El Estepario Siberiano is blowing up online. It is easy to see why with his incredible drumming and charisma. Let’s find out more about this incredible drummer.
Jorge Garrido “El Estepario Siberiano” is a 24-year-old drummer from Valencia, Spain. He creates incredible drum content across YouTube, Twitch and Instagram and his following is growing exponentially. Currently, he is one of the most popular Spanish drummers online.
He seems to have an endless supply of chops allowing him to create mind-blowing fills and beats. He also often uses a very minimalise kit but you struggle to notice, his dynamic range brings out the best of every single piece he uses.
El Estepario Siberiano joined Saratoga as a full-time member of the band in late 2020.
El Estepario Siberiano on YouTube
If you are looking for an entertaining drumming YouTube channel, El Estepario Siberiano’s channel is worth your time. Racking up over 230K subscribers and 22 million views you can see a lot of people also think so.
His videos mostly consist of covers injected with his unique style of playing, as well as some lessons and blog style videos.
His recording setup is minimalist but the results are astounding. He only uses a Yamaha EAD10 to record the audio and a GoPro 7 for the video. This is a great example of how good the Yamaha EAD10 is.
There are so many incredible videos to see but here are some of our favourites.
Look at this incredible single pedal action. Many drummers can’t play this with a double pedal never mind going between a single pedal and a floor tom…
This cover shows his incredible playing style with a good look at his humour
Hopefully, this gives you a little taste of his content. Make sure you go and visit his channel for more.
What gear does El Estepario Siberiano use?
He uses a great selection of brands and is lucky enough to already have some of his own signature gear. His setup is changing constantly but this should give you a taste of his setup.
There is no doubt about it, El Estepario Siberiano is a powerhouse of a drummer. The chops and feel are a standout in his playing. He is a joy to watch.
We can’t wait to see what he gets up to going forward. Hopefully, he is going to transition from just online to do live shows and clinics when the world returns to some normality. We know he is certainly a drummer we would like to see live.
There is no doubt about it, Roland is the leader in electronic drum kits and has been for quite a while. The Roland TD-07KV is no exception to this rule.
The Roland TD-07KV is trying to fill a spot in its electronic kit line up, the $1000 (£850, €1000) price point. This has been a week spot for Roland for a while. They have had a good entry option with the TD-1K and the top end with the TD-50KVX. $1000 is a common budget for drummers looking to purchase an electronic kit making this is a key pricepoint to get correct.
Let’s see if Roland has been able to achieve this with the TD-07KV.
Who is the Roland TD-07KV V-Drums Electronic kit for?
The Roland TD-07KV is aimed at beginner to intermediate level players that aren’t wanting to break the bank. It isn’t the cheapest mesh head kit offered by Roland but it is the cheapest that comes with a more powerful module that allows you to customise your sound.
If you are looking for an electric drum kit to gig with this is a solid offering but it is best suited to being used at home for practising.
What pads are in the Roland TD-07KV?
A lot of the pads you will find on the Roland TD-07KV are similar to that of the Roland TD-1DMK. There are a couple of nice upgrades though, you get slightly larger cymbal pads and a better bass drum pad with a more realistic feel.
So what do you get:
Kick: KD-10
Snare: PDX-8 (8″ pad with 2 zones, head and rim)
Hi-hat: CY-5
Hi-hat Control Pedal: detects open, closed and half-open strokes
Tom: PDX-6A x 3 (6.5″ pad with 2 zones, head and rim)
Crash: CY-8 (12″ pad with 2 zones, body and edge. Can also be choked)
Ride: CY-8 (12″ pad with 2 zones, body and edge. Can also be choked)
Overall with the Roland TD-07KV V-Drums, you are getting a good range of pads. The highlight of the kit is the incredible Roland mesh heads. These offer accurate triggering whilst giving a great feel. The mesh heads can be tuned up or down to give a response of your liking. For example, crank up the toms and lower the floor tom for a more realist feel.
The only downside we can see holding back this kit is the ride cymbal. It would have been great to see this come with a 3 zone pad. As the bell is such a key part of a ride cymbals sound, it does take you out of the zone when you have to hit the edge of a cymbal to trigger that sound.
If you do get this kit and want to upgrade the ride cymbal we recommend having a look at the Roland CY-13R V-Cymbal.
What sounds are in the Roland TD-07KV?
Out of the box, the Roland TD-07KV includes 25 preset kits and 143 instruments. There are also 25 slots for you to configure your own drum kits in the module.
Here is a great video from drum-tec demoing all the preset kits.
The Roland TD-07KV also offers deep editing tools to customise any sound to how you want it. EQ, ambience, and 30 multi-effects. Using these gives you immense control over the sounds in the module allowing you to make them sound exactly how you want. When it comes to in module sound editing, Roland is leading the pack.
What can the Roland TD-07KV module do?
On top of the incredible sounds on the Roland TD-07KV module, there are also a few more interesting features to look at. The module delivers an astounding amount of features that aren’t easy to come by at this price point.
Integrated Bluetooth
Do you often play along with songs while practising? Sure you do! The TD-07KV makes this a breeze with its built-in Bluetooth. Stream music straight from your phone, tablet or Bluetooth supported device straight into the module.
Built-in metronome
It comes with a drummer’s best friend. A built-in metronome. You can adjust the tempo, time signature, note value, and click tone.
Onboard coach
Looking for some new ways to improve your playing? Why not try the built-in coach? Five onboard coaching functions, including time check, quiet count, and change-up are ready to help you improve your playing.
Connect it to your computer via USB
There are a couple of things you can do with the USB. You can either:
Record the audio of your playing
Use the MIDI in a DAW to access more sounds. A common one is hooking up the kit to EZDrummer via a DAW. It sounds great and isn’t too complicated to set up when you have done it a couple of times.
Where can I buy a Roland TD-07KV V-Drums Electronic Drum Kit?
The Roland TD-07KV is available at almost every online music store or from your local drum shop.
If you are looking to order online, here are some of our favourite sellers.
The Roland TD-07KV V-Drums Electronic Drum Kit certainly does seem to achieve most of what it set out to do. It has all of the incredible features and sounds you expect from a Roland mesh head kit but at the lower price point.
The TD-07KV module shines but to achieve the $1000 price point, the cymbals pads have faced the cutbacks. I think this is the only downside of this kit. If a 3 zone ride was included this kit would be unfaultable.
Overall, this is a great kit for someone looking at getting into drums or wanting an electric drum kit for extra practice.
Alex Rüdinger is a powerhouse in metal drumming. You rarely come across drummers with such power, accuracy and technical ability but Alex Rüdinger has it by the bucketload.
Between his touring, studio work and YouTube channel, Alex is a very busy drummer than you need to know about.
Born 18th November 1991 in Frederick, Maryland, Alex has been playing the drums since age 12. After playing on the local scene in his teen years he knew that he wanted to go professional.
The thing that separated Alex from many other drummers was his dedication and use of technology to make it happen. Starting his YouTube channel in 2006, this became his way to audition and be seen by bands potentially looking for a new drummer. This approach led to Alex achieving his first break filling in for Threat Signal when he was 18. He toured with them for a year and recorded their self-titled album before departing. Since then Alex has gone on to perform and record with a staggering amount of performers.
One of the most notable things about Alex Rüdinger’s playing is his open-handed style. This allows for some great beats across the kit as well as visually impressive fills that sweep from the rack toms, then between floor toms on either side.
Alex Rüdinger on YouTube
As mentioned previously, Alex Rüdinger has successfully used his YouTube channel to launch his professional drumming career. With his content creation, you will see it is primarily incredible drum covers.
Alex shows off his incredible precision and chops throughout the videos which cover everything from death metal to extremely complex technical arrangements.
Even though Alex is a mind-blowing drummer, he still seems to be getting with each video he is releasing.
Who has Alex Rüdinger played the drums for?
Alex has played with a staggering amount of performers over his career since his first break in 2010 with Threat Signal. Since then he has recorded and performed with several different bands including:
Good Tiger
Whitechapel
The Faceless
The HAARP Machine
Conquering Dystopia (featuring Jeff Loomis, Alex Webster, & Keith Merrow),
Whitechapel
Intronaut
Revocation
Monuments
Evan Brewer
Ordinance
War Of Ages
Cognizance
What gear does Alex Rüdinger use?
Alex Rüdinger has an incredible selection of kits so it is hard to narrow this down to just one… but in general, here is the setup:
Alex Rüdinger is a beast of a drummer. He seems to be able to do it all and make it seem effortless. Even if you aren’t a fan of metal drumming we highly recommend taking some time to look through some of his performances. They are incredible but beware… they will either motivate you to want to get better or to just give up because you’ll never be this good. Jokes aside, make sure you check him out.
The Pearl Export drum kit has become globally known as one of (if not) the best intermediate-level drum kits available. There is a valid reason for this. They are great kits for the pricepoint.
Pearl Export, the best selling drum kit of all time passing the 1 million mark back in 1995. First released in 1982, the Pearl Export has been on quite a journey. As you can imagine with a drum kit line of this heritage the Export has had a few names.
Drum roll, please… Pearl Export EX, ELX, ESX, EPX, EXR, EXX and EXL with multiple versions of each over the years.
How did Pearl Export Drums become popular?
Pearl Export kits have always sat in the sweet spot between the very cheapest drum kits that don’t sound great and the entry professional level kits that are expensive. This makes the Pearl Export kit ideal for players who love the drums and want a good sounding kit but don’t need a professional kit. For example, drummers who mostly play at home and maybe some smaller shows.
Why are Pearl Drums still so popular?
The legacy of the Pearl Export Drum Kit is so strong due to a couple of factors. Mainly, because of how long the kit has been around, many of today’s professional drummers have had a Pearl Export at some point in there drumming career. We know how influential professional drummers are to up and coming drummers. If your favourite pro had one why wouldn’t you want one?
Secondly, Those drummers who had their first kit as children are now adults buying their kids Pearl Export kits.
What are the Pearl Export drum kit shells made with?
The Pearl Export shells are made with a blend of white poplar and dark Asian mahogany. This is a blend of wood so you can’t be too sure of the exact ratios used.
The main thing to note is that Pearl has developed SST (superior shell technology) to ensure that there are no gaps or small pockets of air in the wood. SST is a high-temperature hydraulic curing system that was developed to craft a multi-ply, bonded drum shell with single-ply resonance and strength.
So in short, you are getting a blended wood shell with the characteristics of single-ply. Using a blend of woods means two cheaper kinds of wood can be combined to mimic that sound of more expensive wood.
Have a listen to the Pearl Export drum kit here with a demo from Casey Cooper.
What hardware comes on the kits?
The most notable hardware feature on the Peal Export drums is the opti-loc tom suspension system. Th opt-loc mount suspends the by two tuning points and one air vent. Drums resonate at there best with minimal contact with the shell so having only three points of contact is a welcome addition to the kit.
Beyond the opti-loc suspension system, the rest of the hardware of the Pearl Export is standard for a mid-tier drum kit. There is nothing wrong with that and it is expected to keep the price down.
What is the difference between the Pearl Export EXX and Pearl Export EXL?
In short, the Pearl Export EXX and EXL are the same but the EXL has a lacquer finish rather than a wrap like you will find on the EXX. Due to the lacquer finish on the EXL, it is slightly more expensive than the EXX.
So if you prefer one of the wrap finishes on the EXX you may as well save your self some money. There is nothing else you are missing out on.
What finished can the Pearl Export be purchased in?
Due to the two different sub-brands in the Export range, you have a total of nine different finishes to choose from! There is bound to be something to fit your tastes.
Pearl Export EXX finishes:
Smokey Chrome
Jet Black
High Voltage Blue
Satin White
Black Cherry Glitter
Pearl Export EXL finishes:
Azure Daybreak
Raspberry Sunset
Ember Dawn
Indigo Nights
These EXL finishes are brand new for 2021 and we think they look incredible. I think my pick would have to be the Azure Daybreak. That blue fade looks amazing.
What configurations of the Pearl Export are available?
The Pearl Export has three different configurations available for purchase. All of the kits are five-piece kits with a hardware and a Sabian cymbal pack. You get everything you need to start playing straight out of the box. You just need to choose from one of the tom configurations below.
Option 1 (the funk set)
Model numbers:
EXX – EXX705NBR/C
EXL – EXL705NBR/C
Included in the kit:
20″x16″ Bass Drum
10″x7″ Tom Tom
12″x8″ Tom Tom
14″x14″ Floor Tom
14″x5.5″ Snare Drum
Includes HWP830 Hardware Pack
Includes SABIAN SBR Cymbal Pack
Option 2 (the pop set)
Model numbers:
EXX – EXX725SBR/C
EXL – EXL725SBR/C
Included in the kit:
22″x18″ Bass Drum
10″x7″ Tom Tom
12″x8″ Tom Tom
16″x16″ Floor Tom
14″x5.5″ Snare Drum
Includes HWP830 Hardware Pack
Includes SABIAN SBR Cymbal Pack
Option 3 (the rock set)
Model numbers:
EXX – EXX725BR/C
EXL – EXL725BR/C
Included in the kit:
22″x18″ Bass Drum
12″x8″ Tom Tom
13″x9″ Tom Tom
16″x16″ Floor Tom
14″x5.5″ Snare Drum
Includes HWP830 Hardware Pack
Includes SABIAN SBR Cymbal Pack
Is the Pearl Export Drum Kit good value for money?
Without a doubt, the Peal Export kits are good value for money. When you consider that you aren’t just getting a shell pack, you are getting everything you need to start playing right out of the box.
The only time this may not be a good a deal for you is if you are mainly wanting the sells. If you already have a set of cymbals, a snare you like and a bass drum pedal, it may be cheaper to consider buying the individual shells rather than being left without a load of redundant parts.
Where can I buy a Pearl Export drum kit?
As you can imagine with the best selling drum kit in the world, you can pick it up almost anywhere. Most online music stores sell it or you can visit your local drum shop! If you are looking to order online, here are some of our top choices.
Yes, they do! They come with a Sabian SRB Cymbal Pack. These are brass cymbals that include a 20″ Ride, 16″ Crash,14″ Hi-Hat. If you already have some cymbals you may not want these as the quality isn’t amazing. If you are just starting to learn drums, these will be fine until you want to upgrade.
Do Pearl Export drum kits come with hardware?
Yes, they do! They come with an HWP830 Hardware Pack. This includes a 1x BC-830 cymbal boom stand, 1x C-830 straight cymbal stand, S-830 snare drum stand, H-830 Hi-Hat stand and P-930 Demonator Bass Drum Pedal.
What heads come on the Pearl Export drum kits?
Out of the box, you will have Remo UK Clear on the toms, Remo UK Powerstroke 3 on the bass drum as well as Remo UK Coated and Remo UK Snare on the snare drum.
What are our thoughts?
The Pearl Export kits are iconic and they still live up to the reputation in 2021. Sure, the competition has grown since its initial launch back in the ’80s but it still holds up to this day.
If you are looking to start playing the drums and can afford to get a Pearl Export vs the cheaper entry kits it is a great investment. The sound and quality will make your drumming journey a little bit sweeter and you won’t need to upgrade your kit as soon for a better sounding replacement.
The Jay Weinberg 908 Signature drumsticks from Vater are here! Being the drummer for a band as influential and globe dominating as Slipknot, you would imagine you would need a pretty special drumstick to live up to the task.
Let’s see what the Jay Weinberg 908 Signature Drumsticks are trying to achieve and what makes them unique.
If you somehow haven’t heard of Slipknot, let us explain what a drumstick has to go through. Relentless blast beats, blistering fills, aggressive beats and thunderous breakdowns. And not to forget, these are long sets of over an hour. That is a big ask for any drumstick.
This is why the Jay Weinberg 908 Signature drumsticks have been developed. These sticks need to be able to take a beating whilst providing comfort for those long shows.
We’ve created a drumstick that’s truly unique and that has its own character, but feels familiar and versatile, to suit any drummer’s style.
Jay WeinbErg (Drummer for Slipknot)
Of course, like most Slipknot related signature products, the 908 drumsticks from Vater have a unique design on them. You can see Jay’s signature like you would on all signature drumsticks but you also get a nice “908 Hand-Selected Hickory” logo and three nails for good measure.
What size are the Jay Weinberg 908 Signature Drumsticks?
The 908 drumsticks sit at a size between a 5A and a 5B with an extra 1/4″ length for extended reach. The drumsticks also have a quick tapper to add more weight to the tip giving a quick response making it perfect for medium to high tempo playing.
Credit – Vater Drumsticks
A medium-size barrel tip on the sticks gives cymbals a cutting sound when used without losing too much definition.
Vater Jay Weinberg 908 Signature Drumstick from Specification:
Material – Hickory
Tip – Medium barrel
Size – 41.28 cm (16 1/4″)
Diameter – 14.9 mm (0.585″)
Taper Length – Short
Weight – Medium/ heavy
Where can I buy these drumsticks?
Luckily for you, Jay Weinberg is an extremely popular drummer so you will be able to find these sticks at your favourite online suppliers or local drum shop.
If you are looking to order online, here are some of our recommended shops.
What do we think?
It sounds like the Jay Weinberg 908 Signature Drumsticks from Vater do achieve what they set out to. They sit in the evermore popular sweet spot between the 5A and 5B for comfort with the extra length and short taper for speed. These drumsticks are perfect for the music Slipknot are playing.
These drumsticks also look great. I love that they have that something special that Slipknot injects into everything they touch.
I don’t think these drumsticks will be for everyone. The extra weight at the end of the stick may be too far from what most drummers are used to.
We recommend picking up a pair and seeing what they feel like.
If these sticks sound appealing but you are looking for something slightly shorter, we have a suggestion for you. Have a look at the Luke Holland Signature sticks from Meinl Stick and Brush. These are very similar in many ways but are slightly shorter with a round tip.
Low volume cymbals are fast becoming a favourite amongst drummers looking for that natural cymbal feel whilst practising at lower volumes. It is easy to see why as cymbals have a unique and distinct feel that is hard to replicate with rubber pads.
As low volume cymbals are still a fairly new concept, we are going to help guide you through what is currently available on the market and what you should be looking out for.
Low volume cymbals give you the feel of full volume acoustic cymbals but at a reduced volume. These are ideal for drummers who are wanting to practice but aren’t able to make much noise.
For example, if you live in a flat and you still want to get your practice in. Put on your mesh heads and low volume cymbals and away you go. I’m pretty sure the neighbours wouldn’t be happy if you were playing your full acoustic drum kit!
The only downside is that although low volume cymbals have the natural feel and response of cymbals, they don’t sound as nice as there full volume counterparts.
How do low volume cymbals work?
Low volume cymbals achieve their reduced volume through two different methods.
The material they’re made from
Traditionally cymbals are made from an alloy combining copper, tin and other trace metals. For example, B20 bronze is 80% copper, 20% tin.
Low volume cymbals often use a different selection of materials to achieve reduced volumes. The materials used vary by brand.
The unique holes in the cymbals
A distinctive feature of these cymbals is the unique holes that are in them. The holes are added to the cymbals to remove harsh frequencies and reduce the sustain of the cymbals.
The amount and size of holes in these cymbals differ by manufacturer. On average though you can expect to see that many holes have been made as it is proven to be effective in reducing the volume of the cymbals.
What are the best low volume cymbals?
This is a challenging question as this will come down to your budget, personal taste and brand loyalty.
There is also another factor to consider. Some brands focus purely on getting the lowest sound and sacrificing some sound quality, but other brands focus on getting a higher quality sound and sacrificing noise reduction.
That being said here are our top picks from each scenario.
Zildjian L80 Cymbals
If you are looking for the best low volume cymbals that focus on noise reduction, the Zildjian L80 Cymbals are the choice for you.
Promising to reduce the volume by 80% with the natural cymbal feel Zildjian has done a great job. They are so quiet that the sound of the stick hitting the cymbal is louder than the sound of the cymbal Very impressive.
There is also a good selection of cymbal types available covering hi-hats, crashes, rides, splash and china cymbals.
Agean R Low Volume Cymbals
If having that great cymbal sound with some noise reduction benefits is what you are after the Agean R Series cymbals are a great choice.
They are made from B20 bronze giving them the cymbal sound you expect but with the holes in the cymbals to reduce the volume.
There is also a great range of cymbals available with multiple styles of hi-hats, crashes, rides, splash and china cymbals.
There are two things two keep in mind if you decide to purchase Agean R Series Cymbals.
They are expensive. You will be pretty much paying full cymbal prices for these. If you are just using these for practising, it might not too realistic for you to spend this kind of money.
They aren’t as easy to find and purchase. Because the Agean brand is smaller it does mean they can be more difficult to find online.
If you are interested in a comparison of how these two cymbals sound when compared, here is a great video from drum-tec.
What are the best budget low volume cymbals?
If you are wanting to use low volume cymbals for practising you are likely going to want to spend less money so you can spend it on your main kit. Luckily many great cheaper alternatives are coming to market.
Millenium Still Series
Available from Thomann the Millenium Still Series is a great alternative on a lower budget. They offer up to 80% volume reduction without breaking the bank. You can buy a basic set including a hi-hat, two crashes and a ride and then expand down the line with splashes and crashes if you want to.
WHD Low Volume
Available from Gear4music the WHD cymbals are very similar to the Millenium offering but with a different finish. They have a nice contemporary nickel finish and still offer the up to 80% volume reduction.
Apart from practising, the other reason you may want low volume cymbals is to use on your electric drum kit rather than pads. In the right situations this can be a real benefit.
Here are some of the pros and cons of using low volume cymbal rather than electronic cymbal pads.
Pros
They feel like a real cymbal
They look better than rubber pads
More realistic sizes and styles when compared to rubber pads
Cons
Can’t change the sound at the touch of a button
You lose the ability of any pad making any sound
More complicated to get a good headphone mix between the electric drums and cymbals
Low volume cymbals and electronic cymbal pads are very hard to compare as they are both very different in what they are trying to achieve. If you mainly play at home and your main kit is your electronic one, adding low volume cymbals into the mix is probably worth a go.
Are you looking for cymbals perfect for smaller gigs? Check out the Sabian FRX cymbals.
Final thoughts
Low volume cymbals are a great way to get more out of your practice sessions. Cymbals have a unique feel and there is no way to properly replicate that without having one. These cymbals truly open the doors to more effective practice session no matter where you are.
Hopefully in the next few years we will see more brands starting to compete and introducing their lines.
The future of these types of cymbals is very exciting and we can’t wait to see what happens next.
Anup Sastry is a powerhouse of a drummer making complicated progressive metal songs seem effortless. The feel, incredible sound and songwriting prowess have turned Anup Sastry into a globally renowned drummer you need to know.
Anup Sastry is a professional drummer based out of Frederick, Maryland and Washington, D.C. In 2011 Anup Comprehensive Recording Program at The Omega Studios’ School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences.
Since then he has gone on to become a lot more than just an accomplished professional drummer. He is also a composer, producer, audio engineer and YouTube Content Creator.
Anup Sastry on YouTube
Since 2011 Anup Sastry has been posting drum content to his YouTube Channel. Originally focused on drum covers it has since progressed to featuring his music, artists he has record drums for and product features.
There are a couple of stand things on Anup Sastry’s YouTube channel.
Tight drumming that looks effortless
Powerful playing with perfectly placed ghost notes and dynamics
An incredible sound. Especially the snare drum!
His videos are a joy to watch. Here are a couple of videos we recommend checking out.
Ghost Playthrough
Doom Eternal Cover
It is always amazing playing that is a pleasure to watch.
Who has Anup Sastry played the drums with?
Anup has featured on a lot of music in his relatively short career so far. This is a testament to his playing and abilities. Here are some of the artists he has performed with:
Devin Townsend
Intervals
Skyharbor
Jason Kui
Jeff Loomi
Monuments
Polyphia
League of Legends – Rell, the Iron maiden, champion theme
What music does Anup Sastry create?
Under his name, Anup creates amazing progressive, djent metal music. Mostly his music is instrumental but some tracks have vocal features.
The thing that makes Anup’s music unique is that he doesn’t play the guitar or bass. The music is created with a mix of programming instruments and splicing together audio recordings to get the desired result.
At the time of writing he has five releases:
Ghost
Lion
Titan
Bloom
Illuminate
You can get all these on his Bandcamp page or the usual streaming services. They are worth checking out if this is your genre of choice.
What gear does Anup Sastry use?
Anup Sastry has a fairly large kit including a selection of cymbals and a floor tom on the left side. This allows for more sound options when playing open-handed parts.
We have been fans of Anup for a long time at Drum Faster and it has been great to see his career progress so fast. His playing is incredible with a signature sound any drummer would be envious of.
Even if you aren’t into metal drumming, Anup has something special in his playing that you have to see. He is a great drummer and musician that we can’t wait to see more from.
The Tama Starclassic Performer drum kit has become a favourite amongst drummers in the past ten or so years. It is easy to see why. You are getting a pro-grade acoustic drum kit for a fraction of the cost when compared to the premium kits.
Let’s find out how Tama have improved the Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kit for 2021.
What wood is in the 2021 Tama Starclassic Performer?
The 2021 model of the Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kit is a hybrid shell consisting of maple and birch. To be specific:
Tom toms/ Floor toms/ Snare Drums: 6mm, 4ply Birch + 2 inner ply Maple
Bass Drum: 7mm, 5ply Birch + 2 inner ply Maple
This combination gives you the warmth of birch with the clarity of maple.
Previous Tama Starclassic kits have used combinations of wood such as bubinga/ birch and walnut/ birch.
What hardware comes on the 2021 Tama Starclassic Performer?
The hardware the comes on a drum kit can make an undeniable difference to the end sound. Lets have a look at what comes on the Tama Starclassic Performer.
The hoops
The Starclassic performer comes with Tama’s professional line die-cast hoops. These are made from zinc and are formed by injecting the molten metal into moulds.
Die-cast hoops come with a great range of benefits:
Easier tuning
More consistent tuning
Crisper attack
Clear resonant sound
Powerful rim shots
The mounting system
The Star-Cast Mounting System is what you will find on the 2021 Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kit. This is the go-to choice for all of Tama’s professional kit lines. They offer maximum resonance and stability whilst allowing you more options to place your toms where you want them.
What finishes are available on the 2021 Tama Starclassic Performer?
The 2021 model has four different lacquer finishes available to choose from. All of them are beautiful but there is one standout. Caramel Aurora. It won’t be for everyone but wow, what a finish.
Credit – Tama Drums
Here are all the finish options available:
Molten Steel Blue Burst
Caramel Aurora
Dark Cherry Fade
Piano Black
Which one would you pick? Let us know in the comments!
What does the 2021 Tama Starclassic Drum Kit sound like?
So how do Tama describe the kit? Here a quote from them.
offer drummers a complex, powerful and expressive sound
Tama drums
To be honest that is a pretty spot-on description. The Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kits offer you the modern drum sound we all love. A full-bodied tone with punch and dynamics where you need them.
Here is a great demo of what the drums sound like.
Just incredible.
What configurations does Tama Starclassic Drum Kits come in?
The Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kits come in two standard configurations. A four-piece or a five-piece. Neither of which come with a snare so bear that in mind when purchasing.
Four Piece Kit (MBS42S w/ Chrome Hardware)
The sizes of this kit are very much that of a traditional drum kit. This kit consists of:
10″x8″ Tom Tom
12″x9″ Tom Tom
16″x”14″ Floor Tom
22″x16″ Bass Drum
Double Tom Holder (Bass Drum Mount)
Five Piece Kit (MBS52RZS w/ Chrome Hardware)
This kit comes with shorter size tom-toms for an even punchier stand. This kit consists of:
10″x7″ Tom Tom
12″x8″ Tom Tom
14″x12″ Floor Tom
16″x14″ Floor Tom
22″x16″ Bass Drum
2 x Single Tom Mounts
Individual Drums
If the preconfigured kits don’t meet your tastes you can also order individual tom-toms, floors toms, bass drums and snare drums. These can be used to enhance one of the preconfigured kits or to create something truly unique.
Bass Drums
Model
Diameter
Depth
MBSB18RM/Z
18″
14″
MBSB20RM/Z
20″
14″
MBSB22DM/Z
22″
16″
MBSB22EM/Z
22″
18″
MBSB24DM/Z
24″
16″
Floor Toms
Model
Diameter
Depth
MBSF14A
14″
12″
MBSF14D
14″
14″
MBSF16A
16″
14″
MBSF18D
18″
16″
Tom Toms
Model
Diameter
Depth
MBST8H
8″
6″
MBST8A
8″
7″
MBST10R
10″
7″
MBST10A
10″
8″
MBST12R
12″
8″
MBST12A
12″
9″
MBST13R
13″
9″
MBST13A
13″
10″
MBST14R
14″
10″
MBST14A
14″
11″
Snare Drums
Model
Diameter
Depth
MBSS55
14″
5.5″
MBSS65
14″
6.5″
Why is the Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kit so cheap?
There is no doubt that with the Tama Straclassic Performer you are getting a lot of bang for your buck. There are still some differences between the Tama Starclassic Performer and the more expensive Tama STAR kits.
The main differences are:
The wood of the STAR lines is just one material and don’t use any form of hybrid.
The shells on the STAR range feature a unique and more complex bearing edge shape.
The hardware on the STAR range features the latest Tama patent technology.
All of these differences lead to a drum the costs more to make due to the time-consuming shells and more expensive hardware.
All this doesn’t mean you aren’t getting a professional level kit with the Tama Starclassic Performer. Far from it. Tama is always pushing the boundaries with there kits and much like with technology, you pay a premium for the latest innovations.
Where can I buy a Tama Starclassic Performer Drum Kit?
You can get purchase the Tama Starclassic Performer from you local drum store that suppliers Tama. Or if you are looking to order online, here are our recommended websites.
What heads come on the Tama Starclassic Performer?
The Starclassic Performer comes with Evans Heads on the kit. EVANS® G1 coated batter and TAMA clear single-ply Power Craft II resonant heads on the toms. EVANS® clear EQ4 batter heads, Tama resonant head with muffle ring on the bass drum. EVANS® G1 coated batter heads and EVANS® 300 snare-side head on the snare drum.
What are our thoughts?
If you are looking for a professional sounding acoustic drum kit at a good price the Tama Starclassic Performer is a great choice. You are getting an amazing sounding kit with the premium price you get on the very top range kits.
It is easy to see why it has become a favourite among so many professional drummers, such as the incredible Anup Sastry.
The Tama Starclassic Performer drum kit is renowned for delivering exceptional kits with undeniable value. The 2021 version certainly continues the reputation.
For years drummers have wanted to record themselves playing the drums. Recording video has gotten easier as phones have improved but the audio has always been tricky. This is especially the case when on a budget and without a huge a lot of recording knowledge. Luckily you no longer have to worry as this is where the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module comes in.
The Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module is exactly as it says on the tin. It is a drum module that allows you to record your entire acoustic drum kit using one handy sensor that is then plugged into the main drum module. From there you can use the audio capture for live performances or recording your acoustic drums audio.
How does the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module work?
The best thing about the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module is its simplicity. You just need to plug it in and it does all the work for you. There are two components to the EAD10.
The EAD10 Sensor
This is the bit that you need to connect to your drum kit. Ideally, you want this to be connected to your bass drum so that it can pick up a high-quality stereo image of your entire kit. This sensor is connected to the main module with a cable.
The EAD10 Module
This is where the magic happens. The module transforms the audio picked up by the sensor into a great recording of your acoustic drum kit. From here you can do a couple of things to transform your sound using the module.
Volumes
Reverb
Built-in effects
Trigger your drums
What are the main uses for the Yamaha EAD10?
The EAD10 has been designed to be flexible for multiple uses. Therefore there are a fair few things you can do.
Plugin your headphones and use it as a module
One of my favourite things about electronic drum kits is that you can change the sounds at the touch of the button. It keeps practising fresh and fun. You can now do that on your acoustic kit with the Yahama EAD10. Just plug in your headphones as adjust your sound on the fly.
Mic up your drums at live gigs
The EAD10 can just as easily be plugged into a PA system for a high-quality live sound. If we are going, to be honest, if you are touring professionally you will more than likely have a sound guy with a full set of mics. This isn’t designed for that. Think more cover band that needs a little bit more volume or mix control at slightly larger gigs.
Record your drums onto your computer
Either using a USB flash drive (for up to 90 minutes of audio) or directly into your computer with a USB cable you can do record your drum audio to your computer. This allows you to use DAW (digital audio workstation) to process the sound further as you would when recording drums with mics. The audio recorded can also be used to be placed on the latest drum covers you have been making for YouTube.
Make videos with the Yamaha Rec’n’Share app
Using the Rec’n’Share app you can record you EAD10 audio and phone video in one go. This makes it easy to record drum videos with high-quality audio on the fly.
What sound quality can I expect to get when recording with the EAD10?
We have to be honest, the sounds quality is extremely impressive for something at this price and simple to use. Because of this reason, it has become popular among YouTube content creators. Here are a couple of examples of drummers recording with the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module.
And El Estepario Siberiano is just flawless. It is hard to believe his kit isn’t fully mic’d.
It is incredible how good the recordings sound. It is a clear capture of the drum sounds without any distortion or over processing. Extremely impressive.
Where can I buy the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module?
You can get the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module from most online drum retailers or your local drum shop. If you are ordering online here are some of our top picks.
Can you add extra triggers to the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module?
You sure can! You can have a total of 6 pads and triggers including the 1 built-in to the sensor placed on your kit. This gives you the flexibility to create a fully hybrid drum kit with just the EAD10.
Can I use a Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module with a DAW?
Yes, you can. Just like most instrument the audio can be imported into a DAW such a ProTools, Cubase, Ableton Live, GarageBand or any others.
Can I use the Yamaha EAD10 on a drum kit with mesh heads?
If you use triggers on the drums they can be plugged into the EAD10. You can then choose the drum sounds you want from the module while the cymbals are picked up through the EAD10 sensor.
Our thoughts
If you are looking for a way to record your acoustic drums without breaking the bank, this is the best option currently on the market. From under £400 ($500) there is nothing that delivers the simplicity of use and number of features as the EAD10.
It is great to see Yamaha innovating and creating a truly great product for drummers. We highly recommend the Yamaha EAD10 Drum Module.
Zack Graybeal AKA ZackGrooves has been exploding on the drumming scene during 2020 with his drum content. When you take his groove, passion, incredible chops and sense of humour you end up with videos you want to keep watching.
ZackGrooves (Zack Graybeal) is an incredibly talented jazz drummer who studied at Music at East Carolina University. In 2020 he seemed to come out of nowhere and grow to become one of the most entertaining YouTube drummer content creators.
ZackGrooves on YouTube
ZackGrooves YouTube channel (at the time of writing) has over 181,000 subscribers and over 15 million views. It is easy to see how Zack has grown his channel so fast and become one of everyone’s favourite drummers on the YouTube platform.
His videos are incredibly engaging and they are full of personality. The combination of incredible drumming ability and humour does work a charm.
The videos on ZackGrooves YouTube channel mainly focus on a mix of college stories and a whole load of potential scenarios drummers may face.
For example, when the drummer tries to steal the spotlight.
And what not to do at a drum audition
Our top picks from ZackGrooves
Even though Zack has only been around a short period it is incredibly hard to pick out a favourite video. Each video is unique and engaging so they all have their charm. Let’s start with the video that started it all for ZackGrooves.
During his Jazz recital for college during the drum solo, Zack decided to play this the tempo of the track making it a bit more tricky for his bandmates to keep time. This is something Zack had tried with the band during rehearsals but did say he wouldn’t do it during the actual performance.
Anyway, Zack decided to give it a go and ended up apologising during his performance. Luckily the band held it together and the exam was passed.
Check it out!
What gear does Zack use?
As an up and coming drummer is gear selection does seem to be a bit varied. From what we can see he is currently using:
ZackGrooves is an incredible drummer who is still young with his whole career ahead of him. If all goes well he will hopefully end up getting some big recording and live gigs.
We love his videos and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. If you haven’t check him out, what are you waiting for?
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