PASIC- part 1

After many years, I finally got to make it to another PASIC, this year held in Austin, TX.  For those who don't know what it is, it's the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.  PAS is "a music service organization promoting percussion education, research, performance and appreciation throughout the world."(pas.org)  If you are really into percussion in general and aren't a member, I would look into and join.

Anyways, here are some pictures of gear from the show.  Not all of this is new, but you're not going to find them in most music stores.  Check out the manufacturer's websites for more details.

Ron Vaughn percussion.  Here are some tambourines that have small, heavily-ridged jingles.  Sounds like any good concert tambourine but a lot quieter and articulate. 
He had a good assortment of woodblocks and log drums at the show.  Check out the circular key tree on the top right corner.
ronvaughn.net

 Along with the usual drum heads and assortment of hand percussion, Remo had their Mondo cajon.  For those not familiar with Remo percussion products, the drums have synthetic heads making them quite durable and weather hardy.  The Mondo cajon has a wood body, full sound with snares.  The front circle is a layer of their Mondo head allowing the player to utilize brushes.
Remo.com

Toca had their assortment of hand drums, but a couple of items stuck out.  They had a couple of newer pastel-ish djembes in the Freestyle line.  Not sure how long they've had this out but they also had a cowbell with a rotating tightening bolt/nut.  It looks like you can put it on a clamp and still be able to get to it and also keep it out of the way.
tocapercussion.com


 Pearl's jingle cajon is quite fun.  I believe it has a fiberglass shell.  There are a couple of different sized, adjustable pandeiro-like jingles on the front.  Depending on the adjustment, the sound possibilities are great.  If you already have a cajon, they also sell just the jingles with a suction cup.  I'm curious to check it out on other instruments. 
They also had a set of the Adams Schnellar timpani.  So nice, I was afraid to touch them.  Ratchet pedals, fine tuners, long shaped bowls.  The calf heads were so sensitive that you could hear them vibrate from just the noise in the hall.  pearldrum.com

Cooperman is a company in Vermont.  They have been making sticks, rope tuned drums, and fifes since the 50s.  Sticks are made of hickory, rosewood, and persimmon also sold by weight. 
Cooperman.com






Swan Percussion is based in Austin, TX.  Quite inventive, simple designs, alterations and musician friendly.  The cajons come in different woods and sizes.  You can play them them on three sides, has adjustable snares that can be replaced, and optional accessories.  They also had some cool wood box shakers and the Black Swan drum which allows you to play it like a cajon, or play it with a bass drum pedal.  The head is tunable and can be replaced with any 16" head..
swanpercussion.com

 Matt Nolan custom cymbals is from the UK.  The drum set as well as the concert cymbals have a full, complex sound.  The cymbals I played were very dark.  It was hard to hear with all of the commotion, but the triangles are very shimmery with lots of overtones.  Some of similar shape like the Buddy & Thein triangles.  Didn't get to try them out but the bat-wing like plates looked very cool.
mattnolancustomcymbals.com

 Premier is back.  At least the distribution of the concert and marching portion.  The interesting metal bowl are called Aluphone.  They are made of cast aluminum and pitched from about F3-C6 (I think).  You can purchase them individually, in a tree form and even set up like crotales.  Evelyn Glennie played them during the Olympics and numerous DCI groups used them this past season.
aluphone.com

 Equilibrium is based in MI.  Not sure how long these have been out but they displayed their usual woodblocks as well as plastic blocks.  They sounded surprisingly good, not as resonant as their wood counterparts but don't sound like the LP jam blocks. For those who don't know their products, their mallets are quite good.  My brass Equilibrium mallets are not as pretty as their current models.
equilibri.com


Now it's time to get to bed.  Frodo's beat me to it.  More PASIC posts to come.