Since joining The Luka State back in 2014, the band have gained an impressive following, from their debut album, “Fall In, Fall Out”, to collaborating with Dream League Soccer in 2018, where their song “Bring This All Together” was also used by Sky Sports across Europe 350 times a day. With a record deal signed with Shelter Music / BMG across Europe in November 2020, the band are set to continue their charge and Jake’s Mapex kit had been there all the way.
“The Mapex community has such a family feel, and it’s great to have found my place within the team! The quality speaks for itself and I’m just here to play the way I play and give them a good beating whilst flying the flag”.
UK Artist Manager, Martin Potts, said “With so much having already happened for the band, it was the right time to reach out to Jake and add him to our artist roster, upgrading his existing Mapex kit to the most recent Saturn Evolution.
We’re all really excited to have him on board and see what’s next for Jake and the band – there’s lots of content already planned for the upcoming shows, so watch this space!”
Jake is playing a Saturn Evolution Hybrid kit in Gun Metal Grey – Maple/Walnut 22×16 Bass Drum with Birch/Walnut 12×8 and 16×16 toms – with a Black Panther Predator 14×6 Copper Snare and Falcon Hardware.
Having just returned from a sell-out show in Gibraltar, the band are now back in the studio for rehearsals ahead of a headline tour across The UK and Europe, with some shows already at capacity, so check out www.thelukastate.com for more info and watch out for tour footage coming soon!
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.
Gretsch Brand Manager Andrew Shreve comments “This is such a versatile drum, perfect for live or studio playing with a crisp, bright tone which will complement a range of drumming styles and genres.”
For more information about the 5×14” Black Nickel over Steel Snare drum (S1-0514-BNS), other Gretsch drums and artists please visit 
