Tenor Sticks

Tenor Synthetic Mallets

Tenor Hybrids

Tenor Felt Mallets

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When you play the triangle in a classical fashion it produces a familiar triangle sound with a slight downward pitch bend. The effects that i enjoy most out of the triangle happen when you alter the angle of the liquid chamber after you strike it. This creates a more drastic pitch bend that is reminiscent of a waterphone-like device. As i played with the liquid triangle I found it best to mount the triangle on a cymbal stand with a double triangle mount such as the Grover double triangle mount. This would also work with a Pearl Trio Holder or a Cannon Wind Gong adapter with fishing line added to the hooks. When you suspend the Liquid Triangle you can alter the pitch of the triangle at any rate you choose. The only down side of this is that you have to keep on striking the triangle if you want the pitch bend to happen over a long period. The constant ting of the triangle may get in the way of the full potential of the pitch bend. I imagine that bowing the triangle would allow the triangle to fully resonate over a long period of time while you manipulate the water chamber over a passage. This is a technique that I have not explored yet but I feel will be a winner.

As with any triangle, the playing zone drastically changes the timbres that are produced. If you play on the end of the triangle farthest from the water chamber you get a drier timber that is closest to a stock triangle. If you play the triangle at the end near the chamber you get a more distorted timbre that is uncharacteristic of a triangle. I experimented with a full set of Steve Weiss Triangle Beaters and was able to draw out a myriad of sounds and timbres that were unique unto themselves.

My ultimate question is……”what do you use this thing for?”. Brahms Symphony No. 4……Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1…. probably not. But I think the Liquid Triangle might be a solid stand in for a waterphone at a fraction of the waterphone’s $800 price tag. It may also be a good textural substitute for a flex-a-tone. Bottom line…I think the Liquid Triangle is a unique, stand out, un-paralleled sound in a percussion world that is saturated with special effects. This thing is flat out cool!

The BodyBeat is equipped with an external vibe clip that transmits a mild pulse to any convenient area of the body. Before i got started using the BodyBeat I thought that the slight vibration would get lost in the sea of sensory response that is inherit with any musical activity. Surprisingly, the opposite proved to be true, I always felt the clear pulse while the rest of the ensemble was playing.

This observation started me on journey to find out why time would be so clear. I found research that proves that tactile information such as the Vibe Clip and Aural information supplied from a standard metronome are processed to the brain through separate neural pathways. This dual method of transmission allows you to focus your aural energy on the music being played and not the metronome. When i was using the beat I really felt a clear pulse that was not drowned out by the sound of the ensemble. This allowed me to supply better time for the ensemble to reference. In addition to clarity I found one hidden benefit of the BodyBeat; the lack of a steady, nagging metronome yipe that could be easily likened to an aural form of a torture tactic was a golden benefit.

As I was trying the BodyBeat out I came across a couple of features that I really think would put this product over the top. I would have loved to see some type of click wheel to make setting a tempo go much quicker. In addition to the wheel it would also be great to have a bank of preset programs to facilitate quicker direct tempo changes. I realize that these featured would put the BodyBeat into a different price range. However, i have grown attached to these features with other devices that I own..

Overall, I think that the BodyBeat Metronome has the potential to change the way individual musicians practice and think of metronomes. It was certainly a great change in pace for my teaching routine.

Additions to the Brazilian Instrument line are the Caixa, 18″ Surdo and 22″ Surdo. The Anarchy Clave Block (a cool addition to the highly successful Anarchy Cowbell), PWM20 Wooden chamber Maracas and cool accessory items such as PPS30BD Surdo legs that turn your Surdo into a bass drum and the PPS45 Shekere Holder add to the already extensive Pearl Percussion Accessory lineup. Pearl Percussion has also added onto their Travel Conga product line by coming out with Stands for the Travel Congas (carry bag included) and a Travel Conga Stand Bridge that connects two stands together to add stability for any playing situation.

In addition to all of the new Percussion items from Pearl, the Rock-N-Roll side of Pearl has also delivered the much anticipated Signature Snare Drum by Mike Mangini - a powerhouse of a drum with a Birch Shell and a popping 10×6.2 size! Round all this out with the already delivered new Forum Drumsets, Vision Series Drumsets and the full lineup of Taiko Drums, sticks and bags, and Pearl seems to be delivering ahead of schedule on their promises.

The Vision VX Series has six colors, three of which even have black hardware, and come complete with 5 drums and a full set of hardware (including 2 cymbal stands) all for under $750.00. The Vision VSX Series has six Ultra Exotic covering finishes…talk about some cool looks! The shells are the same in these two lines but the cool coverings may be worth the few extra bucks for the VSX. The third level is the Vision VBX Series which features a 100% all Birch shell and five awesome colors (of which the Concord Fade has Black hardware for a look that screams “I spent a ton of money on this kit” when you really didn’t). The highest level of Vision Series is the VMX 100% all Maple Shell kit. These kits are sold as shell packs and include no cymbal stands, snare stands, etc, so the player can add whatever hardware they want to turn the VMX line into the level drum set that is perfect for any style player. Five Lacquered finishes make this line a great value for the dollar spent.

It must have been a very tough decision for Pearl to discontinue the Export line, something that put them on the drum set map. But with Vision taking the place of the Export, Pearl seems to have managed to continue their tradition of giving drumming customers excellent quality products at a tremendous price.

Likewise, on the Gretsch Drum Set side, there are three very special and limited edition Drums Sets being manufactured in celebration of 125 years in business. Each of these drum sets is limited to 125 kits made and each is patterned after great Gretsch setups of the past. The Gretsch Rock Legend Drum Set has many of the same features found in the drum kits played by such greats as Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and is finished in the beautiful Nitrocellulose Millennium Maple Gloss Lacquer. Each of the five drums included in this Anniversary kit has all the details of times gone by, but with all the up-to-date features of a current spec drum set. The Gretsch Progressive Bop and Gretsch Progressive Jazz Drum Sets are each four piece configurations and are in the ultra sought after Cadillac Green Lacquer finish (the jazz kit including Gold Hardware). These kits were played by great drumming legends such as Max Roach and were a staple in most classic Jazz Clubs (such as Birdland) in the 50’s and 60’s.