GEAR REVIEW
DROPS , BY TANDEM | Alex MacDougall
“ Necessity is the Mother of Invention ”.
So said Aesop , and so said Frank Zappa describing the origins of his original band .
And now , Tandem Drops has a much welcome invention for drummers everywhere in the historical and never-ending necessity of dampening our drums , due to nagging overtones and ringing .
If you ’ re like me , you ’ ve utilized the built-in internal muffler on many drums . But those seem to really crimp and flatten the sound . You ’ ve used gels , which can dry out when they become dusty and can get a bit messy at times . You ’ ve wadded up self made pads out of duct tape , cloth , or paper towels , and taped these attempts down to your drum heads . You ’ ve used snare weights , which incorporate clips and magnets , clip ons , or you might have used drumhead rings on your snare or toms .
“ Goodbye Gels , Hello Drops ” ®
Enter Drops . They are a magnificent addition to your stick or cymbal pouch , and definitely solve the problem once and for all . Attractively packaged , the box set comes in four sizes , shapes , and weights ; 40g , 60g , 120g , and 200g . You can also purchase them individually or in a two pack . What ’ s brilliant about these is that you simply snap one onto the drum ’ s tension rod of your choice : snare drum , toms , floor tom , or even timbales . The recycled felt and ball bearing shape simply flops over onto the drum hoop using gravity and is securely in place . The heavier the weight , the more dampened the sound is . It ’ s Efficient . Secure . Stylish . Well made .
Many worship drummers often use church kits , sometimes bringing in their personal cymbals or snare drums . Your Drops can easily pop right into your travel gear . Might I also suggest that you encourage your church or worship leader to purchase these for both of your sanctuary and youth group kits ?
And if you use a mounted cowbell , just toss one of these inside of it , and let gravity do the work . Your muffling problem is solved !
So how much are they ? A set of 4 currently runs $ 59.99 , but the website may offer discounts on multiple sets , as well as special offers .
The features and benefits that are to be found with Drops are that they ; 1 ) are designed to reduce sustain and eliminate overtones , while letting the drum ’ s natural tone come through . Rather than adhering to the drum head , Drops vibrate with it , 2 ) travel with you , so you can take them anywhere and quickly snap them on to any kit , 3 ) made from recycled felt and small ball bearings , and 4 ) are easy on / off and come in 4 different sizes .
Drops are the best new thing for the widest possible drum audience that I ’ ve seen in a while . You can order them from the official website , which also offers some discounts as well as other terms .
Say , “ Goodbye Gels , Hello Drops ” ®
$ 59.99 for pack of 4 TandemDrums . com
90 January 2025 Subscribe for Free ...