Here’s our review of a British Drum Co. Bluebird Series snare drum, featuring…
***All of our reviews are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment – to get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform make sure you listen on good quality speakers or headphones!***
RRP: TBC
Innovative new company Soundhoops has recently unveiled their new range of neat drum hoops that integrate microphones to eliminate the need for extra clamps, stands and bulky microphones that invade your playing space.
During his time as a drummer (over 35 years), co-founder/owner Apostolos Zaios regularly faced problems with microphones being hit while playing and clamps that failed under heavy hitting. However, working with co-founder/owner Nikolaos Zaios a solution was found and Soundhoops was born!
You can check out Soundhoops at The UK Drum Show 2018 on Saturday/Sunday 29th & 30th September, as well as via their website: www.soundhoops.com/en/
As one of the most recorded kits in history, we take a look at what makes the original Yamaha Recording Custom range such a classic when it comes to studio-friendly drums, which also serves as a perfect reference point sound-wise for you to compare our other kit reviews against.
Featuring…
22″ x 16″ Bass Drum,
10″ x 7.5″ Rack Tom,
12″ x 8″ Rack Tom,
14″ x 14″ Floor Tom
16″ x 16″ Floor Tom.
Active Music are delighted to introduce the perfect ear plugs for musicians and the serious festival, club or gig goer who want the best musical experience whilst protecting their hearing from permanent ringing or damage from high noise levels.
They feature an exclusive linear AlpineAcousticFilters™ which means the music is attenuated equally at all frequencies, so it’s like you’ve just turned the volume down. The acoustic filters will also stop you feeling isolated and conversations remain audible.
You can wear the PartyPlug Pro Natural all day and night thanks to the soft and flexible AlpineThermoShape™ material, which contains no silicones and as a result they won’t irritate and can be easily cleaned using the Alpine cleaning spray provided.
If you’ve tried earplugs before to protect your hearing and didn’t like the musical experience, then the Partyplug Pro Natural are for you.
Alpine Hearing Protection is the only brand with CE certification across their entire range.
Product Features
Info: www.activemusic.co.uk
Here’s our review of a HighWood Drums & Percussion Custom Series snare drum, featuring…
***All of our reviews are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment – to get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform make sure you listen on good quality speakers or headphones!***
RRP: £475.00
Here’s our review of a Roland V-Drums TD50KV e-kit, featuring…
***All of our reviews are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment – to get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform make sure you listen on good quality speakers or headphones!***
Our friends over at The UK Drum Show have recently announced they would like to give a warm welcome back to educator & drum motivator Mike Dolbear who will be running his ‘Best of British’ masterclass room at year 2 of TUKDS2018. Artists to be announced soon!
Grab your Early-Bird Tickets now and make someone’s Christmas! www.theukdrumshow.com
Check out this awesome video of Bob Knight from Mike’s room this year, courtesy of at Vic Firth
Yamaha’s EAD promises drummers a ‘complete solution’
Monday evening saw the launch of Yamaha’s new EAD10 acoustic electronic drum module, which looks set to be one of the most talked about drum products of this, and possibly next, year.
Essentially, the EAD10 is a system for making an acoustic kit into a powerful digital/electronic hybrid with sampled sounds and studio quality digital effects at an affordable price. Yamaha bills it as a ‘complete solution’ for drummers.
The Yamaha EAD10 consists of two parts: the EAD Sensor and the EAD Module. The Sensor is simply attached to the bass drum hoop and records the entire drum kit from this position. The bass drum itself activates a Trigger in the EAD Sensor, the entire kit is picked up by the two integrated microphones. These signals are transmitted via two cables to the EAD Module where they can be processed with effects. The result, Yamaha says, is a high quality recording of the processed sound, which can be monitored through headphones, a PA system or sent to a laptop or mobile devise via USB.
The EAD Module also offers the option of extending and layering the acoustic drum sound with more than 750 built-in Samples or up to the user’s own100 sounds. For this purpose, the Module offers Inputs for up to six Triggers such as the Yamaha DT50, which can also be used with additional Pads instead of sensors attached to the drums. A trigger for the bass drum is integrated in the EAD Sensor. When the EAD10 is connected to a computer with the appropriate software, the configured sound can be recorded directly. This quickly and easily results in great drum recordings without the need for additional microphones or studio equipment.
Paired with the EAD10 is the free iOS App Rec’n’Share. This makes it possible to shoot videos of performances, which can then be stored and uploaded to social media or YouTube. To learn and rehearse songs, the music can be played back at different tempos in the App, with the option of an automatically generated clicktrack. Jamming to favourite music is also possible without the App: an AUX input on the EAD10 allows the user to play along with favourite tracks.
Gavin Thomas, Yamaha Drums UK Marketing Manager says: ‘Simply, the most creative product Yamaha have ever designed for drums in my opinion. With EAD you will smile as you drum along with your favourite songs and enjoy your own drum kit like never before, then you will wonder how you have ever managed to live without it. You feel like a rock star when you sat behind EAD and trust me it feels good.’
The Yamaha EAD10 consists of the EAD Sensor and the EAD Module and has an SRP or £556 including VAT.
Info: www.uk.yamaha.com
Sabian has introduced a set of five conically-shaped micro-splashes, sized in quarter-inch increments from 4.75″ to 5.75″ called the Tollspire Chimes. Crafted from Sabian B20 Bronze, they are rolled and tempered from splash-thickness blanks, then formed into a cupless, conical shape. Sabian says the result is: ‘…a compelling combination of chime, bell and splash, offering melodic sounds that will appeal to a super-wide range of players – from prog rock to drum-corp and marching.
‘Although they are not tuned to specific notes, they provide superb melodic movement utilising differences in pitch and size. Additionally, their distinct white noise factor – a function of the conical shape – provides a warm “church bells in the distance” effect. As a result, drummers and percussionists seeking a unique set of melodic chimes or micro splashes should consider adding Tollspire Chimes to their set-up. They are guaranteed to inspire creativity in drummers from virtually any genre’.
Sabian Tollspire Chimes include a mini-tree mount with universal multi-clamp to fit most common cymbal and percussion stands.
Info: www.sabian.com
London-based multi-instrumentalist and percussionist Pete Lockett has become an official endorser of Latin Percussion (LP). One of the world’s most respected percussionists, Lockett is best known for his diverse body of work including recording and touring with Björk, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Dido, Bill Bruford, Jeff Beck and Noel Gallagher among many others.
‘The diversity and range of LP’s hand crafted instruments will open up huge new worlds of possibilities in my playing. It is very exciting to begin creating music with these amazing instruments,’ says Lockett.
Info: www.lpmusic.com
© Drummer's Review 2025
Follow us on our socials!
