New In at Drum Shop UK: Sakae Snare Drums, Pre-Loved Bargains, Kelly SHU Mic Mounts & Pearl Low Volume Cymbals

It has been a busy week on the shop floor. A pallet of Sakae MIJ snare drums has arrived from Korg and is boxed up in the warehouse ready to ship, the pre-loved wall has been restocked with some genuinely lovely used gear, Kelly SHU microphone mounts are open for pre-order, and Pearl's low volume practice cymbal pack is in stock. Here is everything that is new at Drum Shop UK, the drum specialists based in Washington, Newcastle upon Tyne, shipping across the UK and worldwide.

Sakae MIJ Snare Drums: Hand-Built in Japan

Sakae need little introduction. The Osaka workshop built Yamaha's finest drums for decades before going out under its own name, and the MIJ (Made in Japan) series is the purest expression of that craft: hand-finished shells, beautifully machined hardware, and a tuning range that flatters everything from a whispered brush pattern to a full-throated backbeat. Every one of these is in stock now.

Sakae MIJ 13" x 6.5" Brass Snare Drum in Black Nickel — £819.00

Sakae MIJ 13 inch x 6.5 inch brass snare drum in black nickel finish

A 13" brass shell at 6.5" deep is a cracking combination: the smaller diameter lifts the pitch and speeds up the response, while the depth and the brass keep the body and sustain intact. Black nickel plating gives it a slightly drier, more focused voice than raw brass. Superb as a main snare for pop, gospel and fusion players, or as a high-tuned side snare.

View the Sakae MIJ 13" x 6.5" Brass Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Brass Snare Drum in Black Nickel.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 5.5 inch brass snare drum in black nickel finish

The classic all-rounder. 14" x 5.5" in brass is the size most engineers reach for: crisp, articulate, plenty of crack at the rim and a sensitive centre at low volumes. If you want one snare that will handle a function gig, a studio session and a rehearsal room without complaint, start here.

View the Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Brass Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 6.5" Brass Snare Drum in Black Nickel.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 6.5 inch brass snare drum in black nickel finish

The same brass shell with an extra inch of depth, which buys you more volume, a lower fundamental and a fatter rimshot. Rock and heavier players tend to prefer this one over the 5.5".

View the Sakae MIJ 14" x 6.5" Brass Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Cast Phosphor Bronze Snare Drum.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 5.5 inch cast phosphor bronze snare drum

The flagship, and worth every penny. A cast phosphor bronze shell is poured rather than rolled, so it is dense, heavy and extraordinarily resonant. Expect a huge dynamic range, a dark shimmering overtone spread and a rimshot that genuinely cuts through a loud stage. A once-in-a-career snare drum, and we do not expect to see many of these.

View the Sakae MIJ Cast Phosphor Bronze Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Steel Snare Drum in Matte Black.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 5.5 inch steel snare drum in matte black finish

Steel is bright, loud and fuss-free, and the matte black finish looks superb under stage lights. At under £650 this is the most affordable way into a Japanese-built Sakae, and it is a brilliant gigging snare that you will not worry about loading in and out every weekend.

View the Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Steel Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 6.5" Steel Snare Drum in Matte Black.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 6.5 inch steel snare drum in matte black finish

The deep steel option. More air in the shell means more low end and more volume, so if you play loud music in big rooms, this is the one to try first.

View the Sakae MIJ 14" x 6.5" Steel Snare Drum

Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Walnut Snare Drum.

Sakae MIJ 14 inch x 5.5 inch walnut snare drum

Walnut is the warm, woody counterpoint to all that metal. It rolls off the harsher overtones and leaves a rounded, musical tone that sits beautifully in jazz, Americana, singer-songwriter and studio work. Gorgeous to look at, too.

View the Sakae MIJ 14" x 5.5" Walnut Snare Drum

Which Sakae MIJ snare should you buy?

  • Brass for a versatile, full-bodied snare that suits almost any style.
  • Cast phosphor bronze for the widest dynamic range and the most complex tone.
  • Steel for brightness, cut and the best value.
  • Walnut for warmth and a controlled, woody voice.
  • 5.5" deep for sensitivity and articulation, 6.5" deep for depth and power.

New Pre-Loved Drum Gear

Every pre-loved item is checked over, cleaned and set up by our team before it goes on the wall. The Yamaha Rydeen kit and matching snare in this batch are close to brand new, so if you are a beginner or buying a first kit for someone, they are well worth a look and a considerable saving on new. Used stock is one-off by nature, so once it is gone, it is gone.

Pre-Loved Snare Drums

Pre Loved Yamaha Rydeen 14" x 5.5" Snare Drum in Mellow Yellow.

Pre-loved Yamaha Rydeen 14 inch x 5.5 inch snare drum in Mellow Yellow finish

Barely used and an ideal snare drum. The Rydeen is Yamaha's introduction line, built with the same attention to detail as their pro drums, and this one is in near-new condition at well under the price of new.

View the Pre-Loved Yamaha Rydeen Snare Drum

Pre Loved Pearl Sensitone Steel 14" x 6.5" Snare Drum.

Pre-loved Pearl Sensitone steel 14 inch x 6.5 inch snare drum

A legendary workhorse with a bright, loud voice. The deep steel shell gives you plenty of crack and volume, and the Sensitone has been a go-to snare drum for gigging drummers for decades.

View the Pre-Loved Pearl Sensitone Snare Drum

Pre-Loved Drum Kits and Shell Packs

Pre Loved Yamaha Rydeen 22" 4-Piece Shell Pack in Mellow Yellow.

Pre-loved Yamaha Rydeen 22 inch four-piece drum kit shell pack in Mellow Yellow

Almost brand new. A proper 22" four-piece in a finish that actually turns heads, and the perfect Yamaha kit for a new drummer or upgtrade from a starter kit, keep your exsisting hardware and simply upgrade your drum shells. Pair it with the matching Yamaha Rydeen snare above for a complete setup in one go.

View the Pre-Loved Yamaha Rydeen Shell Pack

Pre Loved Pearl Masters 22" 4-Piece Shell Pack in Matt Caviar Black.

Pre-loved Pearl Masters 22 inch four-piece maple shell pack in Matt Caviar Black

A serious pro kit at a fraction of new money. Pearl Masters maple shells are a studio and touring staple, and the matt Caviar Black finish looks superb on a dark stage.

View the Pre-Loved Pearl Masters Shell Pack

Pre-Loved Sabian Cymbals

Pre Loved Sabian 14" AAX X-Celerator Hi Hats.

Pre-loved Sabian 14 inch AAX X-Celerator hi-hat cymbals

The air-wave bottom means no airlock and a fast, crisp chick. Bright and cutting, a modern rock and pop favourite.

View the Pre-Loved Sabian AAX X-Celerator Hi Hats

Pre Loved Sabian 16" Paragon Crash.

Pre-loved Sabian 16 inch Paragon crash cymbal

Neil Peart's signature line: bright, explosive and quick to speak, with a clean decay that does not clutter the mix.

View the Pre-Loved Sabian Paragon Crash

Pre Loved Sabian 17" HHX Evolution Crash.

Pre-loved Sabian 17 inch HHX Evolution crash cymbal

Hand-hammered HHX with the brilliant finish: warm and dark underneath, glassy and bright on top. A superb all-round crash for live and studio work.

View the Pre-Loved Sabian HHX Evolution Crash

Pre Loved Sabian 20" AA Medium Ride.

Pre-loved Sabian 20 inch AA Medium Ride cymbal

Clear stick definition with a controlled wash and a solid bell. At £75 this is the bargain of the batch and a brilliant upgrade over any mid range ride.

View the Pre-Loved Sabian AA Medium Ride

Pop into the shop to play any of the pre-loved gear, or get in touch and we will happily send over extra photos and an honest description of condition.

Kelly SHU Microphone Mounts: Now on Pre-Order

If you have ever fought with a bass drum mic on a stand, the Kelly SHU is the fix. It suspends the microphone inside the drum on an elasticated shock mount, so you get a consistent, isolated, rattle-free placement every single time, with nothing on the floor to kick over. Drummers, engineers and touring techs swear by them.

These are on pre-order with stock expected from our supplier in October. We have set an expected availability date of 30th October 2026, and orders will be dispatched in the order they were received.

Kelly SHU Pro bass drum microphone shock mount for internal kick drum mic placement

Kelly SHU FLATZ boundary microphone shock mount for bass drum

The FLATZ models are designed for boundary style mics such as the Shure Beta 91A, the Shure SM91 and the Sennheiser e901, suspending them flat inside the kick for a tight, punchy, feedback-resistant sound.

Pearl Low Volume Cymbals: Practise Without the Noise Complaints

Pearl BRD-S low volume practice cymbal pack with hi-hats, crash, ride and carry bag

Pearl BRD-S Low Volume Practice Cymbal Pack with Bag.

Perforated bronze cymbals that knock roughly 80% off the volume while keeping a natural cymbal feel and stick response, so your technique translates straight back to your normal setup. Perfect for flats, terraced houses, late-night practice, teaching studios and quiet rehearsals, and the included bag makes them easy to cart to lessons. Pair them with mesh heads and you have a near-silent acoustic kit.

View the Pearl BRD-S Low Volume Practice Cymbal Pack

Come and Try Them

Everything above can be ordered online for UK delivery, but if you can get to us, come and play them. We are one of the UK's largest dedicated drum shops, with a huge demo area, and our team are all working drummers who would far rather help you find the right snare than sell you the most expensive one. Questions about any of the new Sakae MIJ snares, the pre-loved gear or the Kelly SHU pre-orders? Get in touch and we will sort you out.

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