It would make a particularly bitchin’ side snare for a Raven kit if you or the drummer in your life is lucky enough to have one.

The shells are a hybrid maple and birch that Mapex says “crank out low and dark tones.” Sizes include a gigantic 22″ x 20″ kick, 14″ x 12″ and 16″ x 14″ floor toms, and a 12″ x 8″ rack. The snare is 14″ x 6″.

Only a limited number of kits will be made available in North America, so we might have to fight it out—Lord of the Flies style—to get one.

But what use is having a “portable” drum set if you don’t have something to lug it around in? Mapex thought about that too and put together a complementary set of Fastpack drum bags. The bass drum and snare fit into a padded rolling bag with wheels. The 8”, 10”, and 12” toms fit into a padded bag with a convenient shoulder strap. A durable, easy-to-carry bag is provided for the hardware too.

So what we got here from Mapex’s Horizon Fastpack appears to be a kit that lets you actually spend more time making music with your drums and less time moving them around and setting them up.

[Press Release]

Mapex USA introduced the Black Panther special-edition elm snare drum. The 14″ x 5.5″ uses a revolutionary shell construction to achieve its unique tonal qualities. At the heart of the drum is a 6.1mm maple shell with an exterior ply of exquisite hand-selected elm, finished in a high-gloss clear lacquer finish to accentuate its beautiful wood grain.

Additionally the drum is designed with a 3.4mm-thick walnut sound ring at the top and bottom edge of the shell. These sound rings add roundness and darkness to the sound of the drum. The result is a tone that is unmatched by any other drum on the market.

The special-edition elm snare comes with die cast hoops and a fully adjustable Black Panther throw-off. The drum’s hardware is plated in black chrome to give the instrument an even more dramatic appearance. The drum also features high-quality Remo Ambassador heads and a 20-strand snare.

Quantities of this snare drum will be limited. Like all Black Panther special-edition models, the drum comes with a durable, padded Black Panther deluxe carrying bag. MSRP for the special-edition elm snare (BPLM4550BXN) is $744.99.

Mapex USA announced the release of a new series of drum hardware. The new 700 series is a feature-rich line of chrome-plated hardware that is both light in weight and extremely durable. The series includes a bass drum pedal, double bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand, boom stand, straight cymbal stand, snare stand, and double tom stand.

All 700-series models feature an improved, clamp-style memory lock design, ergonomically designed wing nuts, newly redesigned rubber feet, double braced legs, and multi-tiered tubular construction with molded slip-proof nylon inserts.

The B700 boom stand and C700 cymbal stand are completely re-engineered with several new features. Mapex’s popular OS Cymbal Accentutors have been replaced with new Multi-Sustain Cymbals Felts that allow the player to use any combination of felt and plastic for a more precise level of cymbal sustain. In addition, a new Super-Glide stepless cymbal tilter allows unlimited positioning and the new Acculock Tilter handle holds the system tight and can be conveniently positioned out of the way.

Mapex 700-series hardware will be shipped with Mapex’s new Meridian series Maple and Birch drum sets.
MSRP for the B700 boom stand is $143.99, and the C700 straight stand is $145.99. The S700 snare stand is $116.99, the P700 double chain bass drum pedal is $167.99, and the P700TW double pedal is $541.99. The H700 hi-hat stand is priced at $183.99, and the TS700 double tom stand is $218.99.

Like all Mapex hardware, the 700 series carries an unprecedented five-year warranty.

Mapex USA has announced the release of its first-ever signature snare with the introduction of the Chris Adler Signature snare drum. The walnut-shelled snare drum is inspired by the Lamb of God drummer’s first Black Panther snare, which he purchased for himself in 1995.

The drum’s every detail is meticulously designed to Adler’s specifications. From the thin premium walnut shell, to the signature graphic (designed by Lamb of God designer K3n), to Chris’s personal choice of high-quality Aquarian drumheads (HE12 batter head and CCSN12 snare head.)

The drum’s shell is 12″ x 5.5″, 5.1mm thick, and has 2.3mm Mapex Powerhoops. The drum’s hardware is black chrome plated. The inside of each drum is labeled with a commemorative sticker that identifies the instrument.
“The size of the drum mixed with a high-tension, high-energy head creates a unique, high pitched, yet full bodied punch that has become a signature sound in my playing and in the band’s catalog,” said Adler upon his approval of the final prototype.

The Chris Adler Signature Snare Drum (BPML2550BCA) carries an MSRP of $522.99.

[Press Release]

Mapex USA has announced the introduction of the Meridian Maple and the Meridian Birch drum set series, two entirely new product lines for 2009. All Meridian drum sets feature newly designed appointments, including lugs, mounts, badges, and bass drum claws.

The Meridian Maple features 7-ply, 5.8mm, all-maple shells (7.2mm bass drum) with newly designed lugs for overall lower mass. Meridian Maple drums also feature Mapex 2.3mm Steel Powerhoops and Remo UT Pinstripe batter heads. Meridian’s ten-lug maple snare drum comes with a Remo coated batter head.

The Meridian Birch features 6-ply, 7.2mm, all birch shells with newly designed lugs for overall lower mass. Meridian Birch drums also feature Mapex 2.3mm Steel Powerhoops and Remo UT heads.

The Meridian series bass drum claws are newly designed to be low in profile and include rubber gaskets to protect the bass drum hoops. The bass drum’s tom mount features new styling and a recessed adapter to accommodate an optional cymbal arm.

For the introduction of the Meridian series, Mapex has re-engineered its Isolated Tom Mounting System. The improved system employs Mapex’s unique combination of off-the-shell mounting hardware and single-point-of-contact lugs. The shell vibrates more freely, thereby improving sustain and resonance. The new Isolated Tom Mount System is significantly lighter and lower in profile than previous versions, also making precise positioning much easier.

There are seven Meridian Maple lacquer finishes and three Delmar sparkle wrapped finishes. The wrap finishes are only available as a six-piece Studioease shell pack, while the eight-coat, hand lacquer finishes are available in all configurations.

The Meridian Maple is available in eight configurations, featuring five and six-piece setups. The Meridian Birch is available in eight hand lacquer finishes and seven configurations, featuring five and six-piece setups.
Meridian drum sets feature newly designed Mapex 700-series hardware. The 700 series has many features that are new to Mapex hardware including the Super-Glide stepless cymbal tilter and Multi-Sustain Cymbal Felts, which allow the player to use any combination of plastic or felt on their cymbal stands for more precise sustain.
Meridian Maple MSRPs range from $1,929.99 for a six-piece Studioease configuration to $1,539.99 for five-piece setups. Meridian Birch MSRPs range from $1,539.99 for a six-piece Studioease configuration to $1,229.99 for five-piece setups.

With the Meridian Series, Mapex is also introducing its “SRO” configuration. The SRO has a 22″ x 18″ bass drum, 10″ x 8″ and 12″ x 9″ rack toms, a 16″ x 16″ floor tom with legs, and a 14″ x 5.5″ snare drum.

Mapex Meridian also includes a full line of add-on components that include a wide range of add-on toms, an 18″ gong bass drum (maple only) and a “Go Large” double-bass add-on pack. All Meridian drum sets include an instructional setup DVD hosted by Drumming’s Global Ambassador, Dom Famularo.

The Meridian Maple series replaces the Mapex Pro M product line, which has been discontinued. The Meridian Birch series replaces the Mapex M Birch product line, which has also been discontinued.

[Press Release]

Mapex USA has introduced a Special-Edition Black Panther Mayan-themed snare drum. The 14″ x 5.5″ steel-shelled snare drum is embossed with genuine eagle/human mask art that is highlighted with a beautiful brushed bronze finish.

The shell’s bearing edge is rounded on the batter side for greater head-to-shell contact. Die cast hoops were also chosen for this model, resulting in a drum with extra sensitivity and tremendous projection.

The Black Panther Mayan snare also features black-plated hardware that has been brushed with bronze. A special Black Panther badge was created for this model, and the batter head also features a traditional Mayan-themed pattern on a Remo Fiberskin head.

The Mapex Black Panther Mayan snare (BPST455MA) includes a deluxe Black Panther padded carrying bag and carries an MSRP of $623.99.

Mapex USA has once again released a highly collectible edition of its Orion series. This component pack, limited to only twelve sets, features a hand-selected matched burl exterior veneer that is finished in the exclusive Ocean Wave Burst high gloss lacquer.

The component pack includes drums only and includes a 22″ x 18″ bass drum, 10″ x 8″ and 12″ x 9″ rack toms, 14″ x 14″ and 16″ x 16″ floor toms, and a 14″ x 5.5″ snare drum. Hardware is sold separately.

Like all Orion drums, this set features the Orion’s ultra-thin seven-ply North American maple shell. The result is unmatched bright and rich tone and remarkable resonance that has made the Orion series the Mapex flagship.

The Limited-Edition Orion Select Burl component pack (TM628SBDHSJ) is available with black chrome hardware and features a white Remo coated front bass drum head. MSRP for the six-piece component pack is $5,999.99.