After painstakingly counting each vote and accounting for the hanging chads (no, not that Chad), we are proud to present the winners of the 2018 Drummies! Gear Awards. We’ve conducted an annual reader’s poll since 1996, and we continue to be amazed by your passion and participation year after year. This year was no exception, with a 30 percent increase in the number of voters over last year!
Our focus this year, as it has been in years past, is new gear. If you voted (thank you!) you already know the ballots were full of innovations and new sounds, with a couple write-in categories to spice things up. Drum sets, cymbals, hand percussion, drumheads, drumsticks, electronics, and even websites were included in this year’s ballot. So, without further ado, here are the 2018 Drummies! Gear Awards winners, as chosen by the readers of Drum. (All prices listed MSRP) WINNER A&F Drum Co. 2ND PLACE De Broize 3RD PLACE Q Drums
The Austin, Texas–based A&F Drum Co. took first place in this write in-only category. Specializing in raw metal drums, this relatively new company has been winning over ears, eyes, and hearts with their fresh drums that look 100 years old and sound like nothing else around. Maybe that’s because everything they do is a little, ahem, unique, just like you.