Play more. That's what the folks at Mapex want you to do. And to help you with that, they came up with some innovations at the 2014 Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Soniclear bearing edge In the first video, Mike Robinson, Director of Marketing for KHS America, explains the new Mapex Soniclear bearing edge and how this will help you to play more.
Most of us drummers who have been playing for a couple of years still find it heard to tune our instrument that well. We use all sorts of crazy techniques, from the cross lug tuning system to giving our drums cpr trying to strech out the drum heads.
The Soniclear bearing edge helps fitting drum heads right away without rocking. Now drummers can spend less time on tuning and play more.
It also increases the contact between head and shell. This gives you better control of the overtones and it transmits more energy through the shell which results in more shell resonance. With the Soniclear Edge you'll be able hear the nuances of the differences between, for instance, maple and a maple/birch hybrid.
To start with, the Soniclear bearing edge comes on the Mars and Armory series drum sets plus all Armory wood snare drums but Mapex plans on making Soniclear their regular bearing edge over time and integrate it on other series too.
Mars series In the second video Joe Hibbs, Product Manager for Mapex Drums, shows the new midrange Mars series with all birch shells and available in four different configurations. All of the different drum finishes are specific to the hardware finishes; they cannot be mixed and matched at the moment. The Mars shell pack has a street price of 599 US dollars. Mars hardware 600 series is available in chrome and black chrome.
Armory series drumsets in video three, four and five, Joe Hibbs shows the new upper midrange Armory series. These drums come with Soniclear bearing edges and the same tom suspension system as on the Saturn IV series. This line is available in five different lacquer finises. The Armory series comes with a Tomahawk 14 x 5.5 steel snaredrum with Remo USA coated Ambassador drumheads. Street price for a six-piece shell pack, including snare drum, is 899 US dollars.
Armory snare drums Mapex offers five new snare drums in the Armory range, each with their own sonic personality and look. From the 14 x 5.5" 1mm Tomahawk with black plated steel shell, to the 14" x 6.5" 1mm hammered steel shelled Daisycutter, and from the 14 x 5.5" Dillinger snare, made from an eight-ply Maple shell, to the hybrid shells of the Exterminator (14 x 6.5" Birch/Walnut) and the Peacemaker (14 x 5.5" Maple/Walnut).
Although all the drums will be available individually, Mapex is giving players the freedom of choosing which of the five Armory snare drums they want matched with their Armory kit via a 'Trade in Program'.
Every Armory shell pack includes an Armory Tomahawk 14x5.5" black plated steel snare drum, but players can swap that snare drum for any of the other four snare drums in the Armory line. Mapex wants to provide a serious snare drum that players will love and gig with, not store in the attic. Please note that the 'Trade in Program' is for US customers only.
Armory hardware The Armory 800 series hardware is available in back plated and chrome plated plus an eye-catching chrome/black hybrid.
The bass drum pedals have an extended footboard and Falcon beaters with interchangeable weights. Each piece in the line features a new double-braced leg shape that folds tighter for compact storage. Armory stands are available in packs or as individual pieces. All hardware packs come with two boom stands.
