Mapex

Saturn Special Edition Studioease Drumset

by Michael Dawson

The Saturn series is a line of high-end drums designed for professional touring and studio drummers alike. Whereas Mapex’s other high-end line, Orion, is built exclusively with North American maple shells, Saturn drums feature composite shells blending the darker sound of walnut with either maple or birch. The birch/walnut variety is what makes up the Saturn Special Edition series, which Mapex recently upgraded to include four new finishes over an outer veneer of figured maple.

Studioease Setup

The Saturn SE kit we were sent for review is in the standard-depth Studioease five-piece configuration, which includes an 18×22 bass drum (with no tom mount), 8×10 and 9×12 rack toms, and 14×14 and 16×16 floor toms. The toms feature Mapex’s Isolated Mounting System and low-mass single-point-contact lugs, and they come outfitted with Remo Clear Emperor batters and Clear Ambassador bottoms, plus 2.3 mm steel Powerhoops. The bass drum has cushioned and recessed die-cast claws and comes with a Remo Clear Powerstroke 3 batter and an Ebony Powerstroke 3 front head imprinted with the Mapex logo.

This shell pack also includes two sets of floor tom legs featuring spring-loaded rubber feet, two TH684 tom arms, and two AC910 multi-clamps for attaching the tom mounts to cymbal stands. The entire package lists for $2,979. Saturn SE add-ons include a matching 5 1/2×14, 7-ply, 7.1 mm birch/walnut snare ($639) and a 7×8 rack tom ($399). Advertisement

Have a listen:

 

The complete review is in the May 2012 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

[PCUStat]