Intermediate to professional drummers. Players looking for an alternative to the usual cymbal companies. funk, fusion, rock styles.

CONSTRUCTION: The 14x6.5” Exterminator features the usual Mapex quality we’ve come to know. You get a great combination of Birch and Walnut in a 7ply shell. The finish is awesome too with an ebony stain over figured wood. This really allows the grain to show through. You also get rounded SONIClear bearing edges, chrome hardware/fittings, a piston strainer with vertical throwoff and 2.3mm power hoops. Yes, it’s a looker to boot.

CONSTRUCTION: These Istanbul’s look classic with small, condensed tonal grooves, with a lathed top and bottom with light to moderate hammering. The bells are pronounced and the finish is close to brilliant, providing a striking look overall.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: Sound is very balanced with a nice amount of low frequencies. You can thank the Walnut for that. Overtones are present at lower tunings, but the drum is easy to tune and you can get the sound you want at a variety of tuning ranges. This makes the drum versatile as you can have low and thuddy or up high with a good crack.

PLAYABILITY: The Exterminator has quality and easy to use fittings, meaning you won’t be stressed about living with the drum from day to day. It’s a simple and elegant design. The rounded bearing edges give a nice feel too without losing sensitivity.

OVERALL: This is a great drum for the money. It’s got some of that Black Panther DNA but without the higher price. The look will certainly please the critics too. The Exterminator can be a destroyer of ears or a subtle touch. Worth checking out.

KAHZAN TRIBAL SERIES 19”/20” CRASHES

RRP: $249 (19”), $299 (20”)

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBALS DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Nostalgia range is suited to many styles. The 70s 21” ride (RRP: $499) is loud, very bright, washy, crashable and musical with a bell that’s not too loud. The 18” crash (RRP: $349)is a great thing – lower pitched than you’d expect, opening up easily with darker qualities but a bright sound overall. The 14” hats (RRP: $449) have a nice classic sound; crisp, short with a great ‘chick’ with either stick or foot.

PLAYABILITY: Any player would feel comfortable with the Nostalgia series. The ride projects very well so you don’t need to really hit it hard and can relax knowing you’ve got more there if you need it. The crash is very useable and versatile and the hi-hats are remarkably clean with no ping and a gorgeous, bright tone.

OVERALL: I really liked these Istanbul cymbals. The price is also favourable and the sound they produce just reiterates that you don’t need to always go to the more obvious cymbal companies for your instrument. The Nostalgia’s are clean, crisp and great value for money as they sound more expensive than they are. Really worth a look.

PAISTE MASTERS SERIES 24” DEEP RIDE AND 20” DARK CRASH

RRP: $999.99 (24”) $779.99 (20”)

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBALS DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Hard-hitters and rockers. Players wanting really big crashes and drummers who like a bit of dirty in their cymbal sounds.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Intermediate to professional drummers. Players who love a dark cymbal with projection, looking to broaden their sound spectrums.

CONSTRUCTION: The alloy composition of the Tribal series cymbals is approximately 78% Copper, 20% tin and 2% trace elements. They’re handmade in China using century old techniques.

The new additions to the range are the big and brutal 19” and 20” crash cymbals. They are very thick and have some unique and radical hammering/lathing.

CONSTRUCTION: These cymbals look amazing. The 24” Deep Ride is massive with a traditional finish top, a raw, un-lathed underside and pronounced bell. It has radical hammerings and is very heavy. The 20” Dark Crash is less complex in its look, medium-thin in weight with lighter, yet no less radical hammerings. Masters cymbals are made from CuSn20 Bronze.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: Loud. Really loud! These Tribal crashes will literally take your face off meaning that some drummers will be rubbing their hands together. The trade off for the volume is the versatility at lower volumes. Once open though, their eye watering volume is accompanied by a certain trashy quality that make them very angry sounding indeed.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Deep Ride has a much defined, heavy stick sound. It’s very clean and yet dark. The bell is very clear and projects well. It’s a big sound with a good sustain but very little crashability. It’s a heavy ride at heart. The 20” crash is very dark, slightly on the thicker side, loud and complex.

PLAYABILITY: They really do play more like ride cymbals. They have large bells that really cut.

Think of them more as crash/rides. In fact, as a designated ride cymbal, they’d do very well.

Though, if you’re a hard hitter all the time, they’d work well as a secondary crash – lower in pitch with incredible projection.

PLAYABILITY: The Dark Crash, due to its size, actually enables some decent riding capability with lighter stick definition and a warm bell. The broad sound makes it useful as a secondary crash or as a main instrument combined with big drum sounds. The Deep Ride is really heavy, and realistically, not as versatile for a heap of different situations but it’s not the really traditional harsh and overly pingy, heavy ride you’d expect.

OVERALL: These cymbals are fairly one dimensional in their intent but this will really suit some drummers. For others, they might suit well as a crash ride but the reality is that they’re too thick to really be incredibly versatile across all styles. Worth looking at though if projection is what you’re after.

OVERALL: These cymbals are wonderfully complex and their sound can’t be easily defined. There is depth to their sounds and drummers will find that they get to know the cymbals over time, which will dictate the way they play them. The entire Masters range is worthy of a look – and listen.

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KHAZAN KP1 BULLET CYMBAL PACK

RRP: $299

DREAM IGNITION CYMBAL PACK

RRP: $699

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBAL PACK DISTRIBUTOR: JADE AUSTRALIA

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBAL PACK DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Beginner to intermediate drummers. Players looking for an affordable way of getting into the game, playing rock or louder styles of music.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers conscious of their cymbal budget; beginners looking for their first ‘good’ set of cymbals and drummers looking for versatility from a budget range cymbal.

CONSTRUCTION: Comprised of approximately 62% Copper and 38% Zinc, the Bullet Series cymbals are handmade in China. You get a 14” hats, 16” crash, 20” ride and a bonus 10” splash. You also get a bonus cymbal bag so it’s good value for money. Packs are available with an 18” crash also.

CONSTRUCTION: The Ignition series is Dream’s first cymbal pack. Unlike the majority of entry level cymbals, these ones are still the cast cymbal B20 alloy that the rest of the ranges use. The pack includes 14” hi-hats, 16” crash and a 20” ride with a bonus cymbal bag.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Bullet series are fairly heavy sounding. The 10” bonus splash is almost bell like in its sound and takes a harder hit to open up. The 20” ride was the most musical with a decent wash, a nice crashable nature and a huge sounding bell. The 14” hi-hats were very bright and crisp, though quite heavy in feel and not a huge amount of sustain when open. The 16” crash was the only real downside as this one had a fair bit of ‘gong’ in its sound and didn’t sustain well.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The hats are very crisp and the most musical of the three in this group.

They have a strong ‘chick’ with either hand or foot, with a nice spread when open with slightly trashy overtones. The crash is thin and not overly hammered yielding a fairly angry and very trashy nature – perhaps too trashy. The ride projects well with a clear bell, trashy overtones and a nice wash with moderate stick definition. The surface area yields a variety of tonal options, depending on where you strike with stick.

PLAYABILITY: The Bullets play like normal cymbals but are really designed for drummers who hit harder. Their thicker construction means that they’ll withstand a beating but realistically at the price of ultimate musicality.

PLAYABILITY: A hybrid of the Bliss and Contact cymbal lines, the Ignition series is very approachable with a good blend of lightness for musicality and weight for projection. The hats are really usable and frankly fantastic for this price range and the ride is very crashable, making a second crash not a necessity.

OVERALL: Ultimately, these cymbals won’t rock everyones world but when you consider the price and the amount of cymbals you actually get, they’re a better option than what you’d get with most kits. For drummers starting out, you can re-cymbal your entire kit for a great deal less than you think.

OVERALL: The Ignition pack does an excellent job in the price point. The cymbals are obviously derived from a more quality alloy and really, if you didn’t know you’d think they were more expensive. It’s only the crash that gives away the game a little bit but the hats and ride are really good, and some players will really like the trashiness that the crash brings.

PAISTE PST7 UNIVERSAL SET

PAISTE PST7 EFFECTS SET

RRP: $699.99

RRP: $299.99

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBALS PACK DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBAL PACK DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers looking for an affordable range of cymbals with a traditional sound, look and feel. Hard-hitters who like projection and a classic rock sound from a cymbal.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers looking for an affordable range of cymbals with a traditional sound, look and feel. Drummers who like a classic bright sound and like to rock out.

CONSTRUCTION: The Universal Set features 14” hi hats, 16” and 18” crashes and a 20” ride cymbal. All are medium to heavy in feel and look. The PST7 range is based on the CuSn8 Bronze alloy, which is closely related to the 2002 range. They look very similar too, with a bronze colouring and clean look that has modest hammerings/tonal grooves with a classic finish.

CONSTRUCTION: The PST7 range is based on the CuSn8 Bronze alloy, which is closely related to the 2002 range. Not coincidently, the PSTs look very similar; with that characteristic bronze colour and clean look that has modest hammerings/tonal grooves and a classic finish. The effects pack features an 18” china and 10” splash. The splash is thick in feel and the china has a flat, integrated bell and aggressive curve.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The hi hats were impressive. With a medium top and a heavy bottom, they’re crisp and bright with a heavy feel. There’s loads of projection and a nice ‘chick’. The crashes are loud and bright with a classic sound. They are thick though so you really need to hit them. The ride is a bit of a beast actually, with a loud, pronounced bell, strong stick definition and a distinct ‘ping’ that really cuts through.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The splash is fairly thick and can be a little hard to modulate at lower volumes. There’s a quick decay and a lot of projection meaning it would do well in louder settings.

The china projects very well with a big sound but it’s not particularly responsive. That being said, the quality of sound is trashy and powerful – more suited to rock and heavier applications.

PLAYABILITY: The cymbals are all medium/heavy in feel, meaning they project well and cut through. The downside is that they aren’t as responsive at lower volumes and the ride doesn’t really crash well, which restricts versatility for some styles. When you’re on it though, all the cymbals are loud, full and bright.

PLAYABILITY: Both cymbals are on the medium to heavy side of the spectrum meaning they don’t open up that easily at lower volumes. They are made to withstand a beating though and in the right setting, they’d do fine. Just yearned for a little more response at times.

OVERALL: The Paiste PST7 set presents a good argument. Some drummers will love the confidence they get from a thicker cymbal and some will love the fact that there’s the word Paiste written on them. Regardless, the Universal set does present good value for money in this price bracket, especially when you get two crashes.

OVERALL: The Paiste PST7 effects set is a good place to start for those wishing to add a china and a splash to their existing set up as they present good value for money. It’s a good thing that Paiste are offering these two independently of other sets for that reason, as effect cymbals are often the last thing to arrive on the set.

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PAISTE PST7 SESSION SET

RRP: $699.99

PRODUCT TYPE: CYMBAL PACK DISTRIBUTOR: YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA

REMO EBONY EMPEROR DRUM HEADS

RRP: $29.95-$55

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM HEADS DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers looking for an affordable range of cymbals with a traditional sound, look and feel. Players craving projection and cut with the feel of a slightly lighter cymbal.

Casual studio applications.

CONSTRUCTION: The Paiste PST7 Session range features 14” Light Hi-Hats, 16” and 18” Light Crashes and a 20” Light Ride. These cymbals are lighter in feel than the standard PST7 cymbals.

They’re based on the CuSn8 Bronze alloy that is derived from the same alloy used in the famous 2002 range. The PSTs do look similar too with a classic bronze colour and moderate to light tonal grooves and hammerings.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The hi hats are bright, crisp and clear. They’re very obviously lighter in feel and sound and are very musical. Both the 16” and 18” crashes open up easily but really speak when they’re played harder. The sound is bright, yet warm and with clear projection. The 20” has strong stick definition and a really loud, strong bell. Plenty of cut and projection on tap. It doesn’t crash particularly well though and could be lighter to really match its label.

PLAYABILITY: Although the Session series are labelled as ‘light’, in reality, they feel slightly thicker and play more like a medium-light cymbal. This reduces some of the responsiveness at lower volumes but ultimately these PST7s are much better as all-rounders than the heavier and more rock-focused standard crashes.

OVERALL: Of the PST7 cymbals available, the lighter Session series are a much better choice for drummers wanting one set of cymbals to cut a variety of situations. Everyone likes cymbals that project and cut but often this is at the expense of musicality. The Session series help to solve that problem. They’re not that light by any means but definitely the best choice in the range for any studio work or lighter gigs.

REMO SILENT STROKE DRUM HEADS

RRP: $19.95-$45

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM HEADS DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers who live in apartments and who are constantly concerned about the neighbours telling them to stop playing the drums. Drummers after the perfect quiet practice solution.

CONSTRUCTION: The silent strokes are a single ply mesh material in place of the standard film on regular drum heads and crafted with Remo’s usual excellent head making techniques.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: As you can imagine by the name, there’s not a lot of sound when you strike these heads. However, the resonant head still rings ever so slightly on the drum creating a very subtle note. As it’s still a head, you can tune up and down as normal, making them very versatile.

PLAYABILITY: At lower tuning, the silent strokes can feel closer to normal drum heads but can rebound heavily at higher tunings, particularly on the bass drum. This means that in reality, they can have a bit of an electric kit ‘mesh head’ feel, but on bigger drums they’re really good.

OVERALL: Fantastic! Really, this is the best attempt at silent practice ever. They feel good to play, you can tune, you can still hear tone and you can lay into them just as you normally would without the neighbours busting your chops. Great stuff.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Rock, studio, funk and fusion players, or anyone wanting to minimise overtones and maximise a full but usable sound.

CONSTRUCTION: The Ebony Emperors feature two-plies of 7.5mm ebony and clear film. As apposed to the Suede Emperors, they have the usual polished look that regular Emperors have and the reliable Remo quality construction. The Ebony Emperors also get that classic look of drum sets in the 80s and certainly make an impression.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: These heads sound killer. Immediately, you get taken in with their warmth and focused sound. It’s a full sound too, with some nice low and mid range tones combined with the punch you get from a regular Emperor.

PLAYABILITY: The Ebony Emperors, due to their focused sound, do a great job of minimising unwanted overtones, and due to their construction also allow you to tune at a variety of tensions meaning that they could really cut it in the studio doing low and fat or high and punchy. They provide a nice feel when struck and increased durability overall, which is always a good thing if you gig a lot.

OVERALL: These Remo Ebony Emperor heads are great. You can get a great sound straight away with minimal effort, as overtones are very controlled. Combined with a fantastic look, they are a very worthy alternative to the standard Emperor.

MANO PERCUSSION DRUMMER’S WOODEN RHYTHM BOX CAJON

RRP: $139

PRODUCT TYPE: CAJON DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: Percussionists, drummers or any musicians wanting a cost effective way of getting in the cajon game. Great for percussionists in duos and trios.

CONSTRUCTION: The 44x29x29cm Mano cajon certainly looks the part. It features a natural finish, a Rosewood veneer front, smooth, sanded edges and comes with a small foam square to place on top as a seat – handy for longer gigs. You get a large sound hole for projection and mic placement, adjustable wires and a small ring of bells for more attack. It also has small rubber feet for stability and protection from damage from the floor.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: There’s decent slap and some bass response but ultimately, could probably do with a bit more. That said, this instrument would still be very versatile across many situations and as most musicians will put a microphone in the back, you’ll get what you need.

PLAYABILITY: The cajon feels nice to play. You get the adjustable wires inside the drum giving a more authentic sound and some further versatility. The slap sounds are slightly harder to achieve than I expected and aren’t as pronounced overall, so you will need to work on your technique a bit or again, adjust the wires until you feel they’re right.

OVERALL: It certainly won’t rock everyone’s world but it is still a nice thing to play and really, for some players it’ll be just what they need. It’s certainly an affordable option, and even comes with a padded bag with shoulder straps.

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PEARL JINGLE CAJON

RRP: $279

TYCOON 29 SERIES CHISELED ORANGE CAJON

RRP: $249

PRODUCT TYPE: CAJON DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALIASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

PRODUCT TYPE: CAJON DISTRIBUTOR: DYNAMIC MUSIC

RECOMMENDED FOR: Percussionists, drummers in acoustic duos, trios looking for more variation in sounds and strength and reliability from that of a standard cajon.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Cajon players looking for an alternative sound and value for money; beginners to intermediate players; anybody looking to try their hand at cajon playing but don’t want to spend a fortune in the process.

CONSTRUCTION: The Pearl Jingle Cajon features a fibreglass shell with a sound port at the back, a responsive snare system inside and two different sized, stainless steel, Brazilian-style tambourine jingles that attach to the cajon via small suction cups. The whole box is covered in Pearl’s Carubinga exotic wood lacquer and there are rubber feet to keep the instrument off the floor avoiding damage and support resonance.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The bass response is very good and slaps are easy to achieve. The snares respond instantly providing sensitivity at all velocities. The jingles provide a crisp and clean sound that blends well in the mix. The versatility is there because you can adjust how much the jingles move and respond.

USABILITY: The Jingle Cajon is actually quite clever. The jingles twist open or closed to be able to adjust how much sound you want from them, affectively creating four cajon’s in one – jingles, small jingle, large jingle or both. Each time you get a unique feel, sound and vibe making it possible to change your approach depending on the song or piece.

OVERALL: Pearl have done a good thing here. The Jingle Cajon is worth a look as the jingles really do offer some more scope and their design means you can use them as you feel, rather than having to have them as a permanent thing.

VIC FIRTH VICKICK BEATERS

RRP: $39.95-$49.95

CONSTRUCTION: This Tycoon cajon is solidly made indeed. The front board is made from Beech and the main body is individually hand carved from aged Siam Oak hard wood and models hundreds of chiselled indents for a unique and very earthy look. The cajon also features a sound hole and four snare wires running the length of the front board. There’s also rubber feet that prevent damage from the floor and promotes bass response overall.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Chiseled Orange Cajon has very pleasing bass tones, which are easily attainable and the snare wires make the slaps tight, sharp and pronounced. It’s a musical sound that is usable right away. The wires are fully adjustable too so you can dial in as much of the snare sound as you like with the included allen wrench.

PLAYABILITY: As mentioned, the cajon responds easily and effectively with solid tone across the board. It’s comfortable to use and the construction gives you confidence in its durability.

OVERALL: The Tycoon 29 Series Chiseled Orange Cajon presents very good value for money. The look is pleasing to the eye and the bass notes – a necessity in a good cajon – really deliver. Worth a look if you’re in the market.

VATER XTREME DESIGN 5B DRUMSTICKS

RRP: $16.95

PRODUCT TYPE: BASS DRUM BEATER DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALIASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM STICKS DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

RECOMMENDED FOR: Session drummers and players looking for the ability to have real variation in their bass drum sounds without having to change their heads. Intermediate to professional players.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers of all levels but mostly for those who prefer the feel of a 5B grip and a longer stick. The XD-5B is a stick that would handle the gig with ease.

CONSTRUCTION: The Vic Firth VicKick beaters are offered in three configurations – fleece, felt and wood. The fleece is essentially a big, fluffy wool ball, the felt is your more conventional type bass drum beater material and finally, with the same shape as the felt beater, there’s a hard, wooden Maple option. Both felt and wood have a unique spherical shape with two playing positions – flat and radial, where the thinner part of the beater strikes the head.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The Vic Firth kick beaters are extremely versatile as a whole but each one is designed for a specific purpose. The sounds vary substantially from flat to radial. Flat brings a wider and fuller sound where as radial is more focused and articulated. Both are great.

The fleece has its own thing happening with basically no attack at all and a soft, full, warm sound.

PLAYABILITY: The shaft of each beater will fit all pedals and is strong and stable. The radial position is also suited to double pedals for clearance. With a quick twist of the beater, you have options for the bass drum sound you’re after and all feel great to play regardless of the tension of the head.

OVERALL: Most drummers wouldn’t immediately consider the beater of the bass drum for their sound and would look to change heads first. These Vic Firth beaters are great as they provide ‘options’. In the studio especially, these would be fantastic.

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CONSTRUCTION: The Hickory made XD-5B is 16.5” in length and 0.610” in diameter. Just slightly over a standard 5B stick in the grip, the XD features a heavier taper leading towards a barrel-style tip. The XD is also available as a nylon tip.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The barrel tip gave fantastic clarity on the cymbals and great rebound too. The sound is projected and brighter. The XD might be a bit too much for a jazz gig but by contrast it gave more sound on those types of lighter cymbals.

PLAYABILITY: Even though the weight, length and tip suggest that this is a stick for rockers only, in reality, the XD-5B is very approachable. It feels great in hand and the barrel tip yields a nice feel from cymbals and drums. It felt good immediately to me. You do need to be into a slightly longer stick though.

OVERALL: Vater have made a really good stick here. It feels very well balanced and not as top heavy as the name might suggest. I actually think that players of all genres would enjoy this stick as opposed to just heavier players. Definitely worth a look. I’m investing!

KICKPORT FX SERIES

RRP: $69.95

SENNHEISER E602-II KICK DRUM MIC

RRP: $215

PRODUCT TYPE: SOUND ENHANCER DISTRIBUTOR: ELECTRIC FACTORY

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM MICROPHONE DISTRIBUTOR: SENNHEISER AUSTRALIA

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers looking to increase bass and overall tone response from their toms and snare using the same KickPort principle already being used in bass drums.

RECOMMENDED FOR: This microphone is purpose built for use within a kick drum to capture its distinct sound. It can also work well on bass amps, but excels under high sound pressure levels with a kick drum.

CONSTRUCTION: We’ve come to know the larger KickPort for bass drum heads. Now the FX series introduce smaller 2” and 3” versions for the rack toms, snares and floor toms. Each port comes with template-reinforcement rings and vibro-bands, which hold the port in place and also do a good job of applying some dampening to the drum.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: The FX series KickPorts fit any brand of head or drum. Installed in the batter heads, they provide a lower, punchier tone with more depth and definition. Installed in the resonant heads, the drums project more without interrupting the integrity of the batter head.

CONSTRUCTION: This microphone is a little tank. It may be fairly light-weight, but it is built into a solid housing and is ready for the beating it is no doubt going to get as it is kicked around the stage and studio. Built to last and built to continue to sound great, you will get many years of low end punch from these microphones.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: When you are trying to capture not only the snap of the beater on the skin, but also the low end thump of the drum’s chamber, you need the right tool to do that. This microphone delivers both elements and allows the user to sculpt the desired sound from its wide frequency range.

USABILITY: Installing the FX series in your heads is really the same as what you would do for your bass drum. They can easily be installed in either the batter or resonant heads of toms, snares or floor toms depending on the sound you’re after and the KickPort’s rubber rings hold it in place on its own, meaning they’re easily removable. You will still have holes in your heads though. The FX ports can be used on the bass drum batter head too.

USABILITY: It really comes down to experimenting with these microphones. Mounted to a short boom stand, you simply need to find the sweet spot and correct angle within the drum to get the desired sound. Angling it off-axis delivers great results, and even driving it right up to the skin can capture certain desired effects.

OVERALL: At first look, the obvious concerns would be that you have to cut into your existing heads to install the FX series KickPorts and whether you would like them or not. In reality you would really just need to try them. But if you’ve tried one in your bass drum, you know the technology works so this is the logical next step. That, and there’s a stack of guys using them.

OVERALL: There are a number of kick drum microphones on the market that is for sure. The e602II is one that doesn’t try to be more than it is and simply delivers results every time. You don’t have to do any work to the EQ for it to sound great, but you still have the freedom to sculpt it for a desired tone if you so wish.

SENNHEISER E614 CONDENSER MIC

RRP: $289

XTREME DRUM BAGS

RRP: $14.95-$45

PRODUCT TYPE: DRUM MICROPHONE DISTRIBUTOR: SENNHEISER AUSTRALIA

PRODUCT TYPE: TRAVEL CASES DISTRIBUTOR: AUSTRALIASIAN MUSIC SUPPLIES

RECOMMENDED FOR: As an all-rounder in the compact, pencil-condenser style of microphone, the e614 is great for a variety of percussion instruments as well as hi-hats on the drum kit when high sound pressure levels are a problem and a crisp response is required.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Drummers of all levels; gigging drummers who prefer bags rather than cases; drummers on a budget but still intent on protecting their gear.

CONSTRUCTION: Built into a rugged housing that is fairly small for the style of microphone, the capsule is well protected and will handle the occasional strike from a stray drum stick without too much worry. All the microphones in Sennheiser’s Evolution series are built to a standard that is far beyond their actual price range.

SOUND & VERSATILITY: Able to handle very high SPLs, this microphone can go just about anywhere and work its magic. Used as a pair for overheads they sound crisp and lively, but they really come into their own when used for hi-hats to deliver a rich sizzle and super-fast transient attack.

USABILITY: Being so compact, these are extremely versatile when working within the confines of a crowded drum kit. They are best mounted on a stand though, as it keeps unwanted vibration from the kit at bay, and is very easy to slide this between your toms and hats on a long boom to find the perfect placement.

OVERALL: This is a great little microphone and one that should appear in every mic kit for a range of applications. It shouldn’t just be typecast as a hats mic; it can work well with a wide range of percussion instruments and even deliver great results on woodwind and piano applications too.

CONSTRUCTION: All Xtreme bags feature extra heavy duty black nylon waterproof yarn. Further protection comes from 10mm foam padding (15mm on drum bags), and heavy duty zips. Bags also come with easy, comfortable carry handles, straps and a cymbal pocket with an embroidered Xtreme logo. Cymbal bags have wheels, luggage-style extendable handles and multiple pockets.

VERSATILITY: The Xtreme bags cater for a wide range of drums, cymbals and hardware. Their depths are generous to accommodate older style drums as well.

USABILITY: Zips are solid and strong, which give you confidence. The cymbal pockets in the tops of each bag give you that little extra welcomed storage. The additional depths also allow for some clever packing if you need to cut down the amount you’re carrying.

OVERALL: For the money, these bags absolutely rock. They have all the sizes available and for the session drummer, with a lot of gear in storage, you can literally keep everything packed without spending the earth. It also means that beginner drummers can protect their first kits too, which has been a hard thing to do in the past. These cases are a winner, Check them out!

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AUGUST AUGUST 2014 2014