Mapex Introduce A Range Of New Additions For 2020

Mapex Drums have announced a host of new products launching throughout 2020 which they previewed at the recent NAMM show in Anaheim. These include an update for their Saturn Series, their brand-new Saturn Evolution Series, new additions to the Black Panther snare drum family and a selection of new artist signature snares for their Black Panther Design Lab snare range.

Saturn Series

Long recognized as a groundbreaking series, Saturn pioneered the exploration of hybrid shell sonic properties. Now, the new Saturn range features a host of innovations taken directly from the companies flagship Black Panther Design Labseries launched in 2018, including placements of each drum’s air vents, SAS (Sonic Attenuation System) 90° floor tom legs, low-density isolation gaskets for floor tom leg brackets and new SAS finishes.

Saturn Evolution Series

The new Mapex Saturn Evolution Series offers a virtually unlimited combination of shells, sizes and cross-over finishes. Available as individual components, or as pre-set shell packs, the chamber specific design ensures all drums blend beautifully with ten new finishes perfectly matched on both the Maple/Walnut and Birch/Walnut Hybrid Shells so that the players choice of shell material can be based on sound alone. The toms feature Mapex’s new Halo mounting system, which is a lateral “under lug-line” suspension system which isolates the toms to allow the shell the freedom to breath, delivering a pure, open tone.

Finishes on the new Saturn Evolution follow the Sonic Attenuation (SAS) System, first conceived for Mapex’s Black Panther Design Lab series, with four colours rated at SAS-0 (Satin), three at SAS-1 (high gloss), and three at SAS-2 (high gloss over an exotic outer ply).

SAS-0 finishes have no effect on the natural tone of the wood shell, whilst the SAS-1 high gloss lacquers deliver a slightly dryer sound, and shells finished with an SAS-2 exotic outer ply produce the driest tones in the range.

Both the new Saturn Series and Saturn Evolution Series are set to be available in Spring 2020. 

Black Panther Snare Drums

Elsewhere, Mapex have introduced fourteen new snare drums into the Black Panther snare drum family, with every drum having been redesigned from the ground up with careful attention paid to retaining the character of this much loved series whilst at the same time introducing new shell features, sizes and materials. The new additions include six metal shelled drums (steel (x2), copper, aluminium, brass and hammered brass), five maple shelled models in a variety of sizes and thicknesses and three hybrid wood shelled models (maple/walnut/maple, maple/walnut & birch/walnut).

Black Panther Design Lab Artist Snares

Finally, Mapex have unveiled a collection of five Black Panther Design Lab Artist Series snare drums designed in collaboration with artists Russ Miller, Jeff Hamilton, Craig Blundell and Chris Adler. Every model has been designed to the finest detail, right down to the artists personal choice of snare throw off, snare wires and heads.

Details for each of the models…

Russ Miller ‘Versatus’ 4.5: 14” x 4.58”