ACME Earplugs Offer An Affordable Alternative
- By Andy Doerschuk
- Published November 28, 2011
If foam earplugs don’t seem to give you ample protection, but custom-fitted earplugs are beyond your price range, Ahead has introduced a new alternative that might be the solution. Non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and EPA-approved, ACME (Ahead Custom Molded Earplugs) earplugs allow users to safely, quickly, and conveniently create a personal set of soft, silicone earplugs. The ACME kit comes with easy-to-use silicone ingredients and simple instructions for combining the components, placing them in the ears, and allowing them to cure. The result is a comfortable, durable set of custom-molded earplugs with an EPA-certified Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 26 dB.
According to the National Institutes Of Health, prolonged exposure to sound at 85 decibels (dB) can cause short-term auditory damage while sounds at 120 dB and above can cause painful and permanent hearing loss. Since drumming often reaches or exceeds these potentially dangerous volume levels, ACME’s noise reduction in the 25-30 dB range is effective in providing both immediate and long-term hearing protection. Suggested retail price: $29.95 (soft carrying pouch included).
Carmichael Drum Throne Gives Your Butt A Break
- By Andy Doerschuk
- Published November 21, 2011
We’ve seen an explosion of new drum throne designs over the past decade. Some were practical, others whimsical, but all have been more than welcome in a market that had long been bereft of new ideas. The Carmichael Throne Company is the latest contender to stake a claim, with a flagship model that offers some intriguing ergonomic benefits.
Carmichael’s seat design creates a floating spine, which greatly reduces spinal compression and allows drummers to rehearse, gig, or record for much longer periods of time and with far less fatigue.
Okay, can we talk? It’s no secret that the combination of sweat and pressure on the bottom of the spine can lead to such problems as hemorrhoids and poor circulation to the legs and feet. But Carmichael’s unique channel design addresses both concerns, plus reduces spinal disk compression and provides relief from coccyx fracture and inflamed prostate while encouraging good sitting posture.
PoleCat: An Alternative To Tripods & Racks
- By Andy Doerschuk
- Published November 17, 2011
Tired of tripods? Weary of racks? Polecat Percussion has developed a new way to assure a consistent, quick, and sturdy set up every time with its new PoleCat percussion system.
The foundation of the system is the PoleCat’s strong polyurethane base, which the user must attach to a piece of plywood. This base is fitted with flexible insert sleeves that the user positions to precisely replicate his or her stage plot. Wing bolts secure 1", 1.25", and 1.5" hardware base tubes that slip into the sleeves.
So where does one acquire drum set hardware that doesn’t include tripod bases? All you have to do is remove the tripod bases from your existing snare, cymbal, and auxilliary percussion stands by removing the setscrew at the base of each stand.
Once assembled, the PoleCat eliminates the typical maze of tripod bases, giving your kit a sleek and clean look. Plus it simplifies setup – just lay down your PoleCat base, tighten the tubes into the inserts, and your hardware is setup in precisely the right configuration for your playing preferences.
Outlaw Drums Reclaims Rare Wood From The 1800s
- By Andy Doerschuk
- Published November 14, 2011
Michael Outlaw, a custom furniture builder and avid drummer, was riding through Albany, Georgia one day and stumbled upon an 1880s plantation home being torn down. He asked the contractor if he could have some of the wood, and wound up loading up his truck with as much as it could carry. When he returned to his shop, the beauty and the aroma of the rare wood inspired him. He wanted to build a snare drum that was different, and this heart pinewood was the perfect fit.
Ever since that day, he has continued to search for more opportunities to reclaim this old wood from barns, houses, and mills built before 1900 to make his unique Outlaw Drums, which feature stave shells rendered from 300—500-year-old wood, cut with 45 degree bearing edges. “There is no bending or stress imposed on the drum shell that multi-ply and one ply shells offer,” Outlaw says. “Less glue is a big factor. Stave shells use less glue and are therefore more resonant.”
Drum Anywhere, Any Time With The Wavedrum Mini
- By Andy Doerschuk
- Published November 4, 2011
This is cool. After reintroducing the groundbreaking Wavedrum a couple years ago, Korg has announced the birth of the Wavedrum Mini – a completely self-contained instrument with a playable pad, speaker, sounds, effects, patterns, and a loop recorder, as well as a Sensor Clip to transform any object into a second sound source.
It offers 100 professionally programmed and ready-to-play sounds, which can be easily triggered from Wavedrum Mini’s pad. Simultaneously trigger additional sounds by attaching the Sensor Clip to a tabletop, cup, or … you name it, transforming the object into a percussion instrument. Sounds can be further shaped by applying any of the ten high-quality multi-effects – from reverb to distortion.
Need a metronome as a practice tool or a steady groove to solo over? Simply access any of the 100 internal rhythmic patterns that cover a range of styles or create your own using the Looper function, which will record and play back any Wavedrum Mini performance. An unlimited number of overdubs can be added, creating complex, multi-sound patterns (total record length is 25 seconds).
Thanks to its internal battery pack (an AC adapater is also included) and a strap allowing the instrument to be secured to your leg, you can jam on the Wavedrum Mini literally anywhere. Attach the sensor clip to your shoe, and you can tap your foot for one sound while triggering another with your hands. And you get all these cool functions for a suggested retail price of $430.
See. We told you this was cool.
