Mapex MR5045 Meridian Birch -LE > Reviews (1)

I purchased this kit a couple of years ago and it's still going strong! Before purchasing this, I owned a very low quality beginner Peavey kit and felt it was time to upgrade to an intermediate/advanced kit. I must say, the Mapex Meridian Birch 5 piece was perfect for this move! The sound quality is fantastic, even with Mapex's own drum heads on it! The birch gives the tom's a beautiful "punch" which cuts perfectly over the low bass drum tone. The snare doesn't sound fantastic in my opinion, however, I replaced the included batter head with a Remo Ambassador which improved it a fair bit. Still not perfect, but for the low price of this kit (I paid approx £650), you cannot complain for the quality of sound it produces!

All of the hardware included with the kit is very strong and I have had no problems with any of it after two years! The kit includes a hi-hat stand, ride cymbal stand, and crash stand. The tom rack which fits into the bass drum also includes a cymbal stand, allowing for lots of selection when setting up this kit. Other hardware included are floor tom legs (very sturdy), snare drum holder (lots of adjustable options to make drumming as comfortable as possible) and single bass drum pedal which I found very nice to play!

The only potential down-side of this kit is that it is only a 5 piece; for a beginner upgrading to an intermediate kit, you sort of expect a couple of extra drums to toy around with. However, for a little extra, you can buy a six piece version of this kit which includes an extra floor tom. Personally, I would have liked an additional rack tom or floor tom included in the price but after setting up the kit so easily and hearing it's beautiful sound, I really could not complain!

The best thing about this kit (for me) was the absolutely stunning finish. I chose the cherry burst finish which showcases a fiery red at the bottom of the drums, building up gradually to a very dark, menacing red colour; fantastic! The finish has also been very enduring - after two years, it has shown no signs of wear, and has not been scathed at all. Looks fantastic when gigging in the spotlight! The kit is also available in other finishes, all of which look brilliant!

Of course, I would 100% recommend this kit, especially if your in my position and looking to upgrade from your first kit. The Mapex Meridian Birch provides you with a simple, stable kit with a sound which punches perfectly through the rest of the band to make sure your heard. Absolutely essential if your looking to start gigging or recording!