We were thrilled to unveil the stunning Mapex Black Panther Design Lab Versatus at the UK Drum Show this September! Our first kit is arriving in early November, and this is your chance to secure it before anyone else. Pre-orders are now open, but with interest soaring and very limited numbers, this beauty won't be available for long. For more information or to reserve yours, get in touch today and be one of the first to experience its explosive sound and unmatched craftsmanship!

WATCH OUR VIDEO WITH THE INCREDIBLE CRAIG BLUNDELL

SONIC FLOW MASTERED TO PERFECTION

The Black Panther Design Lab Versatus is not just a drum kit—it's a revolution in craftsmanship and sound. Fusing cutting-edge innovations with decades of Mapex's drum-building expertise, this masterpiece offers unmatched versatility. The hybrid shells of Maple and Mahogany, designed with the precision of Black Panther's chamber-specific architecture, deliver a breathtaking blend of tones. Each drum is a finely tuned instrument, working in harmony to create a symphony of sound where every beat is flawless.

SAS FEATURES & LAB BUILT STANDARDS 

Halo Mounting System

The revolutionary “Halo” mount featured on all Black Panther Design Lab toms, unlocks the freedom of full resonance. Using a lateral, unique “under lug-line” suspension system, this groundbreaking isolation mount allows the shell the freedom to have an open, pure tone. This is done with minimal stiffness usually associated with under hoop mounting systems.

SAS Attenuating Floor Tom Leg

This feature is an absolute breakthrough in the real-time attenuating of your drum sound. No more external muffling on the floor toms, with the SAS leg you can dial in the sustain of your toms in real time. As we know with the floor tom legs, the straighter the path to the floor, the more the sound loss. Giving you every angle from beyond 90˚ to even inverted, the SAS attenuating floor tom leg makes possible unlimited real-time attenuation of your drums! One SAS Attenuating Floor Tom Leg leg ships with each Black Panther Design Lab floor tom.

SAS Static 90° Floor Tom Leg

Two supplied with Each floor tom to work alongside the Attenuating Leg, The straighter the path to the floor, the more sound loss: the static 90˚ Design Lab leg resolves this issue, allowing the most possible resonance from the floor toms.

Sonic Pedestal Foot

The steel leg is prevented from contacting the ground by an internal cotter pin, allowing the floor tom to “float” on the elevated “spring" of the rubber foot, eliminating vibration transfer and maximising resonance.

Soniclear Bearing Edge

This is standard on all BPDL shells, allowing the drumhead to sit flatter on the shell, making better contact. The result is a stronger and deeper fundamental pitch, effortless and consistent tuning, and a significantly expanded tuning range. For the serious player, the increased head-to-edge contact increases shell vibration, allowing the sonic nuances of the hybrid shell to stand out.

Chamber Specific Design

Plies get progressively thicker, depths graduate by 1/2”, bearing edges change and the SAS ring system changes, as the drums get larger in diameter. The combination of all of these details creates an amazing symphony in one kit, where each and every drum sounds perfect!

Master Tune Lug

The elegant design of the Black Panther lug has been revised by the Design Lab to form the new Master Tune Lug. The first truly “Locking Tube Lug”, the Master Tune Lug utilizes a small body for the least amount of metal-to-wood contact. A Design Lab-exclusive pressured locking mechanism is outfitted on every lug to keep the drum in tune, show after show.

Air Flow Venting

One of the amazing elements to playing the Black Panther Design Lab drums is the “feel” of the instrument. The venting is key to the feel and the overall resonance of the shells. Through painstaking testing, each Chamber Specific approach has lead to a formula of multiple vent holes in both Design Lab systems. Toms and bass drums have different combinations of vent holes. These air flow vents are placed at the *Nodal line with the lugs, so as to not affect the resonance of the shells.

SAS Ring System

The Mapex Black Panther Design Lab incorporates a groundbreaking approach to reinforcement rings. Rather than solely using these rings to maintain the roundness of thin drum shells, Mapex focuses on how their strategic placement can shape the instrument's sonic characteristics. The first implementation of this concept was showcased in the Black Panther Artist-Inspired "Versatus" snare drum, where a single batter-side ring was added to produce a vintage-style tone. By increasing the wood thickness at the top edge, the drum delivers a fuller, more resonant sound. These innovative "Sonic" rings are carefully distributed across the system to achieve diverse tonal results.

• 10 x 7 Tom | 7.55mm 7 Ply with 45 degree edges top and bottom
• 12 x 7.5 Tom | 7.55mm 7 Ply with 45 degree edges top and bottom
• 14 x 13 Floor Tom | 7.55mm 7 ply with 60 degree edges top and bottom
• 16 x 15 Floor Tom | 9.95mm 9 ply with 60 degree edges top and bottom
• 22 x 16 Bass Drum | 10.95mm 11 ply with 60 degree edges front and back
• SAS-2 Peach Burl Burst Finish
• Brushed Black Chrome Fittings Throughout
• Triple Flanged Hoops
• SAS Ring Mid Bass Drum removes the need for internal dampening and improves presence
• Revolutionary Halo mounting system on the Toms
• SAS Attenuating Floor Tom Leg and 90 degree floor tom leg system on each floor tom
• 100% Premium Maple / Mahogany Shells
• Remo USA Heads Throughout - Ambassador Clears Top and Bottom on 10 & 12 Toms, Emperor Clear over Ambassador Clear on Floor Toms, Remo P3 Renaissance Bass Drum Batter, Remo P3 Felt Tone Clear Resonant Bass Drum. 
• Includes 2 x TH800 Tom Holder

Please note:

For display purposes the kit is pictured with Snare, Hardware and Cymbals. These are not included with the set. Please feel free to ask for a bespoke quote if you require additional items to accompany this set.