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Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Sabian Players’ Choice 2012 Winners
December 2012 Product Close-Up Sabian 2012 Players’ Choice Winners by David Ciauro Last year Sabian introduced twelve prototype cymbals within its network of existing series and let the public decide which models would make it into production. Top artists like…
DW Black-Nickel Over Brass Snare
November 2012 Product Close-Up DW Black Nickel Over Brass Collector’s Series Snare by David Ciauro It’s common for drummers to hunt for a snare that they feel best represents who they are as a player—an extension of their personality. Although…
C&C Player Date Drumset
Nov 2012 Product Close-Up C&C Player Date Drumset by Michael Dawson One of the more impressive offerings we heard at this year’s winter NAMM show was the Player Date drumset from C&C, which is based in Gladstone, Missouri. These unassuming…
Brady 8x14 Wandoo Block Snare
Brady 8x14 Wandoo Block Snare by Michael Dawson This 8x14 beast from the legendary drum builder Brady is made from vertical pieces of 1/2"-thick eucalyptus wandoo, which is an extremely dense wood found in the southwestern region of Western Australia.…
Meinl Byzance Vintage Crashes and Jazz Ride Additions
Meinl Byzance Vintage Crashes and Jazz Ride Additions by Michael Dawson The Byzance series is Meinl’s high-end line of B20 bronze cymbals forged in the company’s Turkish factory. These instruments are designed to be unique and highly musical, ranging from…
Creation Barry Altschul Signature Drumset
Creation Barry Altschul Signature Drumset by Michael Dawson In our November 2011 feature story with jazz great Barry Altschul, the drummer does his best to describe his no-boundaries approach to music, stating, “I don’t mind saying I’m a free drummer,…
Gibraltar Turning Point Series Cymbal Stands (VIDEO)
Gibraltar Turning Point Series Cymbal Stands by Miguel Monroy Always keeping the drummer in mind, Gibraltar has released a new line of hardware, dubbed the Turning Point series, with two important objectives: to lighten the load and to make…
Dunnett Classic Drums: Titanium Drumset
Dunnett Classic Drums Titanium Drumset by John Emrich Ronn Dunnett is famous for making some of the best metal drum shells in the business, and he was the first to offer titanium drumsets. For review this month, we received one…
V-Classic Cymbals
V-Classic Vintage-Inspired Turkish Cymbals by Michael Dawson V-Classic cymbals are the brainchild of Torab Majlesi, a Turkish session drummer and industry vet who’s had an affinity for traditional cymbal sounds since purchasing his first set of old K’s back in…
OCDP Brushed Bell Brass Snare
OCDP 6 1/2x14 Brushed Bell Brass Snare by Michael Dawson While geeking out with a prominent studio drummer a while back, I got into the topic of which snare drums he feels translate best to recordings. After going through his…
Crash ’N Flash Drumset Lighting System (w/ VIDEO)
Crash ’n Flash Drumset Lighting System by Miguel Monroy Captivating an audience is one of the most important aspects of any live performance, and bands go to great lengths to find ways to keep their shows fresh, engaging, and entertaining.…
Tama Starclassic Select Walnut Drumset
Tama Starclassic Select Walnut Drumset by David Ciauro As I was setting up these absolutely stunning Starclassic Select drums, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by their beauty. The deep-brown, satin-finish walnut shells have such a rich quality, which…
Zildjian K Custom Dark Complex Rides and Hybrid Trash Smash Cymbals
Zildjian K Custom Dark Complex Rides and Hybrid Trash Smash by Michael Dawson Three of the more interesting pieces that Zildjian has released this year are the medium-thin 21" and 22" Dark Complex rides and the funky-looking 19" Hybrid Trash…
Gretsch Brooklyn Series
Gretsch Brooklyn Series Drumset and Snares by Michael Dawson From 1883 until 1970, the Gretsch factory was based in Brooklyn, New York. These days, all Gretsch USA Custom drums are handcrafted in a facility in Ridgeland, South Carolina, but to…