BeatIt test: Gewa G3 electronic drum kit

In the drumming community, the name GEWA is associated primarily with the leading European distributor of such manufacturers as: DW Drums, Gretsch, Paiste, Gibraltar, Latin Percussion or Remo. Many of us also associate it with high-quality drum bags manufactured under this brand. For over 10 years now, this German company has been trying to enter the European market with its own percussion instruments. We remember DrumCraft drums (really good quality), which are still available and very popular on the secondary market. Unfortunately, and it’s a pity, the company decided to sell the brand and focus on the distribution of drums by the Californian tycoons, DW. However, GEWA did not give up on the topic and its exploration moved towards electronic drums. Is it a good idea? This test should resolve any doubts. Let’s get to work!

The first press mentions about the Gewa company producing electronic drums can be dated back to 2013, when an agreement was concluded between the Germans and the Americans, under which a Product Research and Development Department was established. In 2018, the companies publicly presented the G9 module at the Musikmesse trade fair in Frankfurt, and in 2020, sales of the first model began under the name GEWA G9. These dates alone allow us to infer that the products are prepared with due care, adequate time for testing and eliminating errors in the process. Some of you will ask: Why another electronic drum set? After all, we have Roland, Yamaha or Alesis. That’s another question that we will try to answer when summarizing our test!

1. Test

We conducted our test in our new Luta Recording studio. We used two preamps and RME UFX+ cards to record the sound directly from the module. The soundtrack mix was subjected to a volume limit of +4 db.

We tested the GEWA G3 electronic drums for the number of available presets, their consistency and sound quality. We checked the functionality of the pads (snare, toms, kick and cymbals). We checked the hi-hat calibration function, the possibilities offered by the Bluetooth and USB connectivity, recording and playback. We took a closer look at the built-in metronome and explored other options of creating sounds using equalizers, compressors, reverbs and other effects available.

2. Basic product specs:

a. Drum kit:

Manufacturer: GEWA
Model: E-Drum Set G3 Studio 5
Kit elements: 12″ snare pad, 3 x 10″ tom pads, 10″ kick pad, 14″ crash pad, 18″ ride pad, 14″ hi-hat pad
Rack: GEWA STUDIO RACK
Module: G3 incl. cables
Hi-hat stand: Yes
Memory stick: Yes
Transport bag: Yes

b. G3 Module:

901 instrument sounds
40 preset kits + 128 user presets
Same sound & trigger engine as in GEWA G9
Up to 1000 samples per instrument (incl. rim sounds + sustain samples)
High-resolution multilayer samples recorded at Funkhaus Studio in Berlin (up to 100 layers and 5 Robin Sound chokes per layer)
3D sonic image for samples of highest resolution
Bluetooth audio and MIDI
Up to 100 WAV samples can be imported (max. length 70 minutes mono, 35 minutes stereo)
Quick Record function
Realtime .WAV recorder
Compressor and 3-band, fully parametric EQ for each pad
Compressor and 4-band EQ for each output
4 independent effect banks (Ambient, Instrument Reverb, Room Reverb, Multi-effects)
12 types of room reverb
9 different multi-effects
Eleven 6.3 mm jack trigger outputs (fully compatible with pads from other producers)
Two 6.3 mm jack master outputs
6.3 mm jack headphone output (stereo)
6.3 mm mix input (stereo)
MIDI (IN, OUT/THROUGH)
USB Midi (eg. for use with VST plug-ins) + USB Audio (2 IN/6 OUT – fully compatible, additional drivers???? not necessary)

3. Product and sound

The GEWA G3 drum module has 40 drum kit presets and we realized that this is no joke from the first moment we hit the drums. We have over 900 samples of top-quality drum sounds at our disposal. Many of them were recorded especially for this purpose at the iconic Funkhaus Studios recording studio. in Berlin! The sets are sonically consistent and ready for playing, recording or even post-production. Add to this the possibility of virtually unlimited interference with the sounds using the built-in three-band equalizer, compressor, reverbs and four effect banks, and we get a serious tool for creating sound. Of course, we also have the option of importing our own sampled sounds, up to 100 .WAV files (maximum length 70 minutes mono, 35 minutes stereo). The manufacturer deserves to be praised for such possibilities. In this regard, most competitors offer presets which, unfortunately, need to be replaced if we want to obtain satisfactory sonic results. In our video test, we present short fragments of all the sounds programmed in the module and several possibilities of creating them using the built-in functions. Operating the module is quite intuitive, perhaps a little too detailed, but in return we get access to very extensive module functions. We have a lot of knobs and buttons, sometimes we would even get lost on a path to achieving a specific goal. All those who have already dealt with other modules from well-known manufacturers will easily become familiar with the product after about fifteen minutes of using the product, and we do not consider this a disadvantage of this device. Another advantage of the module is its so-called “open system”. This means that the manufacturer can update the module’s system during its operation, the way it is with smartphones or computers, for example. This means GEWA can make adjustments and respond very quickly to user comments, improving the device system on an ongoing basis. The competition offers closed systems that do not enable such operations. A big plus for GEWA for this opportunity from our editorial team!

When opening the boxes and setting up the drums, we were struck by the exceptional quality of the entire instrument. The plastic elements are made of a very durable and good-looking material. The pads weigh quite a bit, which makes them stable and ready to absorb hard strokes from drummers. They can be programmed using three zones (head, rimshot, rim click). The tom, snare and kick pads are equipped with mesh heads. The hardware (rims, tubes, knobs, holders, screws) are chrome-plated. The bundle of cables connecting the module with the pads has a special cover that hides the cables and protects them. Our only negative remark regards the cable markings. It would be better to print them on the cables themselves, not, as it is in the case of the equipment tested, with sticky notes attached. Such markings may become damaged after several years of use.

The kick pad is a big plus. It is stable, does not travel, has plenty of space for two beaters, and above all, it has a non-slip Velcro fastener, which serves as a washer for the pedal mechanism. Its purpose is to keep the pad in check and also subdue vibrations.

The kit includes a high-quality hi-hat stand by DW. This means we get an additional benefit in the form of high-end equipment. Additionally, the manufacturer provides a GEWA bag for storing and transporting the drums.

It would also be hard to ignore the crash, ride and hi-hat pads. They all have three zones that provide damping (edge, bow, bell). They are very well balanced to best reflect the natural contact between the stick and the instrument. We know perfectly well that imitating the sound and feel of drum cymbals is usually the weak side of electronic drum kits. Unfortunately, a lot of them are far from perfect, but GEWA is different from the competition in this respect. The advantage is that we have three zones, good feel and natural pad sizes: a 14″ hi-hat, a 16″ crash and and an 18″ ride.

What else can we add? GEWA provides technical support after purchasing the device. Each customer can count on specialist assistance when using the instrument. In the case of Poland, Mariusz Mocarski, who is well known to drum fans, shares his knowledge and support with users. It is also worth adding that all components, parts and accessories can be purchased in Europe, specifically in Germany. This means that in the event of a failure, we can count on swift repair or replacement of components. This is another advantage compared to similar instruments produced in the Far East.

At the end of our test, we have to deal with the manufacturer’s price offer. Taking into account the quality of the instrument, its components (e.g. DW drums hardware), technical support, samples offered, and the extensive functionality of the module itself, we do not consider the price in the range of 2,000-2,150 Euros is too high. After all, this is not an instrument for a beginner player, although even such a person can easily use it. This instrument can be put to good use in recording studios, post-production studios, music schools, community centers…wherever the quality and efficiency of work counts.

Here’s the score achieved by the GEWA G3 electronic drum kit:

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