Mapex

Working around just one kit for a drummer who plays in a metal band as well as in a jazz band doesn't seem to be right. After all, it doesn't seem idiomatic to have that crisp kick while you swinging out a George Gershwin standard. Need that affordable second kit? The Mapex Meridian Series Shell Packs will take care of that.  

It just wouldn't be a Winter NAMM without a new Special Edition Black Panther Snare Drum from Mapex. The newest one is made out of elm. ELM! Can you believe it?  

Fronted by a two string Asian violin rather than a vocalist, Hsu-Nami, is an unusual band. The members talk about what they play and why they play it.  

Mapex has done a lot of work on their Saturn Series line this past year, but they've never done anything like their Pop To Bop kit. It's a versatile kit that comes with more drums than you need at once for multiple kit arrangements.  

At Summer NAMM 2008, Mapex was pushing their My Pro M promotion. This allows drummers to order up a kit to their specs and get normally exclusive finishes on non-exclusive Mapex drums.  

Justin Malinee, drummer for Carbondale, Illinois' Annihilate The Hero talks about his drums and the band's gear in general.  

The newest hand crafted, limited edition finish -- not available as part of Mapex’s MY PRO M Custom Kit Building program -- will help drummers camouflage themselves in high grass, dogwood forests, and LA's Viper Lounge circa 1988.  

For drummers with a sweet tooth, Mapex USA has just released the Orion Chocolate Burl. This beautifully finished drum set is said to be sold in extremely limited quantities.

What sets this apart from normal Orion...