Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all!

Giveaway coming up!

I received some product from a new company that has a unique product. I'm going to play with it over the week and post a review of it after Christmas! After the review is posted, there will be a giveaway of the product reviewed from this company!

Remember! To be eligible for the giveaway you MUST be a follower of the blog!

Visual Drumming

I think this is probably one of the most under rated drum DVDs ever released. Visual Drumming is a DVD that not only shows different visual stick tricks, Steven also breaks everything down to show you counts and how to practice them.

The video starts out with a great solo where he employs the tricks he’s about to teach. He also explains WHY someone would want to use them.  He talks about boring drumming (of which I think I’m guilty….hey! There’s a reason I have this DVD!), fluid drumming vs. tense drumming (once again, for me) and just plain interacting with the crowd you’re performing for.

Steven goes through spins and throws, how to practice them and then how to combine them. He also goes into Neck and Mouth transfers and head hits and how to count them.

This is a DVD for drummers who are looking to improve their visual presentation. Obviously, these types of tricks should always take a back seat to playing (which he also stresses in the video), but it’s definitely worth the money and the run time of the video is about 30 mins so it’s a quick watch.

Unfortunately, there’s only one place to pick it up, which is at: http://www.drumfun.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=29&category_id=2&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=64

If you’re interested to see what Mr. O’Reilly is up to nowadays, here’s his latest bands video. It’s actually pretty cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Wr0Qslge4

Til the next review…

NAMM 2011

I will be attending NAMM next month where I will be looking for products to review! Post a comment if there's anything you know of being unveiled at NAMM and I will try to review it!

I also have a few companies that will be sending me products to review and after the review is written, I will be giving them away but you have to be a follower of this blog! Come on! It's free!

PJ

Is there something you want reviewed?

Not that I'm out of ideas but is there something you've been interested in that you want reviewed? Comment here and I'll see what I can do to get it and review it!

PJ

Firefly - Revolution Drum

I received this drum key from Revolution Drum quite a while ago and thought that I would review it today.  At first glance it looks different from other keys because it’s double ended.  Gimmick? Not quite. One end is for tightening and the other is for loosening. The design of this key is that it has a simple mechanism that allows for a “ratchet” motion to tighten and loosen a tension rod but without the ratchet sound. According to their brochure, there is a cam clutch bearing covered by the handle. The ends are knurled to help spinning and the handle is located in the middle to balance it and make tightening and loosening  quicker and more precise than taking a standard key with the handle at the top and trying to spin it and have it fly off somewhere causing you to spend time finding where it landed.

It comes with a handy dandy plastic box for storage or there is a hole in the handle for keeping it on a chain or even necklace…if you’re into that.

The only drawback I can see is that they should somehow mark which side loosens and which side tightens at a glance. It can be frustrating to use in a rush if you start with the wrong end, but other than that, they seem to be well made and built to last. I use mine all the time.

Check em out at www.revolutiondrum.com

Until next time…..

PJ

Hammerax 18" Boomywang

Once again, I was walking down the halls of NAMM with a friend (same friend who introduced me to Drumnetics) and he introduced me to Hammerax Cymbals.  Now this cymbal company isn’t like your typical cymbal company. You can see that as soon as you look at their products that they are unique. 

I picked up a Boomywang after trying it out at their NAMM booth and all I can say is that it has the most unique "cymbal" I've ever heard. It's not a typical cymbal, nor is it a gong. When struck it sounds like a thin crash with almost a delay effect added to the sound, an effect that Hammerax calls "a slight phasing 'wah-wah' effect." My Boomywang now hangs proudly as part of my drum set up. I look forward to all of the new products Hammerax as released since I bought my Boomywang, I know that I will be buying some more!

To contact them, their webpage is http://www.hammerax.com, Check them out, You’ll be amazed!

Until next time,

PJ

Drumnetics Bass Drum Pedals

In 2007 I was wandering the halls of NAMM in Anaheim, CA with a friend of mine when he introduced me to Mike Van Dyke, the owner and creator of Drumnetics bass drum pedals. I was pretty fascinated with the concept of bass drum pedals that did not use springs for tension but instead used magnetic repulsion. I sat down at a bass drum set up Mike had at his booth and tried one out. Surprisingly, the action felt really good. I assumed that it would feel different or take some getting used to because of the different technology but it felt as good and normal as any pedal I've played before, except this one is a lot smoother and responsive, and of course, no squeaking!

These Pedals are amazing! There are two magnets that slide back and forth that adjust the "tension" of the pedal. The range of adjustment is very wide, from barely having to put weight on the pedal to having to nearly stomp on it. These things are durable too! I've had mine for 3 years now and have had ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS with them other than an occasional screw backing out which is normal. The nice thing is that because of the magnets, I've never lost a screw if it back out all the way.....and I still have the original hex drivers too because the pedals have a storage spot just under the magnets so they are held in place too!

In all seriousness, don't let the new technology of Drumnetics Pedals make you weary of these pedals. These pedals stand up to any other high quality pedal out there. I play metal and am a heavy hitter so I put my pedals through the ringer. If they can hold up to my playing, they can hold up to anyone.  Mike is also a great guy and a professional who only puts out the highest quality product. So get a hold of Mike and tell him PJ sent ya.

http://www.drumnetics.com/
http://www.facebook.com/drumnetics

PJ



If you would like your product reviewed, email me at timekeep69@aol.com.