DW Design Series Shell finish options
Continue readingDW Design Series | Premium DW Drums at an affordable cost
Thomas Lang | Superhuman drumming
If you have been a drummer for a couple of years you have likely come across the name Thomas Lang. He is a household name in the drumming community. That is for good reason.
Thomas Lang is a prime example of how dedication and hard work can lead to you becoming a master of your craft.
Let’s find out more about Thomas Lang and what makes him such a great player.
Skip ahead
Who is Thomas Lang?
Thomas Lang is a professional drummer from Vienna, Austria born on 5th August 1967. Thomas started playing the drums at the age of five he took a combination of lessons at his school and private tuition. Thomas later went on to study at the Vienna Conservatory of Music.
From then it was time to go from studying to creating a career. Thomas began working with various artists in Europe in the 1980s recording and touring. He later moved his base of operations to London, UK as his career grew and became global.
Thomas is still touring and recording with musicians internationally as is currently based in California, USA.
Artists Thomas Lang has played for
Thomas Lang has worked with an astonishing amount of artists over his career. Here is a list of people he has worked with.
- Paul Gilbert (Racer X/Mr. Big)
- John Wetton (Asia/King Crimson)
- Robert Fripp
- Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple)
- UK
- Eddie Jobson
- Robbie Williams
- Kelly Clarkson
- Sugababes
- Geri Halliwell
- Emma Burton (“Baby Spice”)
- Victoria Beckham (“Posh Spice”)
- Ronan Keating
- Steve Hackett (Genesis)
- Boyzone
- 911
- Falco
- Nina Hagen
- Steve Jones
- Mick Jones (The Clash)
- The Commodores
- George Michael
- Doogie White (Rainbow)
- Bill Liesegang
- The Blockheads
- Gianna Nannini
- Sertab Erener
- Jens Lindemann
- Vienna Art Orchestra
- Bonnie Tyler
- Save The Robots
- StOrk
- Terabite
- Schwarzenator
- Vinnie Valentino
- Gregg Howe
- Page Hamilton (Helmet)
- Mark Bonilla (Montrose)
- Many many more
Music releases
As well as working with an impressive amount of artists, Thomas Lang has also released several solo albums and collaborations.
Solo releases:
- Mediator (1995)
- Something Along The Lines (2002)
- Progpop (2019)
Collaborations:
- Thomas Lang & Conrad Schenk – Yumaflex (2008)
- StOrk – Self Titled (2009)
- StOrk – Broken Pieces (2013)
- Terabite (2010)
- Robo Sapiens (2018)
Thomas Langs latest solo release, Progpop, shows some of some his incredibly creative playing. The album combines intricate drum patterns combined with many different genres covering and not limited to pop, rock, prog and fusion.
As well as listening to this album I also suggest watching some of Thomas’s playthrough videos. You don’t quite realize the complexity of the parts until you see them.
Here is the playthrough of Time from Progpop.
Awards
Thomas Lang has been winning drum awards since the 1990s. He has won them from the largest global drum magazines including Drum Magazine, Rhythm magazine, Modern Drummer Magazine and many many more.
Here are some of the awards he has won.
- 1999, 2001: Best Studio Drummer (Rhythm magazine)
- 2002: Best Pop Drummer, Best All-Around Drummer (Rhythm Magazine)
- 2002: Best Drummer (Drums And Percussion Magazine)
- 2003: Best Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine)
- 2004: best DVD, Best Clinician runner Up, best Drummer runner up (Modern Drummer Magazine)
- 2004: Best DVD, Best signature product, Best Drummer (Drummer Magazine) Best Studio Drummer (Rhythm Magazine), Best Recorded Drum Performance (Sticks Magazine),
- 2005: Best Pop Drummer, Best Clinician, Best Solo SDrum performance (Rhythm magician), Best DVD, best All-Around Drummer, Best Drum Event (Drummer magazine), Best Drum Clinician (DRUM Magazine), Best Drumming Video/DVD (DRUM Magazine)
- 2006: Best DVD, Best Drummer (Rhythm Magazine)
- 2007: best DVD, Best Drummer (Rhythm Magazine, Modern Drummer Magazine) Aurora Gold Award
- 2007 (Best Video Production), Best Clinician 2007 (Modern Drummer Magazine).
- 2008: Best Educator/Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine), Best Clinician (DRUM Magazine)
- 2015: Best Educator/Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine)
- 2016: Best Educator/Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine)
- 2017: Best Educator/Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine, Rhythm magazine)
- 2018: Best Educator/Clinician (Modern Drummer Magazine)
What is unique about Thomas Langs playing?
I remember the first time I saw Thomas Lang perform a clinic back in the early 2000s. I was blown away by his playing. Immense power, speed, dynamics and limb independence. It is hard to take it all in and without seeing it you would struggle to believe it is one person behind the kit.
Thomas Lang is an advocate for being able to play everything he can with his hands with his feet. This is no easy job and has taken many hours, day and years to get to his level. This does put Thomas in a league of his own when it comes to the variety of things he can do behind the kit. He has more limbs and sound choices than most professional drummers.
From this image here you can see there are a lot of pedals compared to the average drum kit. On the left side he will typically have a snare sound, a crasher sound, hi hat and bass drum.
Having all the chops doesn’t mean Thomas doesn’t have the groove. Like all pro drummers, Thomas knows the groove pays the bills. That is a drummer’s key job and he certainly delivers.
Learn how to play the drums like Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang has a collection of learning resources that are worth looking into. As Thomas is a very advanced player, his DVDs are pretty intimidating at first. The DVDs are broken up nicely to not overwhelm you though. They are broken up into music performances, drum solos and interviews. It is unlikely you will learn everything on these resources but there are some great nuggets to take away.
They helped me immensely in my earlier days of double bass playing and they are very inspiring to see where you can get if you put in the hard work.
Thomas Lang DVDs
- Ultimatives Schlagzeug Part I and II (1995)
- Creative Control (2003) See on Amazon
- Creative Coordination And Advanced Foot Techniques (2006) See on Amazon
Thomas also has a dedicated online school at www.thomaslangsdrumuniverse.com and often appears on other online drum tuition websites. Check out this lesson he did for Drumeo. In this 1 hour lesson, you will pick up days of things to work on to improve your drumming.
Drumming Bootcamps & The Big Drum Bonanza
In 2007 Thomas introduced the “Drumming Bootcamps” which were the first of his kind. At these events, you attend a camp hosted by Thomas were you would learn from him and guest drummers. Over 120 of these in 35 different countries were hosted.
In 2011, Thomas launched The Big Drum Bonanza. This event happens once a year in Los Angeles and each year some of the worlds best drummers appear alongside Thomas to teach you.
Thomas Langs drumkit
If you have watched any of Thomas’s DVDs you will know that he has some monstrous drum kits. Although he doesn’t always play a kit this size, his endorsed brands are consistent.
Endorsements
- Meinl Cymbals
- DW Drums
- Vic Firth Sticks
- Remo drum heads
- Roland Electronics
- Audix Microphones
- QSC speakers and amps
- Klotz cables and accessories
- Ahead Armor cases
- Queens Guard accessories
- Puresound snare wires
- Drumtacs mufflers
- Tuner Fish lug locks
Wow. What a list!
Thomas Lang signature products
Thomas Lang has a range of signature products including sticks and a selection of Meinl cymbals. I don’t know any drummers that have released as many signature cymbals as Thomas. It is a real testament to his innovation with the instrument and drive to find his unique sound.
Meinl Filter Chinas
These are very fast chinas made out of a custom alloy. They are perfect for accents in fast fills and grooves.
Available in 8″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ or as 10″, 12″, 14″ with jingles.
Meinl 18″ Super Stack
This is a fast cutting stack made with two B10 Classic Custom cymbals. It is made up of a china and a crash both with holes cut into the cymbals. It has a deeper sound as far as stacks go.
Meinl Byzance Brilliant Fast Hi-Hats
These are a great sounding pair of hi-hats. As mentioned in the title and like most of the Thomas Lang signature cymbals, these have a fast sound. They also have a nice clear stick definition. The hats are made of two different finish cymbals. A brilliant on the top and a dark finish on the bottom. Both the top and bottom cymbals also feature eight small holes around the edge of the cymbals. These are available as either 13″ or 14″.
Vic Firth Thomas Lang Signature Sticks
If you are looking for a fat and heavy stick, look no further. These signature sticks are fatter and heavier than the average stick. Almost a 2B on steroids. They also feature an overside tear drop tip for extra stick definition. The white finish also gives these sticks a great aesthetic. These sticks aren’t for the faint-hearted.
Meinl Thomas Lang Practice Pad
This is a great pad for on the road or for at home. It is the same as other practice pads offered by Meinl but it comes with the Thomas Lang graphics. The pad has a rubber bottom to stop it from moving on a flat surface or it can be mounted to any standard size cymbal stand.
If you like this pad but are looking for an option with different graphics, we recommend checking out the Benny Greb practice pad from Meinl.
Where can I find more
Thomas is available all over the web! Make sure you check out more from him on the links below.
Final thoughts
Thomas Lang is a superhuman drummer. He seems to have it all and it is a sight to behold when you see him perform. The scary thing is that he still seems to be getting better. Can he not give us a chance to catch up? 😛
He has been a huge inspiration to me and thousands of drummers around the globe. A true ambassador for drumming and drummers.
Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle Drumsticks | Longer sticks for the modern drummer
Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle Drumsticks have been designed to meet the needs of the modern drummer. Drummers are after sticks that can be flexible to different playing needs.
This is where the Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle sticks aim to shine.
Skip ahead
What is unique about the Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle Drumsticks?
The Vic Firth Freestyle sticks are longer than the average drumstick. These are drumsticks have a length of 17″ which is around 1″ longer than the average drumstick.
The drumsticks also have an extra-long taper increasing the fulcrum (balance) on the stick.
The Freestyle drumsticks are made from hickory with a lacquer finish like the other models offered by Vic Firth. This gives them a familiar feel in your hand.
The final difference compared to the American Classic sticks is that these feature a hybrid tip shape. This sits between a teardrop and a round tip. It aims to give you a similar feel to a teardrop with a bit more ping when using the tip on cymbals. They also shouldn’t leave dents in your heads as you can get when playing heavier with round tips.
Who are these sticks for?
The Vic Firth Freestyle sticks are worth considering for several reasons.
The extra length of the Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle Drumsticks
It is becoming more common for drummers to want a longer stick to use when playing. Vic Firth has had an extreme line of sticks for many years that are longer but these sticks take things a step further.
Increased balance point
If you find the stick moving around in your hand a bit as you play this will be less of an issue with these sticks. Due to the extended fulcrum, you can afford for the stick to move a little without ruining the stick feel.
A diverse tip
A hybrid tip is a great option for drummers that have a diverse range of genres to cover. These tips give you the flexibility that you can’t get from the existing American Classic range and worth a try if you like teardrop feel but want more cymbal clarity.
What sizes are the Vic Firth American Concept Freestyle Drumsticks available in?
The Vic Firth Freestyle drumsticks are currently available in five sizes.
- Freestyle 5A
- Freestyle 5B
- Freestyle 7A
- Freestyle 55A
- Freestyle 85A
The model names match up against there equivalent sizes so if you normally play a 5A, Vic Firth would suggest trying the Freestyle 5A.
Where can I buy these sticks?
You can pick the Vic Firth Freestyle Sticks up from your local drum shop or most online retailers.
If you are going to order online, here are our top picks.
Our thoughts
Initially, I was sceptical about the Freestyle sticks. Are there many more ways to innovate on all the existing drumstick models? But the more I looked into them the more I can see the appeal.
Currently, as an Extreme 5B player, I am going to be trying the Freestyle 5B. The extra reach is always something I have liked from a drumstick and the hybrid tips are also an interesting addition.
The only downside I can see of these sticks is that they do cost an extra few dollars per pair. That doesn’t sound like much but it will add up over the years.
Overall, I think there is a lot to like with these sticks and they are worth a try if after a fresh feel. Drumsticks are all down to personal preference so they won’t be right for everyone. Pick up a pair and see how they feel.
Sabian AA Holy China | A deep dive into this incredible china cymbal
The Sabian AA Holy China has become a favourite amongst drummers. Holy China is a beast of a cymbal that has a distinct sound and unique look.
Since its original release in 2010, the Holy China has won many awards and the line has been expanded with more sizes. Let’s take a look at the Sabian AA Holy China and all the models available.
Table of contents
What is the Sabian AA Holy China
The Sabian AA Holy China is a B20 bronze china cymbal with distinct holes and a raw bell. The cymbal was designed with Chad Smith who had one aim in mind. A loud china cymbal.
Sabian have sure delivered on this brief by using several techniques that were still new in 2010. At the time of release, this was a unique cymbal in the market and has stood the test of time still being extremely popular today.
How does the AA Holy China get its sound?
The Sabian AA Holy China is made from Sabian’s signature B20 bronze. The Sabian AA line of cymbals aim to give you a tight and controlled sound but with intense volume when hit hard.
Several distinct features give this cymbal its unique sound.
To raise the pitch of the cymbal it features a higher profile.
To get more volume and sustain an array of holes have been cut into the bow of the cymbal. You will notice the holes are smaller than what you will see on most cymbals. This creates a smooth attack with less distortion vs larger holes. All these small holes give the AA Holy China its unique look which inspired the name.
The large raw bell adds a bit of extra cut to the sound, and let’s be honest, looks awesome.
Here is a great demo playing all the different sizes available.
Even though they have a trashy and powerful sound, they are still very musical.
What sizes are available?
The Sabian AA Holy Chinas are available in a wide selection of sizes. The cymbals are treated as two different models. The AA Hol Chinas and the AA Mini Holy Chinas.
Sabian AA Holy China Models
The Holy China comes in different sizes. 17″, 19″ and a monstrous 21″. These cymbals are available in a natural finish or a brilliant finish. The finish of the cymbal doesn’t affect the cymbal sound much, it is more down to how you like your cymbals to look.
Sabian AA Mini Holy China Models
The Sabian AA Mini Holy Chinas were released in 2017 and expand the sonic range of the original Holy Chinas. The cymbals have all the same characteristics of the main range, the raw bell and holes. They have an extremely short delay making them great for quick accents.
The Sabian AA Mini Holy Chinas are available in 8″, 10″ and 12″. The cymbals are also available in either a natural or brilliant finish.
Sabian Holy China Prototypes
Before the release of the AA Mini Holy Chinas, some Holy China prototypes were available in limited numbers. These we made in sizes 14″ and 15″. They sounded great but didn’t get a full release. If this is something you are after you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for some second-hand ones hitting the market.
Where can I buy the AA Holy Chinas?
Due to its popularity, the Sabian AA Holy Chinas are available from online music stores or your local music shop.
Here are our top picks for ordering online.
Our thoughts
If you are looking for a china cymbal that has a distinctive look and powerful sound the Sabian AA Holy Chinas are one of our top choices. I would say the natural finish chinas are some of the best looking available.
It is used by numerous professionals and has become a favourite china cymbal amongst drummers.
This is a china that is worth adding to your collection.
Luke Holland | From YouTube drummer to a world-touring pro
Luke Holland is arguably one of the biggest success stories of a drummer uploading videos to YouTube to becoming a full time professional. His journey has inspired countless others to follow his journey and attempt to replicate his success.
Let’s find out more about Luke Holland and his journey to becoming a professional drummer.
Table of contents
Who is Luke Holland?
Luke Holland is a drummer from Peoria, Arizona, the USA born June 14, 1993. He has been playing since the age of 10 after been inspired by his neighbours playing. Luke is a self-taught drummer and played snare in his high school marching band.
At the age of 15, Luke played with a local band Oceans Will Part. Luke did one recording with the band called Obsidian Resolve, a self-release from 2010.
The following year from joining Oceans Will Part, Luke decided to take to YouTube to promote his drumming. He started his channel in 2009 and called it LukeHollandDrums. At this time YouTube was very popular among drummers but no one had leapt from a YouTube drummer to a full time professional. Luke would become one of the first to buck this trend.
Luke Holland on YouTube
The early days
In the early days, Luke Hollands YouTube channel consisted of drum covers and remix. A drum cover is a version that is as close as possible to the original where a remix is a version that elaborates from the original. A typical example of a remix is taking a pop song, adding more complex grooves and a lot of fills. Think, chops… chops everywhere.
Apart from the tight playing, Luke had an extra element to get peoples attention. Stick tricks. And a lot of them. Stick tricks can be divisive among drummers but they helped Luke stand out from the crowd. And let’s be honest, fitting that many stick tricks into some of those metalcore songs aren’t easy.
The first big break
In 2010, Luke Holland filled in on drums for the band Texas In July. A year after starting his YouTube channel, this must-have given Luke the drive to continue down this path. It was also around this time Lukes YouTube channel also gained traction going from 1,000 subscribers to a rate of growth in the 1000’s per month.
Today the channel LukeHollanddrums has over 650K subscriber and over 104 million views!
Full-time gig with The Word Alive
After a few years of grinding Luke Holland landed his first full-time gig with the band The Word Alive. He joined the band in early 2012 as their full-time drummer.
With The Word Alive, Luke did a lot of touring around the world and recorded two albums with the band. “Real” in 2014 and “Dark Matter” in 2016.
This is an incredible experience for a drummer who had primarily focused on YouTube to that point. In late 2016, Luke decided it was time to leave the band to focus on session work (recording and live) as well his YouTube channel and teaching.
Becoming a session drummer
Since leaving The World Alive Luke has had a successful transition into a session player. Most notably, he has recorded for I See Stars on the album “Treehouse” and Jason Richardson on “I”.
The Jason Richardson recording was especially influential on Luke going from a professional drummer to a standout. The album “I” is a technical metal masterpiece and is packed with intricate and complex drumming. Luke also toured with Jason around the globe and as well as performing on notable drum platforms such as “The Drum Channel”.
The music recorded with Jason now forms part of Luke’s drum clinic performances.
What is he up to today
Luke still uploads content to his YouTube channel and has become what I would class as a drum ambassador. His is a known name amongst almost all drummers, appears at drum clinics around the world and has his signature product lines.
Luke has appeared on all the major drum tuition websites including The Drum Channel, Drumeo and 180 Drums.
He is known as a drummer and isn’t just seen as a member of a band (not that there is anything wrong with this). This is something that isn’t easy to achieve and Luke Holland has achieved this in record time.
Luke Holland music releases
Luke Holland has started releasing his own music in 2020. Currently he has two singles out “Katana” and “Who Can I Trust”. These songs are not what you might expect from him. The songs are hip hop and don’t focus on the drums as you might expect.
The songs are catchy and are worth checking out. It will be interesting to see where Luke takes this going forward.
What gear does Luke Holland use?
Luke has numerous endorsements from the top drum companies.
Here is a picture of a typical live setup.
Brands used:
Luke Holland signature products
As a popular drummer, Luke has some signature products. Let’s take a look at what is currently available.
Meinl Bullet Stack
This stack is Lukes signature cymbal with Meinl. It is a combination of a 12″ Classics Custom B10 cymbal and a 16″ Byzance B20 cymbal both of which are vented. The stack has a very fast attack whilst still being musical. It is perfect for sharp accents in grooves or quick fills.
Luke Holland Signature Drum Sticks
Luke’s signature sticks from Meinl Stick and Brush sit between a 5A and a 5B. We have a full article looking at these in-depth that you can check out here.
Luke Holland Merch
Luke also has a range of merch. This includes hoodies, shorts, sweatbands and more. To check these out you can visit his MerchNow site.
Find more of Luke Holland
Luckily you can find Luke all over the internet! Check out more of him on the links below.
Final thoughts
Luke is a prime example of how dedication and hard work can make you turn the drums from a passion to a full-time career. The best thing about it is that you put in the effort, this is something that anyone can achieve. Luke has created the template, you just need to follow it.
There is no doubt about it, Luke is a great player and has become a household name in the drumming community. We can’t wait to see his drumming improve even more and where his journey takes him next.
Direct Drive Bass Drum Pedals | Ultimate guide (2021)
Direct drive bass drum pedals have become increasingly more popular amongst drummers in the past 10 years. Originally adopted by metal drummers they are now becoming mainstream across drummers of all genres.
In this post, you will find everything you need to know about direct drive bass drum pedals.
Table of contents
What are direct drive bass drum pedals?
When the term direct drive bass drum pedal is used it is referring to the part of the pedal that connects the footboard and the cam.
Traditionally kick drum pedals use a chain or sometimes a belt to connect the two parts of the pedal whereas a direct drive pedal uses a metal connector and bearings instead.
The construction of the drive will vary by brand but that is the concept of the pedal.
Why choose a direct drive pedals
There are many different reasons you may want to consider a direct drive pedal vs a chain drive or belt drive. Let’s have a look at the differences below.
How they respond
The main advantage of a direct drive pedal is that they are fast to respond. This makes them ideal for fast playing. Hence why they initially became popular among metal drums who often play at higher tempos.
The main thing to consider is that you will have less power when compared to a chain drive pedal. Chain pedals don’t react as fast but the chain accelerates the beater towards the head with more power.
How the beaters return to the starting position
The second thing to consider is that on a direct drive pedal there is no delay between the footboard and pedal returning to their original position. As the connection between them is fixed when the footboard has returned the pedal is ready to go. A chain or strap pedal may have some lag between the board and the beater.
How much you can customise the feel
In most cases, direct-drive pedals are highly customisable. This means you can tweak the settings in intricate ways you may not get with a chain pedal.
This all depends on the pedal of course but in general, a chain drive pedal has more options to tweak the feel to your liking.
The history of direct drive pedals
Although direct drive kick drum pedals are popular today, they have been around a long time. The first popular direct drive pedal was the Ludwig Speed King. This was released in the 1950s and was a very popular pedal. Many people today still swear by those old pedals. They were manufacturer well and designed to last.
The next wave of innovation and the increase in popularity amongst metal drummers was lead by Axis pedals. In the 1990s they launched their direct drive pedal. The pedal became very popular due to its speed and how much the pedal could be customised.
Since the first Axis pedal, more pedals have entered the market. Many of these were smaller companies focusing on pedals but now the larger manufacturers such as Tama and Pearl have their versions of direct drive kick pedals.
What direct drive bass drum pedals are available today?
There is now a good selection of direct drive bass drum pedals available on the market. Here is a rundown of our top picks and what we think of them.
Ludwig L203 Speed King
This is an updated version of the classic Speed King pedal newly released for 2020. Almost identical to the original, the new version has had a few tweaks to improve performance.
The good
- A sturdy pedal that has stood the test of time
- Reasonable price
The bad
- Only available as a single pedal
- Limited customisation
Axis Longboards
Axis offer a variety of different pedal to meet each drummer’s requirements. For simplicity, we are going to look at the most popular Axis Pedal, the A Longboards.
These are great pedals that can be tweaked and tailored for your perfect feel. They are also available in multiple finishes and configurations.
The good
- Highly customisable
The bad
- Expensive
ACD Unlimited Darwin FTW
ACD Unlimited prides themselves on their extreme attention to detail and quality. They only offer a limited selection of products with the Darwin FTW pedal being one of their main products. It is a great pedal and almost every aspect can be customised to your playing style.
These pedals are also growing fast in popularity and have already been picked up by drummers such as Alex Rudinger and Siros Vaziri.
The good
- Extremely customisable
The bad
- Expensive
- Wait time on products
Trick Pro1-V
These are possibly the nicest looking bass drum pedals on the market. They are available in many configurations to meet your specific needs and can be customised to meet your playing style.
The good
- Customisable
The bad
- Expensive
Pearl Demon Drive Direct Drive
The Pearl Direct Demon Drive pedals are a great option for someone looking for their first direct-drive pedal. They aren’t as customisable as most of the pedals on this list but they come in at a better price point. This makes it a good option to test if you like the feel of direct drive vs a chain.
The good
- Reasonable price
The bad
- No longboard option
- Not as customisable
Tama Dyna-Sync Series
Overall the Tama pedal is very similar to that of the Pearl Demon Drive. It is a similar price point with similar amounts of customisation. This is another great option for players wanting to try a direct drive pedal.
The good
- Reasonable price
The bad
- No longboard option
Our thoughts
I am a huge fan of direct drive bass drum pedals. After switching to them around 10 years ago I can’t see myself ever going back to a chain-drive pedal.
This is of course my opinion though. Each player has their style and aim they want a pedal to achieve. It is extremely hard to explain the feel difference. It is one of those situations where you need to give one a go in person.
I would recommend visiting a local drum shop to try one out or see if a friend has one you can try. If those aren’t an option consider investing in one of the cheaper pedals, such as the Pearl or the Tama before making the larger investment into a more customisable pedal.
DW PurpleCore™ Drums | New shell technology for 2021
DW has just introduced its new PurpleCore™ drum shell technology. DW Drums are some of the best you can buy. The quality is outstanding and consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible. With all that being said, DW has managed to push the boundaries once again with its new PurpleCore™ shells.
Let’s see what is new about these shells and why you need to check them out.
Table of contents
What are DW PurpleCore™ shells?
DW has been trying to create a shell that features just short grains for some time. Most drum shells do feature short-grain plies but they are primarily made of long-grain plies.
Why short-grain plies?
Short-grains create a deep sound when compared to long-grains. The issue is that they have very little tension making it almost impossible to make a shell out of them. You need high tension to make drums shell hard and hold their shape.
| Short-grain ply | Long-grain ply |
| Deep sound | High sound |
| low tension | High tension |
This is why most drum manufacturers choose a combination of plys to get the sound and strength needed for a drum that lasts.
So how has DW overcome this issue?
DW has created a hybrid shell that is 9 plies with only one of them being long-grain. This is the PurpleCore™ drum shell technology.
The three inner cores are all purpleheart wood. Purpleheart wood is more dense than oak and provides ample attack and punch. Therefore this wood is ideal to act as the centre support for keeping these drums stong.
Of these three plies, one is long-grain and two are short-grain.
The remaining six short-grain plies that site three on either side of the purpleheart come in either maple, cherry or mahogany.
The shells also feature an addition 3-ply reinforcement hoop inside the shell for additional support.
What does DW PurpleCore™ Shells sound like?
They sound deeper than traditional shells whilst still maintaining the attack and presence you would want from your drum kit. This makes these shells ideal for a drummer who cherishes the sound of bigger toms without the need to have a bigger size kit. So rather than playing a 14″, 16″, 18″ tom setup, you could have a 10″, 12″ and 14″.
You can now bring that big sound to gigs in smaller venues just by having DW PurpleCore™ shells.
Have a listen to Thomas Lang playing a DW Maple PurpleCore™ Drum Kit.
Where can I buy a DW PurpleCore™ Drum Kit?
The DW PurpleCore™ are part of the DW Collectors Series range. These drums are made to order so they can be configured to your exact specification. This does make ordering a little trickier as you will need to find your local DW dealer and order through them. You can find USA distributors on the DW website.
Our thoughts
Just like everything DW makes, the PurpleCore™ kits sound unbelievable. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is first class and you won’t go far wrong buying one of these kits. We aren’t sure about the pricing of these kits but I can imagine it will be expensive. For anything new and innovative you always pay a premium price but I’m sure it will be worth the investment.
We can’t wait to see what incredible creations DW Drums comes up with next.
Siros Vaziri | Drummer | Passion and tasty playing
Siros Vaziri is a drummer who has gained a strong online following. Once you see one of his videos you will understand why.
He is a great player who is always striving to be the best he can be and his passion is immense. You can feel it flowing through the web into you.
Let’s find out more about Siros Vaziri.
Skip ahead
Who is Siros Vaziri?
Siros Vaziri is an independent drummer from Mariestad, Sweden born in 1995. If you do recognise him, it will likely be from his Instagram or Facebook content creation. On these pages, Siros focuses on short and informative lessons. These are great and give you a little challenge every day to work on.
Siros has successfully used his social channels to launch his drumming career. Since launching his channels he has become endorsed by a range of top drum companies and has gone on to do session work, clinics and drum festival appearances.
Siros also offers online drum lessons and offers his own “Daily Drum Bites” subscription service. With this, you get access to a short drum lesson every day or all of his content with the premium version. If you are looking for some daily inspiration to push your drumming this is a great resource.
Siros Vaziri on YouTube
If you are looking for some in-depth content from Siros his YouTube channel is the place to look. Although his YouTube following isn’t as strong as his other channels it is worth checking out. His past videos are primarily compilations of his Instagram content, some gear features and vlogs.
His new content is what I am enjoying the most though. Drummer reaction videos are growing in popularity but Siros has taken a different approach. Most of these type of videos are just drummers being stunned by other drummers playing. That is great and very entertaining but Siros doesn’t just react, he breaks down what the drummers are doing and helps you understand what they are doing. It is great to see the passion and enjoyment Siros get from drummers. It is infectious, entertaining and informative.
Here is a great example of his reaction series.
And one of his drum compilations.
Siros is such a tasteful player and a pleasure to watch.
What gear does Siros Vaziri use?
Siros if often changing his setup to keep his playing fresh. That being said, he has a strong selection of companies he endorses.
Here is a pic of one of the setups Siros has used over the years.
Gear used:
- Meinl Cymbals
- Tama Drums
- Evans Drumheads
- Promark Drumsticks
- ACD Unlimited Pedals
- sE Electronics Microphones
- Porter & Davies Thrones
- Low Boy Custom Beaters
- Drumtacs Dampeners
- Sound & Communication In-Ears
- Big Fat Snare Drum
Wow. What a list! For an in-depth look at the gear he uses, check out the gear list on his website.
Where can I find more?
As a primarily online-based player, you can find Siros in a range of places.
Make sure you check him at the places below:
Final thoughts
Siros is a very tasty player who oozes passion for the drums. I remember first coming across his content in 2017. It is amazing to see how far he has come since then. I can’t wait to see what he gets up to next in his drumming journey.
Electronic Drum Kit Splash Cymbal Pads | Which are the best?
Electronic drum kit splash cymbal pads are slowly starting to enter the market. As electronic drums have grown in popularity drummers are becoming accustomed to electronic pads that have the same look of the acoustic counterparts. Splash cymbals are no exception to this rule.
Look at how far electronic drums have comes since the octagon pads of the 1980s to the electronic drums of today. They are uncomparable.
Toms, snare, bass drums, hi-hats, rides and crash pads are commonplace on electric drum kits. It is now time for effect cymbals like electronic china cymbal pads and electronic splash cymbal pads to have their turn.
Skip ahead
Why would you want an electronic drum kit splash cymbal pad?
In reality, you don’t need one. On an electronic drum kit, any pad can be programmed to play any sound. So a crash cymbal pad can be used as a splash if you wanted. Even though this is the case, visually they don’t do the job.
One of the reasons drummers play is because of the striking beauty of a drum kit. Each one is unique and has a presence. For many years electronic drum kits haven’t had the same impact but in the past 10 years, they have come leaps and bounds. An electronic drum kit today can be just as cool as an acoustic one.
Even with all this progress, some elements have been missing. Such as the beloved splash cymbal. That being said, electronic drum kit splash cymbal pads are starting to become available though and we are happy to see this.
What electric splash cymbals are available currently?
Let’s take a look at the electronic splash cymbal pads currently available on the market. We will take you through all the splash pads we are aware of and what are thoughts are.
Realistic looking splash pads
Triggera D11 11″ Splash Cymbal Pad
This 11″ splash pad from Triggera is a great option for players not wanting to spend a lot of money. At only £42, that is incredibly cheap for a cymbal pad. This pad only has one zone, for a splash cymbal, this isn’t an issue as a splash cymbal is only used for that one sound.
It is worth noting that it can’t be chocked though. If this is something you often do with your splashes these might not be the option for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great price | Can’t choke the sound |
| Looks like a splash cymbal | Is a fairly loud pad |
The Triggera splash pad is currently available for order on Thomann. Check it out below.
ATV aDrums Artist Series Splash Cymbals
ATV is leading the way as far as the selection of cymbal pads available. Splashes are no exception to this. Currently, ATV has two different size splash pads available. A 10″ and 12″ version.
The splash cymbals feature three zones, bow/ edge/ bell. ATV also paid particular attention to how the cymbals feel to try and replicate acoustic cymbals as closely as possible.
The ATV splash pads are great but they are pricey.
| Pros | Cons |
| Looks great | Expensive |
| Natural feel pad | |
| 3 zone pad |
The ATV splash pad are currently available on Thomann and Gear4music. Check out the links below.
Alternative pads that can be used as splashes
So as you can see the range of splash cymbal pads is currently very limited. Here are a couple of smaller cymbal pads that could be used as a splash but don’t have the full aesthetic appeal.
Roland CY-5 Dual Trigger Cymbal
There is no doubt about it, Roland makes great electronic drums. They don’t sell a proper “splash pad” but they do offer a smaller 12″ pad that can be used as one.
Out of the alternative pads featured the CY-5 is the only pad that has two zones and choking capabilities.
The Roland CY-5 pad is available from Thomann and Gear4music.
Millenium MPS-200 Mono Cymbal Pad
This offering from Thomann is a great option for a drummer on a budget. It is a single zone pad and is 12″ in size. Much like the Roland pad, it doesn’t look like a splash but is the right kind of size.
The Millenium pad is currently available at Thomann.
Digital Drums Electronic Cymbal Pad
This pad from Digital Drums is extremely similar to that of the Millenium pad but is 10″ rather than 12″. Another great option for drummers on a budget at only £24.99.
The Digital Drums Pads is currently available at Gear4music.
Our thoughts
It is great to see electronic splash cymbal pads coming to the market. It is still early days though and the choices are limited. My top pick would have to be the ATV splashes, they look great and have 3 zones. If you have the money, this is the one to get.
Hopefully, over the next few years, we will see more manufacturers introducing their own splash cymbal pads to the market.
Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride (new for 2021)
The Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride is brand new for 2021. For a long time, I’ve wanted cymbal manufacturers to produce a smaller ride for using on the left side of the hi-hats. A few smaller ride have been released over the years but now it is time to see what Meinl can do.
Let’s have an in-depth look at this new 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride from Meinl.
Skip ahead
Who is the Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride for?
This 18″ big bell ride is part of the Meinl Classic Custom Dark line. This range of cymbals has been created with rock, metal and extreme metal drummers in mind.
These cymbals are aggressive, loud but still have a great tone. Not to mention visually stunning.
The Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heazy Big Bell Ride fits this range as big bell rides are primarily for metal drummers. They have a nice ping on the body of the cymbal with a cutting bell for accents. Perfect for extreme metal music at high tempos where clarity of each hit is needed.
What is the ride made from?
The Meinl Classic Custom Dark cymbals are made from a B10 bronze alloy using Meinl’s high-tech computerized manufacturing. Meinl seems to have a secret technique that allows them to get amazing-sounding cymbals from B10 bronze. Combining this with the fact the cymbals aren’t hand-hammered means they are cheaper than the top of the range B20 bronze cymbals.
So in short, you are getting a great sounding big bell ride cymbal without breaking the bank.
Features:
- Material – B10 bronze
- Size – 18″
- Weight – Extra heavy
- Finish – Dark
What does the Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride sound like?
As this cymbal has been designed with extreme metal drummers in mind, it has the things you would be looking for if you play blast beats and fast metal grooves. It has an explosive and cutting sound with a fast response and a short decay.
The body and the beg of this ride sound great and are perfect for metal drumming as designed.
As you usually get from big bell rides, the crash sound isn’t great. It is very washy with a long sustain. In all honesty, though, this isn’t what you are buying this ride for though.
Check out what the heavy big bell ride sounds like in this demo from Meinl.
Where can I buy a Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride?
Luckily for you, Meinl Cymbals can be ordered from most online music stores or your local drum shop. If you are looking to order online, here are some of our favourite suppliers.
Our thoughts
The Meinl Classic Custom Dark 18″ Heavy Big Bell Ride is an incredible cymbal for the cost. If you are looking for a ride for extreme metal this has to be at the top of your list for consideration. If you are looking for a left side ride for open handed pattern combinations there is no need to look any further.
We love this ride from Meinl and can’t wait to see what innovative cymbals they come out with next.
