Tina Clarke is joining British Drum Co. as Artist Relations Manager. With a wealth of experience as International Artist Relations Manager at Avedis Zildjian, Tina is perfectly suited to the role of Artist Relations Manager at British Drum Co, supporting artists as they promote the BDC brand on a global basis.
Mel Stewart, Brand Development Manager at British Drum Co., says, “Everyone at British Drum Co. is really excited at the prospect of Tina joining the team. Tina possesses a unique set of skills and such a breadth of experience that will benefit BDC as it continues to grow its brand globally. We believe that British Drum Co. will give Tina the perfect platform to continue her career doing what she does best with a growing family of world class artists. We cannot wait to begin this journey and look forward to a bright and promising future together.”
Tina is equally thrilled at the new opportunities that British Drum Co. presents. “I’m excited to be joining the British Drum Company as their Artist Relations Manager. BDC is a drum brand that I’ve long respected due to the craftsmanship and beauty of their drums and the spirit of the company. Their enthusiasm, dedication and passion for drums and the drum community as a whole, is both inspiring and contagious. I’m looking forward to my new role, continuing to work with world-class artists and seeing what the future will bring for BDC globally”.
Keith Keough, CEO of British Drum Co. is very enthusiastic about Tina’s decision to join BDC. “Tina is a colossus in the drum world. She commands respect from everyone who works with her because she knows everything about the challenges that face brands in the world of drums and drumming. Personally, I am delighted that Tina has accepted our invitation to join the BDC family and I cannot wait to start working with her.”
British Drum Co. Managing Director, Al Murray, added, “Tina’s decision to join us at British Drum Co. is, for me, a really big deal. Every one in the industry knows and respects Tina for her dedication to her artists. I have known Tina for many years and always been impressed by the regard in which she is held, and now she is part of the BDC family – I couldn’t be happier! Welcome aboard Tina!”
British Drum Co., which launched in September 2015, was founded by master drum maker Keith Keough; Kasabian drummer Ian Matthews; top-level marching specialist Stu Warmington; and award winning comedian and drum enthusiast Al Murray, aka The Pub Landlord. The ranks expanded when in 2017 The Verve &Charlatans drummer, Pete Salisbury, joined the company.
The plugs feature a patented adjustable membrane that can be fine-tuned to give you between 7db to 25db of noise reduction courtesy of a smooth-feeling, step-less dial situated on each of the plugs. This passive filter is designed to give a very flat frequency response in order to give as natural a sound as possible, with highs, mids and lows remaining clear and only volume being reduced. Coupled with this, the plugs come supplied with a range of different sized and shaped tips ranging from triple tiered cones to smaller buds to ensure a good seal can be formed once the plugs are in place. Rounding things out are a handy carry case, thin connecting cord and cleaning brush, all available for a recommended retail price of USD $159.00 which includes a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Once unpacked, the first thing to do is to spend a little time trying out different sized tips until you find the perfect fit for your ear(s). Once done, which takes a matter of minutes, the plugs feel comfortable and secure, and having worn them for a considerable amount of time (throughout a four-hour rehearsal), remain so throughout. Sound-wise, Minuendo claim that their membrane gives a “clear and natural sound”, which I can certainly confirm. Whether at the lowest setting of -7db, or at a full -25db, the plugs give a very clean volume reduction while maintaining clarity and a full frequency response. To test this further, I swapped the plugs for a pair of soft silicone plugs and the difference was immediately noticeable as I lost most of the low and high frequencies and was left with a thin-sounding, mid-heavy, muffled sounding mix. The inclusion of gearless dials on each plug to allow you to choose how much reduction you require is especially useful, as it allows you to quickly and effortlessly react to any changes in the immediate environment. For instance, this was particularly useful in a rehearsal setting as I could switch between full reduction while playing to much less while talking, saving the frustrating job of having to remove/re-insert plugs every few minutes as I’ve often had to do previously with more traditional plugs.
Coming in at $159.00, the Minuendo Lossless Earplugs are somewhat of an investment, especially if you only compare them to the cheaper, widely available plugs that are readily available on the market. However, if you start searching for custom-made moulded plugs that offer the same values that the Lossless Earplugs offer, you quickly realise that they are pretty competitively priced especially considering the innovations and options they provide. After using the plugs quite extensively, I didn’t come across any negative points, and was particularly impressed with the adjustable filter and clear, clean sound they supply. As stated at the beginning, all musicians need to be protective of their hearing, and I’d highly recommend these to any musician, regardless of age or level, to ensure their hearing is protected for years to come.
