Mapex Mapex Saturn VI 20" Drum Kit, Black Ink Burst

Information

The Mapex Saturn VI 20" Shell Pack, Black Ink Burst is now available with us at Graham Russell Drums.

The Mapex Saturn VI marks the first step into Mapex’s professional-level drum range, continuing one of the most successful and respected series in the company’s history. Building on the hugely successful Saturn IV and Saturn V generations, Saturn VI takes the unmistakable Saturn shell formula and refines it for today’s professional drummer.

For more than two decades, Saturn has built its reputation around one defining ingredient: the unique combination of Maple and Walnut hybrid shells. The warmth and musicality of maple combine with the darker character, depth and low-end presence of walnut to create a sound that is immediately recognisable – rich, powerful, articulate and equally at home on stage or in the recording studio.

While the Saturn shell is an exceptionally versatile design capable of covering virtually any musical style, its combination of fast attack, powerful projection, controlled warmth and deep low-end response has made it particularly popular within rock and metal. Saturn kits have long been requested by both professional artists and producers looking for drums that retain definition under heavy playing while still delivering the weight, body and musical character required in the studio and on stage.

Saturn VI stays true to that proven sonic identity while introducing technology developed through Mapex’s flagship Design Lab programme. SONIClear™ bearing edges, SONIClear™ tom suspension, Air Flow Venting, SAS 90° floor tom legs, Sonic Pedestal Feet and isolated floor tom brackets all work together to allow the shells to resonate as freely and naturally as possible.

Combined with premium high-gloss lacquered finishes over exotic veneers, Saturn VI represents the point in the Mapex range where professional sound, professional construction and premium aesthetics come together.

The Saturn Legacy Continues

Saturn has been at the heart of the Mapex professional drum offering for generations. Saturn IV and Saturn V established an enviable reputation amongst touring drummers, recording musicians and serious players by delivering a distinctive professional sound without losing sight of the value that has always made Saturn such an important part of the Mapex range.

Saturn VI continues that philosophy rather than reinventing it. The familiar Maple/Walnut shell recipe remains central to the series, while carefully selected developments in shell hardware and isolation technology bring the design forward for a new generation.

The result is unmistakably Saturn – the sound and character that established the series, refined with modern Mapex engineering.

Maple / Walnut Hybrid Shells

The sound of Saturn VI starts with its American Maple/African Walnut hybrid shells. Maple provides warmth, balance and a broad musical response, while walnut adds depth, darkness and powerful low-frequency character.

Saturn VI toms and floor toms feature 6-ply, 6.15mm hybrid shells, allowing them to respond quickly and resonate freely. The bass drums use a more substantial 8-ply, 7.55mm construction, providing the additional body, weight and low-end authority expected from a professional bass drum.

This combination gives Saturn its celebrated ability to sound rich and controlled at lower dynamics while opening up into a powerful, commanding voice when played harder. It is a highly versatile shell construction, but one that has found particular favour with rock and metal drummers, touring artists and producers thanks to its ability to deliver strong attack and definition without sacrificing depth or warmth.

SONIClear™ Bearing Edges

Mapex SONIClear™ bearing edges allow the drumhead to sit flatter and make more consistent contact with the shell. This improves the relationship between the head and shell, helping the drum tune more easily while producing a stronger fundamental pitch and a wider usable tuning range.

On Saturn’s Maple/Walnut shells, that increased contact also helps bring out the subtle tonal character of the hybrid construction, allowing the drums to remain full and resonant without sacrificing clarity and definition.

SONIClear™ Tom Suspension

The SONIClear™ Suspension System allows Saturn VI rack toms to resonate with minimal interference from the mounting hardware. By reducing unnecessary contact with the shell, more of the drum’s natural vibration is preserved.

The result is an open, expressive tom sound with excellent sustain and projection, while retaining the stability and positioning flexibility required by professional players.

Design Lab Inspired Floor Tom Technology

Saturn VI benefits from a collection of floor tom developments derived from Mapex’s flagship Design Lab engineering.

SAS Static 90° Floor Tom Legs are designed to reduce the transfer of vibration from the drum into the floor, while Mapex Sonic Pedestal Feet further isolate the drum by allowing it to effectively “float” on the elevated rubber foot.

The redesigned Floor Tom Isolation Gaskets take this approach even further. The metal components of the floor tom leg brackets are positioned externally and isolated from the shell by a special rubber gasket, reducing pressure on the shell and allowing it to vibrate more naturally.

Together, these features help Saturn VI floor toms deliver the deep, sustained and powerful low-end response for which the Saturn series has become known.

Air Flow Venting

Borrowed from Mapex Design Lab development, Air Flow Venting carefully manages the movement of air within the shell as the drum is played.

This contributes to the feel and response of the drum, helping Saturn VI deliver an immediate, controlled response while allowing the shell and drumheads to work together naturally.

Triple-Flanged Power Hoops

Saturn VI uses Triple-Flanged Power Hoops, providing an ideal balance between strength, tuning stability and open shell resonance.

The hoops provide the focused attack and dependable tuning demanded by professional players without excessively restricting the natural movement of the drumhead and shell, complementing Saturn’s open and expressive character.

Professional Shell Pack Configurations

Saturn VI is a professional shell-pack system designed to allow drummers to build a setup around their own playing requirements. A wide selection of individual bass drums, rack toms and floor toms is available, making the Saturn platform equally suited to compact studio configurations, contemporary touring setups and larger multi-tom kits.

Specifications

10" x 7" and 12" x 8" rack toms
14" x 14" floor tom
20" x 16" bass drum
Two TH800 tom holders included
Professional-level Maple/Walnut hybrid shell construction
6-ply, 6.15mm tom and floor tom shells
8-ply, 7.55mm bass drum shell
Mapex SONIClear™ bearing edges
SONIClear™ Tom Suspension System
Triple-Flanged Power Hoops
Design Lab inspired Air Flow Venting
SAS Static 90° Floor Tom Legs
Sonic Pedestal Floor Tom Feet
Floor Tom Isolation Gaskets
Undrilled bass drum with no bass drum tom mount
Chrome hardware
Black Ink Burst exotic lacquer finish

Why Choose Mapex Saturn VI?

The Mapex Saturn VI is professional drum territory. It is designed for serious players who are looking beyond an intermediate drum kit and want an instrument capable of meeting the demands of recording, touring and professional live performance.

Its appeal goes far beyond specification alone. The Maple/Walnut shell combination gives Saturn a distinctive voice of its own – warm and musical, but with a darker low-end character, powerful attack and exceptional depth that has made the series a favourite with drummers for generations. Nothing sounds like a Saturn!

That combination also explains why Saturn has developed such a strong following in rock and metal music. The shells can deliver the projection and definition required to cut through dense guitar-driven mixes while retaining enough warmth, depth and tonal complexity to satisfy engineers and producers in the recording environment. That strength does not limit Saturn to heavier styles – its wide tuning range and balanced response make it an exceptionally capable all-round professional drum kit, with Mapex artists from pop, funk and fusion backgrounds also choosing the range.

Rather than abandoning the formula that made Saturn IV and Saturn V so successful, Saturn VI develops it. Proven Saturn shell construction and SONIClear™ technology are now combined with carefully selected engineering derived from Mapex’s flagship Design Lab programme, delivering greater shell isolation and resonance while preserving the unmistakable character of the series.

For gigging professionals, recording musicians and serious drummers looking for their first professional-level kit, Saturn VI delivers a genuine professional instrument with an established heritage, distinctive sound and exceptional specification.

Key Benefits & Features

Part of the Mapex professional drum range
Builds on the Saturn IV and Saturn V legacy
Signature Maple/Walnut hybrid shell sound
Versatile shell design suited to a wide range of musical styles
Particularly popular in rock and metal for its attack, projection, depth and definition
A proven choice for professional artists and recording environments
Warm, rich and musical character with exceptional low-end depth
6-ply tom and floor tom shells for response and resonance
8-ply bass drum shell for power, depth and projection
Mapex SONIClear™ bearing edges for easier tuning and a broad tuning range
SONIClear™ Tom Suspension helps maximise shell resonance
Design Lab inspired Air Flow Venting
SAS 90° Floor Tom Legs help reduce unwanted vibration transfer
Sonic Pedestal Feet further isolate the floor tom from the ground
Floor Tom Isolation Gaskets reduce hardware contact with the shell
Triple-Flanged Power Hoops balance attack, tuning stability and resonance
Premium lacquered exotic veneer finishes
Individual drum sizes available to expand and customise the setup
Designed for studio, touring and professional live performance
The unmistakable Saturn sound refined for a new generation

Josh Devine Video

Please note: The kit in the video is finished in Marine Teal Burst.

Watch the Josh Devine video

Buy a new Mapex Saturn VI 20" Shell Pack, Black Ink Burst from Graham Russell Drums and receive it on our next day delivery service when you order before 2pm.