127th AES Convention Coverage (New York, NY Oct. 9-12)

Modern Drummer "New & Notable" (Apr 2006)

The Steve And Manu Show

Yamaha Steve Gadd And Manu Katché Drumkits

Studio and touring legend Steve Gadd has played Yamaha drums for thirty years. To commemorate this special milestone, Yamaha has created the Steve Gadd Signature 30th Anniversary drumset—a replica of the custom kit that Steve has played for the past twenty years. Only fifty of these limited-edition kits will be manufactured, and they'll come with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by Steve.

The 30th Anniversary drumset consists of a Steve Gadd signature 51/2x14 snare, a 14x22 Maple Custom bass drum, 71/2x10 and 8x12 Maple Custom rack toms, and 12x14 and 14x16 Birch Custom Absolute suspended floor toms. All toms have chrome Maple Custom style lugs with black hoops; the snare drum features black chrome aluminum die-cast hoops. List price was not available at press time.

Also new from Yamaha is a choice of black or silver lacquer finish on the lightweight and compact Manu Katché Signature Junior drumkit. The kit includes a 16x16 9-ply bass drum, a 12x13 6-ply floor tom, a 7x10 rack tom, and a 5x12 snare, all featuring Philippine mahogany shells. Yamaha's top-quality hardware, including a stand specifically designed to fit the smaller-diameter snare drum, comes standard. List price is $1,339. (714) 522-9011, www.yamahadrums.com

It's Not Always About Bronze

Zildjian/Body Glove Bags, Taylor Hawkins Sticks, And Mezzo Multi-Rods

Zildjian now offers cymbal and drumstick bags designed in cooperation with the Body Glove Corporation. The Zildjian/Body Glove drumstick bag ($39.95) features heavy-duty nylon construction, multiple storage pockets, a shoulder strap, a handle, and tom hanger cords. Embroidered Zildjian and Body Glove logos make a strong visual statement. The Z/BG cymbal bag ($124.95) carries cymbals up to 22" in diameter, with padded internal separators, multiple external zippered compartments, and padded backpack straps for carrying comfort. The Z/BG cymbal rollerbag ($184.95) offers the style and quality of the cymbal backpack, with a balanced, tip-resistant design, a telescoping handle, a semi rigid bottom, and the additional convenience of rolling.

Zildjian's Taylor Hawkins drumstick is similar to a 5B, but features a larger, more rounded tip for full tones and great projection. With a length of 157/8" and a diameter of .600", the Hawkins stick is said to be well-balanced and versatile, making it excellent for rock music. Taylor's stick carries his signature as well as his distinctive tattoo Hawk artwork. List price is $14.40 per pair.

Zildjian's Mezzo series specialty sticks are specifically designed for lower-volume playing. The Mezzo 1 features seven birch dowels surrounding a larger center dowel to produce a bright, focused tone with a cohesive feel. The Mezzo 2 has a grouping of nineteen smaller dowels for a more delicate sound, with a softer feel. Adjustable O-rings let the player control the dowels' spread to customize the sound. Both models are 16" long, with a handle diameter of .600". They feature vibrant orange handles and sealed end caps, and they list for $24.95 per pair. (781) 871-2200, www.zildjian.com

Power To The People

Mapex QR Series And New Pro M Configurations

Mapex's new QR drum series is designed to provide the first-time drum buyer with an economical, full-featured drumset. It features 9-ply, 7.2-mm basswood shells with single-point-of-contact lugs and the Mapex Isolated Tom System (ITS). Also included is a complete package of 300 Series double-braced hardware, a pair of 14" hi-hats and a 16" crash cymbal, and an instructional DVD featuring Mapex educational director Dom Famularo. Kits are available in three five-piece configurations, in Angel Wing and Onyx Sparkle covered finishes. Each configuration lists for $726.

Also from Mapex are two new configurations in the all-maple Pro M series. The four-piece Classic configuration ($1,829, with hardware) consists of the 20x22 bass, a 9x12 rack tom, a 16x16 floor tom, and a 7x14 snare drum. It's available in new Bermuda Sparkle and Platinum Sparkle finishes. The Classic Plus configuration ($2,229 with hardware) adds a 10x13 rack tom and a 16x18 floor tom, and is available in all nine standard Pro M finishes. As an introductory incentive, Mapex is including a padded drum bag set with the purchase of a Classic or Classic Plus kit.

Finally, Mapex has extended its "6 for 5" M Birch promotion, and has added a new "7 for 6" campaign. These promotions reward all purchasers of Mapex M Birch drumsets with a free 8" or 10" tom, plus mounting hardware. (615) 793-2050, www.mapexdrums.com

On Your Mark...Get Set...

Vic Firth Educational And Practice Tools

The Vic Firth Fresh Approach Starter Pack includes A Fresh Approach To The Snare Drum (book/CD package) by Mark Wessels, as well as a Vic Firth Rudiment Poster that presents all forty of the Percussive Arts Society's Essential Snare Drum Rudiments. The pack also comes with a pair of American Custom SD1 maple sticks, which are light and well-balanced for the young student. The 4" playing area of the included Heavy Hitter Exactopad forces the student to place the beads of the sticks together, which is important for creating an even sound from hand to hand. List price is $67.

Vic Firth Drumset Mutes have been improved for ease of use and durability. They're made of non-slip rubber for authentic sticking action. Bass drum mutes feature a cutout for worry-free clearance of the foot pedal chain, and they fasten quickly with three small hook-and-loop fastener attachments. There are ten individual mute sizes to choose from, as well as two pre-packs.

The VICPAD9 ($65) and VICPAD12 ($73) practice pads feature a snare sound for practicing grooves. Both offer a soft rubber playing surface for quiet practicing and an appropriate snare drum feel, as well as a hard rubber surface for a more intense workout. (781) 326-3455, www.vicfirth.com

The Full Package

Head Drums Stave-Construction Drumkits

Head Drums, known for snare drums that feature thin-shell stave construction, is now applying that construction method to the creation of full drumkits. All even drum sizes from 6" to 24" (plus 13") are available, in a wide range of wood types and shell depths.

Head Drums believes that thin-shell stave construction creates the most sensitive and resonant shells available. The six-piece Douglas fir kit pictured is made with all the drum shells built using a 3:4 ratio of height to diameter in order to ensure consistent tone and responsiveness across the whole kit. Kit pricing ranges from $1,800 to $4,000 depending on the number of drums and the wood species. (303) 986-5207, www.headdrums.com

Dream It, Build It, Play It

Remo Handle-Leg Connectors For Sound Shapes And Ergo-Drum System

Handle-Leg Connectors (HLC) is a new system for connecting Remo Sound Shapes together to create drumsets. Invented by ethnomusicologist and educator Dr. Craig Woodson, the HLC unit is basically a vise that holds the Sound Shapes between durable Acousticon material and is tightened with a twisting motion. The connectors come in a variety of shapes and colors.

The system is said to be easy to assemble and disassemble. Once together, the smaller drumsets can be held with one hand and played by the other, or can be placed on the floor and played with two beaters. The Handle-Leg Connectors come in several packages. Other accessory connectors are available to help create virtually any configuration.

Remo has also introduced a new world percussion line that features the Ergo-Drum System. The system, based on a Middle Eastern design, involves an ergonomic counterhoop and bearing edge for improved overall playing comfort. Fiberglass is fused with high-impact thermoplastic to create instruments robust enough to survive any outdoor drumming activity, educational program, or professional tour schedule. The new line features Remo drumheads, Acousticon drumshells, recessed tuning, and Designer's Touch finishes. The first instrument to be released is a doumbek; other world percussion drums will soon follow. (661) 294-5600, www.remo.com

The Naked Truth

Vater Nude Series Sticks, Chop Builder Pads, And Grip Tape

Vater has introduced the Nude Series, a line of drumsticks with no finish or lacquer. Core models include 5A, 5B, and Power 5B sizes, each available in wood ($12.45) and nylon tip ($12.90) versions. The unfinished sticks have a sanded grip said to be excellent for drummers who have problems with stick slippage due to hand perspiration.

Chop Builder Pads are designed to offer practicing surfaces that are suitable for any drummer's personal needs. All single-sided pads feature a non-skid rubber base and an 8-mm screw for mounting the pad on a cymbal stand. Models and list prices include: 6" Soft—$22.95; 6" Hard—$22.95; 12" Single-Sided Soft—$39.95; 12" Double-Sided (one side soft, one side hard)—$49.95; 12" Single-Sided Split (half soft, half hard)—$59.95.

Vater's new reusable linen-based Grip Tape is durable and absorbent, and dries quickly. Each package contains four rolls to wrap two pairs of sticks, and each roll contains two end tapes for extra security on the stick. Grip Tape is available in white, black, red, and gray. List price is $11.95 per package. (781) 767-1877, www.vater.com

And What's More

GUARDIAN offers cymbal and hardware cases with durable thermoplastic exteriors. The cymbal case ($92.59) holds up to five cymbals and features a handle and wheels for rolling or carrying. The hardware case ($174.99) features two flight-style latches, internal security straps, and a handle and wheels. (415) 570-0970, www.guardiancases.com

ROLAND has partnered with KAMAN MUSIC CORP to create and distribute the Vic Firth Educational Percussion Rhythm Coach Virtuoso Kit. The new kit combines Roland's RMP-3 Rhythm Coach electronic practice pad with Vic Firth's 32-note bells. Also included are stand components for both units, an AC adapter for the Rhythm Coach, Vic Firth drumsticks and mallets, a detachable music rack for the bells, and peel-off letter stickers in place of stamped pitch letter names on the bell bars. A fully padded deluxe nylon traveler bag with wheels and retractable handle completes the kit. (860) 509-8888, www.vicfirth.com

PRO-MARK's DK50 high-torque drumkey is designed especially for the demands of the marching market. It's said to be exceptionally strong and able to provide plenty of leverage for the toughest situations, yet to be lightweight and compact. List price is $34.95. (877) PRO-MARK, www.promark.com

DOMINO INNOVATIONS has introduced two Modular Throw-off Match-Up Plate models to retrofit Nickelworks and Trick throw-offs to any DW or Tama snare drum with side-pull throw-offs, as well as to drums using Ludwig P-85 or generic Taiwanese throw-offs. The Modular Throw-Off Match-Up Plate secures the user's choice of throw-off to the snare drum by utilizing the drum's factory-drilled holes, thus eliminating the need for re-drilling the drum shell. (405) 728-1011, www.dwsnare.com

Drum builders and vintage drum restoration specialists BONZO DRUM COMPANY now offer a tabletop snare stand said to be perfect for drum show vendors, in-store displays, or collectors' showcases. The stand offers rigid placement of 14" and smaller snare drums, is tiltable, and rotates for complete viewing or playing angle. List price is $90. (678) 779-9099, www.bonzodrums.com

Beatnik Rhythmic Analyzers from ONBOARD RESEARCH are designed to improve any percussionist's rhythmic and timing performance skills. Each of the Beatnik's five built-in analyzers evaluates different aspects your time. Beatnik's touch-sensitive practice pad collects the dynamics and timing of every stroke (accurate to the nearest 512th note). Its large graphic display shows real-time and history screens that instantly reveal your technical strengths and weaknesses. List price is $189. (214) 239-4005, www.tuners.com

ACE PRODUCTS GROUP has added a wheeled bass drum bag to its line of Kaces HD series drum bags. Sporting five tour-grade casters, the case is engineered to effortlessly roll in and out of nearly any venue. Features include a water- and tear-resistant 600D luggage-grade shell melded to a thick layer of ultra-dense rigid foam padding, a fleece-lined interior, self-correcting luggage grade zippers, an interior mesh pocket for storing extra drumheads, and adjustable double rubber handles to assist in navigating stairs and curbs. The 18x22 bag lists for $169. (707) 765-1500, www.aceproducts.com