Here we have an incredibly special snare drum, beautifully made to honour an incredibly special drummer - Ralph Peterson Jr.

On March 1, 2021, The Jazz community lost the fearless Ralph Peterson Jr. following a six-year battle with cancer. Ralph’s fierce advocacy for maintaining the Blakey-esque hard bop traditions was evident in his drumming and in his life with a seemingly unstoppable energy and drive to play, promote, and preserve the language of America’s original improvised musical art form known as jazz.

The Spirit of Ralph Peterson Jr. carries on through his students, colleagues, band members, recordings, family, friends, and the legacy of his music that he played with undeniable conviction. Mapex celebrates this spirit and legacy with the special limited release of the Black Panther “ONYX” snare drum, an instrument designed to Ralph’s preferred specs in both looks and sound finalised just two weeks before his passing and representing a style and personality missed by all who knew him.

Mapex Celebrates Ralph Peterson as the longest running artist endorser in the history of the Mapex brand loyally playing Mapex Drums for 30 of his esteemed 35-year career.

About the Onyx

The deep all maple shell finished with black-plated lugs and a black lacquered exotic outer veneer is an instrument straight out of the heart and mind of the late, great Ralph Peterson Jr. This instrument pays tribute to an artist with a deep connection to the history and traditions of the aggressive hard-bop jazz style, and is able to produce whispering ghost strokes and lightning sharp rimshots courtesy of the specially finished black wooden hoops. The character of the instrument matches the character of its creator, deep in spirit and high on energy.

Celebrating Ralph's 30 years with Mapex

• 14 x 8 7 Ply 6.85mm North American Maple + Maple Burl Outer Venner
• Transparent Black Exotic Maple Burl finish
• 14 Ply Black Maple Wood Hoops - The first wood hoop snare from Mapex
• In-Line Locking B-Lugs finished in Black
• Black Cylinder Drive Snare Strainer System
• Triple Vented
• 45 degree Soniclear bearing edges
• 2.7mm Deep x 5.5mm Wide Snare Bed
• Evans Onyx Batter Head and 300 Snare Side Head
• Black Panther 00's style Special Edition Gold Onyx Badge 
• Comes with Black Panther Soft Bag, and Onyx Drum Key pouch
• Limited release drum, 1 of only 12 in the UK