Mapex SoniClear™ Edge Technology

Mapex SoniClear™ Edge Technology

A Sound Advantage

by Dendy Jarrett

When one mentions someone having a “sound advantage” over

someone else, it means that you clearly have the upper hand.

In the case of Mapex, this term has a literal as well as figurative

meaning. 

The Basics

All drum shells have a bearing edge—the routed edge on which the drum head sits, and seats, for tuning. Typical drum heads have an angled rise on the Mylar’s outer perimeter where the head rises from the counter hoop to the playing surface. Historically, this slanted outer perimeter is where most bearing edges make contact with a drum head. Drummers placing new heads on a drum would experience the head wobbling, more or less, when first placed on the drum before tuning.

As drummers we’ve all experienced the frustrations of tuning. You finger-tighten the drum, give a few turns of a drum key crisscrossing the drum, then work on stretching the drum head by giving “CPR” thrusts to the head, or standing on it, or whatever trick you use to get the head to “seat.” And even after all that effort, getting a solid, pure tone out of a drum is a work of art, skill, and finesse.

Refining a Concept

Mapex’s recently launched SONIClear™ Edge technology, which is now standard on all Mapex MyDentity, Armory, and Mars Series shells, allows the drum head to sit on a flatter (less sharp) bearing edge. This means it sits completely and solidly flat on the bearing edge, with no movement at all.

Why does this give Mapex a ‘sound advantage’? When you place a drum head on most shells, you rely on the tension to “pull” or “stretch” the head until the flat area of the underside of the head is pulled tight to the flat surface of the bearing edge.

Getting this right can take a lot of effort, as described above. With the SONIClear™, you’re starting with the flat area of the head already resting on the flat area of the bearing edge. With just a finger-tightened drum head, you start to experience tone with the drum.

The Tonal Advantage

So now that we’ve covered the physics, let me break down the

advantages of the SONIClear™ Edge:

·      Immediate Tuning

·      Easier Tuning

·      Wider Range of Tone

·      Typical “Tuning Tricks” Not Necessary

·      Great Drum Sound

It seems like it would be only fair to list the disadvantages as well ... but I can’t find any. So make sure to check out the Mapex SONIClear™ technology when you’re making drum choices, because Mapex really can give you a sound advantage.

Resources

Web-

Mapex SoniClear™ Official WebPage

Video -

Mapex Official SONICear™ Demo Video -

Harmony Central Coverage of SONIClear™ Bearing Edge at NAMM 2014

(turn your volume up for the dialogue) 

To Purchase Mapex Drums with the SONIClear™ Bearing Edge at Musician's Friend

To Discuss Drums and Percussion at Harmony Central

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.