The M Birch, new from Mapex, gives you the sound you've been waiting for. The shells are made from multiple birch plies with an exterior maple veneer, giving you great tone - and a great look. The shells deliver incredible attack at the high end, a narrower mid-range and significant 'punch' at the bottom end. The exterior maple ply is finished with eight coats of hand applied, transparent lacquer for a shell that looks as good as it sounds.

The best drum shells start with the best wood
Mapex selects only the finest woods for its shells. With individual plies less than 1 mm thick, the result is overall stronger and thinner shell. The seams are staggered around the shell, providing additional strength and acoustic distribution. Each drum is finished off with a precision-ground 45 degrees bearing edge, counter-cut at 0.5mm for optimum tone.

Hand rubbed with tender-loving care
Mapex drums are given eight coats of hand-applied lacquer, each of which are hand rubbed, to give the finish a deep, high-gloss shine. Mapex lacquer finishes are tough and easy to maintain and are crystal clear, allowing the beauty of the premium veneer to show through.

Physics meets aesthetics
The Mapex Isolated Tom System protects the shell's integrity and allows toms to vibrate freely, ensuring maximum projection and resonance. The Mapex Isolated Tom System is discrete and visually attractive and adds very little weight to the drum.

The worst thing to do to a drum is to drill a hole in it
Fewer holes… read more means truer tone and resonance. That's why all Mapex drums use single point contact lugs. Only one hole is drilled into the shell for each lug, protecting the shells' tonal properties. The lugs are low in mass as well, meaning less direct contact with shell, also protecting the overall integrity of the drum.

How can a thick piece of felt enhance sustain?
It can't. That's why Mapex 950 and 550 series Performing Artist Hardware comes with OS Cymbal Accentuators. Minimal contact with cymbal gives you maximum sustain. Unlike felt, the OS Cymbal Accentuator wont compress or shred and enjoy a longer life.

Playable quality right out of the box
Mapex drums are exclusively equipped with Remo drum heads. Like Mapex, Remo is a worldwide symbol of quality manufacturing and premium performance.

Other Features
exterior maple veneer

matching lacquered bass drum hoops

500-Series double-braced Performing Artist hardware

padded throne included read less