GEARREVIEWS

There are two side bars that

each house a set of universal
mounting posts for cowbells,
clave blocks, and other percussion.

The black powder-coated steel

is really unobtrusive and blends into
the background in most gig settings.

The main table is supplemented

by two slightly smaller side tables,
each measuring a useful 18"x12".

Meinl
ESSENTIALS

PRICES
Workstation £540
Percussion Workstation
£540 | Meinl claim their new percussion workstation is the ultimate
CONTACT
Active Music
rig. Charlie Price finds his favourite toys a comfortable new home.

H
Distribution Ltd ow often have you seen a gig, video housed, have left a slight hole in the joined by an adjustable top bar and
7 Goosegreen or TV show where there’s a trendy- market. Meinl have filled that hole with a strengthened by a lower bar situated
Trading Estate looking band grooving away like the rack system that enables you to house near the feet. The sturdy base legs
47 East Dulwich Road epitome of cool, only for the camera to toys without needing a course in body allow for the placement of three
London turn to a Herculean, shiny steel junkyard building to put it up or pack it down. percussion tables, the largest being the
SE22 9BN of percussion, partially obscuring its middle one (a whopping 22"x24") which
Telephone diminutive owner who looks as though You’ve been framed is secured between the two supporting
020 8693 5678 he’s trying to beat his way out of jail?! The Percussion Workstation consists of posts and provides added stability.
Website It’s true, percussion racks of two unobtrusive black powder-coated Two slightly smaller percussion tables
www.meinl yesteryear have been on the substantial steel sets of feet that guarantee not to are situated to each side, both of which
percussion.com side and, when you think how few trip you up. These legs connect to the are a useful 18"x12". These sturdy tables
instruments they sometimes actually workstation’s vertical posts, which are did all I asked of them, which was

OCTOBER 2006 RHYTHM 093

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 GEARREVIEWS

These sturdy tables did all I asked Rack attack

However useful and unobtrusive Meinl’s
of them, which was basically, Percussion Workstation is, it is still
undeniably large, so you will have to think
“Please don’t drop any of my toys!”. about how you are going to cart it about,
and whether there is actually room for
basically, “Please don’t drop any of instrument in question. The Z-shaped rod it onstage. It can be disassembled quite
my toys!”. They can be positioned makes it easier to mount an awkwardly quickly and easily though, and shouldn’t
independently of each other or all laid shaped instrument slightly out of the pose too many problems in transit.
out at the same height, however you like way of all the other instruments. The workstation can be easily
it. Meinl are also quick to point out that The large middle table and the two incorporated into many percussion or
you don’t have to use all of the tables or smaller side tables are finished with a kit set-ups and can be set up high enough
mounting posts all the time and that the ‘ship-style’ lip around their edges which to use if you perform standing up. All
workstation is infinitely expandable when prevent your toys from rolling off. The the individual parts are highly durable,
your needs change. This flexibility makes tables’ carpeted anti-slip surface making it perfect for touring situations.
positioning everything a real joy, with the allows for easy placement of incoming
added reassurance that all your toys will instruments and the silent removal of
be right there where you need them to their successor. It is thankfully lined
be, and with a stick or two you can cover in grey, and I welcome Meinl’s decision
Meinl have recently added even more instruments to their vast
a huge array of instruments without not to line it black as a lot of tables are,
catalogue and their reputation for quality, reliability and reasonable
having to move much at all. because it avoids the all-too-common pricing has resulted in them becoming a serious contender in the
All the clamps and wingnuts are scenario of struggling to find a black hand percussion arena. I can’t say that this is a low-price bit of kit –
chunky and easy to position and make it shaker on a black table in the dark. “Well, weighing in at more than £500 it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted
feel like a secure place to go about your why not make it yellow then?” you might – but if you want a low-fuss, durable and attractively understated
work. There are two side bars that each ask, but Meinl claim that their grey way of housing, locating and playing all of your small but important
house a set of universal mounting posts. workstation “will blend in nicely with the toys, then this workstation should certainly be considered.
You can then choose from the three overall stage design” and “won’t interfere
angled rods, each of which have a bottom with the lighting and design engineers Simple, sturdy design with enough space and posts
to house a staggering amount of hand percussion.
hook and one Z-shaped rod with a bottom concepts” – and I concur. The black
hook. The angled rods can be used to powder-coated steel construction is Fairly costly and it might not quite
mount cowbells, clave blocks, etc. To this generally really unobtrusive and would fit into the boot of the mini!
end they face down towards the player
which facilitates playing the top of the
easily blend right into the background
in most gig settings.
RATING ★★★★★

SQ2 is more than a new drum series. It

is an entirely new concept both of making
drums and selecting drums. With an almost
unlimited variety of shell – size – finish
combinations SQ2 is the most individual
drum that Sonor has ever made – and that
you have ever dreamed of playing. It will let
you speak with your personal musical voice.
It is your signature in sound.

SQ2 Drum Configurator

• Visually put together your individual SQ2 set up.
• Control all facets from wood selection to hardware components.
• Save and store different configurations under your user name and password.
• Decide to buy or just to dream – that’s cool too.

www.sonor.com Sutherland
Bedwas House Ind Est, Caerphilly CF83 8XQ Tel. 0845 2300 633 Email. [email protected] www.sutherlandtrading.com

RHY130.gear_meinl 094 8/9/06 06:52:30