Mapex Armory Tomahawk Snare Drum

Expert Review:

MAPEX Armory Snare Series – Tomahawk

We pry open the weapons cache and review the arsenal of Mapex Armory high caliber Snares

by Dendy Jarrett

ARMORY ARSENAL INTRO

Mapex recently introduced a series of five Armory snare drums, each with its own distinctive look and sound. The series is not limited to metal snares but also includes wood models.

The wood models feature the SONIClear™ bearing edges, while the metal models feature the same bearing edge found on the Black Panther™ series of snares, which is a slightly rounded 45 degrees. If you purchase one of the Mapex Armory kits, it comes standard with one of the five Armory Snares called The Tomahawk which is the final drum in this series we are covering.

And in an ingenious move, Mapex has a “trade in program” that I’ll explain at the end of this review.

In the first four Armory Snare Drums reviews, I took The Daisy Cutter, The Exterminator, The Dillinger and The Peacemaker out on the target range.

To appreciate the significance of the “Armory” grouping, consider some history. In the Daisy Cutter review, we explored the “daisy cutter bomb” and the significance it held in war-time arsenals. For The Exterminator, we looked at the P-51 Mustangs known as The Exterminators that escorted the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator groups. And for The Dillinger, we looked at how the Tommy Gun had become synonymous with John Dillinger along with his reputation as public enemy number one. For The Peacemaker, we locked sights on the role the Convair B-36 played in carrying nuclear bombs, enforcing its role as the peacemaker due to having the “biggest stick.”

There’s an equally significant history with this drum —and the name Tomahawk.

Tomahawk

—     Contemporary Reminder 

Until this review, all of the drum names we've researched in the Armory series had names associated with some historical aspect of weaponry.

The Tomahawk missile got its name from the native North American Indian axe (the tomahawk). The missile  has been in service since 1983 and is still the number one tactical missile in use today.

The missiles use subsonic, jet engine-powered propulsion and are designed to attack a variety of surface targets. When introduced, it was deployed for a number of ground-to-ground applications, but currently only sea-based applications (both ship surface and submarine) are being used. The Tomahawk has a modular design that allows leveraging different warheads, guidance mechanisms, and range capabilities.

 The tomahawks became a household name during the Gulf War when they were used heavily against Iraq. This weapon is a contemporary reminder that we are still keeping destructive weapons.

The Tomahawk

—     Sonic Advantage 

The Tomahawk is a 14”X 5.5” 1.0mm black chrome stainless steel shell and comes standard on all Mapex Armory Drum Sets. If you already have a metal snare, you can use the Mapex trade-in program to trade this out for another Armory drum (see below), but I wouldn’t act so fast. You must give this drum a try — even if you have another metal snare. While I have raved about the other snares in this series, this drum is my favorite.  The tone, while characteristically metal, is rich and full (with that "greasy phat-back” sound). Think of your favorite big ballad snare drums, or a snare drum you’ve heard that resonates all over a large venue — it's as if this drum has its own built in reverb. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but I can’t get over how great this drum sounds right out of the box.

Unlike the Tomahawk missile that uses a subsonic advantage, the Mapex Armory Tomahawk has a sonic advantage.

Fall Out

Earlier in the review, I mentioned a “trade-in program” Mapex recently launched: if you purchase an Armory drum set that comes standard with the steel Tomahawk snare, you’ll have two weeks after your kit purchase to test the snare. If you already have a steel snare or prefer a wood drum, or any one of the other five Armory Snares, you simply fill out an easy form and ship the snare back. The return form lets you swap it for another Armory Snare. I really believe this may be an industry first.

Like its namesake missile, the Tomahawk can be dialed in to be one of the most versatile of the Armory series. It delivers “penetrating accuracy and long range projection, and a devastating rim shot.”

As you decide what you need in your sonic arsenal of drum gear, take the time to put the Armory Snares — which truly are high-caliber — through their paces.

RESOURCES

WEB:

Mapex Drums Official Website 

Mapex Armory "Trade In" Program

VIDEOS:

Harmony Central Looks At The Mapex Armory Snare Series:

 Mapex SoniClear Explained:

 Mapex Armory Series Drums:

SHOP:

TO PURCHASE THE TOMAHAWK SNARE FROM MUSICIANS FRIEND

TO SHOP THE ENTIRE ARMORY SNARE SERIES AT MUSICIANS FRIEND

TO SHOP THE ENTIRE ARMORY DRUM SELECTION AT MUSICIANS FRIEND

TO SHOP THE ENTIRE MAPEX SELECTION AT MUSICIANS FRIEND

Dendy Jarrett is the Publisher and Director of Harmony Central. He has been heavily involved at the executive level in many aspects of the drum and percussion industry for over 25 years and has been a professional player since he was 16. His articles and product reviews have been featured in InTune Monthly, Gig Magazine, DRUM! and Modern Drummer Magazines.