Mapex Design Lab Equinox Snare

90
GEAR REVIEW
L
aunched alongside the Black
Panther Heartbreaker and Cherry
Bomb models (reviews coming in
the next issue of
Rhythm ),
the Equinox completes a family of
‘Ultra Premium’ Design Lab snare drums
from Mapex.
Build
Each Design Lab snare drum uses a Concept
Hybrid approach to shell design, shell
composition and drum construction. This is
Mapex’s way of saying that it has applied a
great deal of knowledge and experience into
everything from shell material selection and
bearing edges, to snare beds and counter-
hoops. In the case of the Equinox, the Concept
Hybrid profi le is described as classic, bright
and articulate.
The 6mm, 14"x5" shell is 6-ply North
American Maple with 4-ply maple
reinforcement rings and features 45° edges on
the batter side and 35° edges on the snare-side
£599.99 The Black Panther just got an upgrade
MAPEX DESIGN LAB
EQUINOX SNARE
(both with rounded back cuts). The single-
fl anged hoops are copper with a chrome
coating, using claw-hooks both top and bottom.
The 20 chrome Black Panther lugs are
staggered, which allows for an extended
tuning range.
The Equinox’s ebony stain uses the new
Soniclear Attenuation System (SAS), which is a
low-mass fi nish designed not to impede the
sustain of the shell in the way a standard
lacquer might. The snare comes complete with
16-strand custom Puresound wires and a Remo
Diplomat Fiberskyn batter head/Ambassador
snare-side reso.
Hands On
As advertised, all of the above attributes add
up to a very responsive and articulate drum.
The thin maple shell delivers a warm, open
tone and offers an enormous dynamic range.
Pre-tuned to a medium pitch, the drum springs
to life with even the tiniest of ghost notes and
the snare wires offer amazing response
PRICE
£599.99
SHELL MATERIAL
North American Maple
CONSTRUCTION
METHOD
Ply
NUMBER OF
PLIES
6-ply (6mm), plus 4-ply
re-rings
BEARING EDGES
45° Soniclear bearing
edges top, 35° on the
bottom
FINISH
Ebony Stain
HOOPS
Single-fl anged
hoops with claws
SUPPLIED HEADS
Remo Diplomat
Fiberskyn batter
and Ambassador
snare-side reso
NUMBER OF
LUGS
20 Black Panther-style
lugs
SNARE WIRES
Puresound Custom
16-strand stainless steel
SNARE STRAINER
Black Panther cylinder
throw-off and butt side
adjustment
CONTACT
Korg (UK) Ltd
01908 857100
[e-mail]
www.mapex.co.uk
Essential spec
through the shallow 5" shell. The copper hoops
add further warmth to the drum and allow the
Fiberskyn head to resonate freely on the
bearing edge. Not only do the hoops really look
the part but they also enhance the cross-stick
tone beautifully.
Cranked up tight the drum gives a snappy
backbeat whilst still retaining some of the
drum’s complex overtones. Rimshots
effortlessly pull an abundance of tone from the
shell and produce a noticeably different note
from the head.
VERDICT: The Equinox mixes tradition
with modernity in terms of both looks
and sound. There is no doubting this is
a stunning drum, but it comes at an
equally weighty price.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
HOOPS
The single-fl anged
hoops are copper with
a chrome coating
DIPLOMAT
The Equinox comes supplied
with a vintage style Remo
Fiberskyn Diplomat batter head
LUGS
The 20 Black Panther lugs are
staggered, which allows for an
increased tuning range
| OCTOBER 2017 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
WORDS: TOM BRADLEY
RHY273.gear_mapexfix.indd 90 9/6/17 6:36 PM