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- Comes with a great price point
- Has a small footprint with a sturdy construction
- Includes forgiving and realistic drum pads
- Comes with a SONIClear bearing edge
- Offers great sounds
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- Foot pedals may be excellent for beginner and intermediate drummers. However, they might frustrate professionals and advanced players so you probably need to buy a new one.
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The Mapex Armory Drum Shell Pack is the latest version of the Mapex hybrid shell concept. Mapex has walked the extra mile to offer this stunning kit with kick-ass looks and sounds.
A perfect fusion of birch and maple offers an exceptional tonal experience. The SONIClear bearing edge allows the drumhead to rest flat and thus brings the optimal response by enhancing the relationship between the shell and head.
The best part is that all these features are available at a price you cannot resist. Sounds too good to be true, right?
Planning to buy this kit but confused to take that leap of faith? Our Mapex Armory review will help you make an informed decision.
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Mapex Armory Drum Shell Pack Review
Build
The kit is beautiful, with diverse finishes. A variety of hardware and shell color option, such as black dawn, offers customization. All these features help the equipment to appeal drummers of all ages.
Mapex Armory takes a hybrid route with 6” ply 7.2mm-thick shells made up of an outer birch and inner with a maple core.
Mapex Armory comes with a hybrid shell material of birch and maple to bring the best of both worlds. It is an attractive mix. But what we loved is the SoniClear bearing edge. The kit has a kind of vintage look. The edges have a sharp outer peak with a slight round-over
The shell pack are comprised of blemish-free interiors and angled butt seams that are lightly sealed.
There is more to this kit apart from the hybrid lay-up. Usually, all kits have a 45° slope-up from the inside wall, and a sharp edge at the outer pile, the Armory’s SoniClear edge includes a 45° slope up to the maple mid-point.
If all this was not sufficient, the bass drums and toms come with Saturn IV-style lugs, which gives it an upscale look. Moreover, the flexible design of the SONIClear floor tom feet allows it to be used on a hard floor for a better sustain.
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Some features that impressed us about the look are:
- An impressive 14 “x51⁄2” steel-shelled brute – Tomahawk snare
- Mirror black chrome 1mm shell, with chrome fittings
- 10 double-ended bridge tube lugs with swivel inserts and 2.3mm Super Hoops
- The SoniClear Tom Suspension System mounts that take inspiration from up-market Saturn IV range
- Three-point mount where the above two points connect to the adjacent lugs, while the lower arm is not fixed.
- The hexagonal ‘L’ arm that clamps to the stand
It may sound complicated. But is not, especially when compared to other kits in this modern drumming world
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Sound
The rounded SONIClear bearing edges enhance the head-to-wood contact, providing a shell tone.
The SONIClear toms have adequate warmth and attack for rock and pop gigs. The bass drum provides a meaty sound. Its premuffled head prevents it from resulting in a lively boom. Moreover, you can get a punchy sound without porting the drum.
The Tomahawk snare sound is excellent. While it is sensitive at lower volumes, it also has lively and loud rim-clicks and rimshots. If you want to use it as your primary snare, you can put tape on its head to tame the overtone ring.
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Features
Mapex Armory is innovative and stylish and yet comes at an inviting price range.
Some features include:
- 6 Ply Birch / Maple / Birch
- Innovation and style at an affordable price range
- Redwood Burst
- Chrome
- Hybrid birch/maple shell pack that supports a focused and modern attack
- Tomahawk steel snare with a unique depth and bite, which is ideal for metal and rock
- SONIClear suspension mounts along with floor tom feet improve resonance
- Snare-trade in the plan that allows you to choose a snare that suits you the best
- SONIClear bearing edges offer optimal tone and tuning range
- MyDentity Lug
- Low-Contact Bass Drum Claws
- Remo UT Heads (toms, bass drum, & snare reso)
Shell Size:
- 6Ply 7.2mm Shells
- 20 “x18” Bass Drum
- 12″x09″ Tom
- 10″x08″ Tom
- 16″x16″ Floor Tom
- TH800 SONIClear Tom Holders
- 14 “x5.5” Tomahawk Snare Drum
Let’s have a detailed look at the features
Maple/birch Shells
The SONIClear toms and kick of this kit are fashioned from hand-selected maple that has inner and outer birch piles. The maple offers projection and resonant body, while birch focuses on the attack and dries overtone for an optimal impact.
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SONIClear Bearing Edges
The SONIClear bearing edge allows comprehensive support so that drumheads can be hand-tensioned, and you can produce a pure tone. This may be more exciting for drummers who prefer more in-depth fundamentals. With this kit, you get a wide tuning range and a purer pitch across the board.
SONIClear Suspension System
Have you noticed rocking of the drumhead while they are on the shells? There may even be a drag while spinning it. If yes, it may prevent the perfect tone and tuning capability.
Many suspension systems available today are attached to the rods of the drums. The suspension can thus put stress on the rods. Moreover, you have to remove the mount every time you plan to change the drumhead.
Mapex Armory comes with the SONIClear system that is threaded to both the lug casing, thus taking the stress away from the rod.
Toms have the SONIClear suspension system are similar to those present in the Mapex’s superb Saturn IV line. This suspension is attached to the two lugs at their lower end. The third rubber-tipped point lies in support of a small “M” badge present on the shell.
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Tomahawk Steel Snare
Mapex drums are becoming increasingly popular among metal and rock drummer. The Tomahawk steel snare drum has all the features of a fine steel snare, such as a brilliant cut, throaty growl, and high sensitivity.
Other Features
Armory drums come with multiple other features. The SONIClear edge is curated in a way to allow any head to sit flat on it. All drums have a 3/8″ rounded back cut that has a flattened apex.
The mounted toms and snares share an inner 45-degree cut that enhances attack. The bass drums and floor toms, on the other hand, feature a 60-degree internal cut to accentuate low-end frequencies.
The Remo UT heads appropriately fit on the SONIClear bearing edge. The drums are easy to adapt to lower pitches and have a good sustain. Despite having the single-ply UT heads, all drums sound full.
A Unique Feature
Mapex has come up with a unique deal for the Amory kit buyers. If you feel that the attached Tomahawk snare is not ideal for you, you can get it to exchange it within two weeks of purchase. Mapex allows it to be exchanged for other drums in the Armory series or a 14″ x 6.5″ maple snare.
[wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Comes with a great price point
- Has a small footprint with a sturdy construction
- Includes forgiving and realistic drum pads
- Comes with a SONIClear bearing edge
- Offers great sounds
[/wpsm_pros][/wpsm_column][wpsm_column size=”one-half” position=”last”][wpsm_cons title=”CONS:”]
- Foot pedals may be excellent for beginner and intermediate drummers. However, they might frustrate professionals and advanced players so you probably need to buy a new one.
[/wpsm_cons][/wpsm_column]
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What color options are available for Mapex Armory Drum Shell Pack?
It comes in six options – Ultramarine, Desert Dune, Redwood Burst, Emerald Burst, Purple Haze, and Black Dawn
How can I clean the drum?
Before cleaning, it is recommended to strip all lugs and fittings from the shell. This will make it faster and easier to clean the drum. While doing so, avoid scratching to remove the grit collected on the hardware. Now clean it with a smooth cloth or “Swiffer”-type duster. If you want to clean it more, you can use a solution of mild detergent and water and dry it off with a clean cloth.
What is the SONIClear Bearing Edge?
The bearing edge of any drum kit is a part of the drum, which comes in contact with the drumhead.
The SONIClearTM Bearing Edge by Mapex offers a flat cut where the drumhead touches the shell. This allows it to make better contact and sit flatter. You thus get a deeper and stronger fundamental pitch. It also provides a bigger tuning edge to make it easier to tune and work with it.
How can I contact Mapex directly?
There are multiple ways of doing it. You can email on Mapex.USA@khsmusic.com or Service.USA@khsmusic.com.
Mapex in the USA is under the KHS America. The contact address for the same is KHS America, 12020 Volunteer Blvd, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.
Wrapping it up!
The Mapex Armory Series is the latest version of the Mapex hybrid shell concept. The hybrid makeup comprising of birch/maple gives this kit an excellent look. The feature we like the best is SONICLEAR bearing edges. They work well as touted and offer the drum a full tone and sustain.
The steel snare is lightweight. The depth and bite, which is ideal for metal and rock. This kit has almost everything you may ask for. The best part is that it comes at a lovely price range.
If you are a beginner or want to expand your skills, Mapex memory can be an excellent option for you.
Happy Drumming!