BIG HITTERS FEATURE
out from the pack with their unique circular lug engraved with Natal’s sun design that’s also used on the three point snare throw and badge design. Manufactured in Taiwan, with UK
quality control, and assembled at Marshall’s UK headquarters, the range is well planned and easy for customers to understand. It’s available in a choice of four woods, each with its own sonic characteristics, and comes in a wide selection of sizes all fitted with the same lugs and hardware and priced progressively, from ash at lower mid- price, through maple, birch and bubinga at the top end. Lacquer finishes come in a broad selection of solid colours, sparkles, fades and metallics and Aquarian heads are standard on all drums. Watch out for the Natal snare drum range too, including wood stave shell models.
Custom fits
Yamaha’s major launch is the Club Custom range that combines classic retro looks with a new wood and finishes designed in conjunction with the great funk and jazz drummer Steve Jordan. Made at Yamaha’s high-end Japanese
factory the Club Custom uses six-ply Malaysian Kapur wood, noted for its strength and fat, warm, resonant sound, has small low mass lugs and suspended YESS mounts with Remo heads and comes in eye-catching dark and black wood matt finishes and new swirl paint finishes. A Stage Custom Birch kit in compact bebop sizes is aimed at gigging drummers and educational establishments that need a great sounding small kit at a
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beautiful signature snare drum designed with Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer, finished in black nickel and influenced by the famous Black Beauty snare. Gretsch is also pushing its American-
made USA Custom kits as demand for these and Ludwig’s top-end drums is at its strongest for years. USA Customs are now available in three configurations - rock, fusion and bebop sizes - all instantly available from stock, so cutting waiting times. New finishes include Satin Classic Maple, Sky Blue Pearl and Satin Walnut while among the new snare drum launches a natural walnut shell model with a hybrid maple/metal hoop impressed. DW quality at an affordable
July 2011 27
bargain price while two limited editions of the legendary Recording Custom series feature re-introduced mellow yellow and hot red lacquer finishes, original shell mounted tom holders and, of course, the distinctive hi-tension lugs. Could these long lugs be making a comeback? Ludwig thinks so as it has reintroduced hi-tension Mach lugs for its Legacy Classic series which, like the Legacy Exotic and Classic Maple, can now be ordered using Ludwig’s Configuration Generator offering. Watch too for a
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Electronic drum kits are once again catching up close to sales of acoustic kits, and there are notable launches from Yamaha.
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