Since its founding in 1989, Mapex Drums has continuously pushed the boundaries of drum design, delivering high-quality instruments that cater to beginners, seasoned professionals, and everyone in between. As the company celebrated this milestone anniversary in 2024, it wasn’t just about reflecting on its rich history, but also looking ahead to the future of drumming.
MMR recently connected with Mapex Drums’ Jeff Mulvihill to explore a bit of Mapex’s legacy, its impact on the music industry, and what’s next for this trailblazing brand.
I understand that prior to the foundation of the Mapex brand, KHS had previously been involved in producing percussion instruments for other brands. What led to the decision for step away from “private label”/“white label” product and launch Mapex in 1989?
Jeff Mulvihill: Wow this is such a great first question with an even better answer! It was simply a matter of a maturing company interested in further growth and bringing the core values of the company to further fruition. The origin of the business goes back to 1930 as a supplier of educational products founded by Mr. Jin-Chung Hsieh and his brothers that by the conclusion of World War II renames itself KHS, an abbreviated Mandarin saying translating to “Contribution to School and Society.” This name encapsulates the core value of the business to enhance the quality of life and culture in step with the belief that music is an essential part of life. This core value drives the family to grow and expand through the years into many different musical supply endeavors. Specific to Mapex, the pursuit of the business of making products for others provided the basis in manufacturing experience, knowledge of materials and the refinement of processes essential to drum making. The next logical step for growth was launching a proprietary brand.
Back in 1989, at that point how many full-time “Mapex employees” were there at KHS? How large was the HQ/facilities and where were they?
I am not sure about the exact number of people, but the overall effort started with a dedicated manufacturing facility in Taiwan, with American distribution and some short-lived American manufacturing established in the Nashville area, followed by an expansion of manufacturing into Tianjin China in the year 2000 and continued growth ever since.
Can you talk about 1996 and the establishment of Mapex USA in Tennessee? What was the catalyst behind the move (both literal and otherwise)?
This was simply a matter of growth of the Mapex Brand. Up until this point, Mapex had been distributed through a few different 3rd party distribution companies and by the 1990s demand for the brand had developed enough to require a stand-alone distribution facility.
Flipping a previous question on its head: In the present-day, how many employees are there? How large are the facilities and where are they?
Well to answer this accurately, I need to add a few details. Mapex is one of the KHS family of brands including Jupiter Band Instruments, XO Brass, Altus Flutes, Majestic Percussion, Hercules Stands among others owned and operated by KHS Musical Instruments. The Jupiter brand was founded in 1980, and established a US facility in Austin TX in 1985 for many of the same growth reasons as Mapex would go on to experience a few years later. Both Jupiter and Mapex saw tremendous growth and demand in the market through the 1990’s and early 2000’s so much that is required the establishment of KHS America in 2009 thereby combining both entities moving forward. Currently we are a company of 110 people headquartered in Mt. Juliet, TN, just east of Nashville, with a satellite distribution facility in Corona, CA.
In the brand’s first 35 years, what “milestone moments” stick out in your mind as really advancing Mapex – product introductions, artist endorsements, events, moves, hires, awards, business partnerships?
Here are some brand Milestones:
1989 – Mapex launches
1992 – The first high-end drums Orion Custom Maple & Orion Studio Birch were introduced and became extremely popular among drummers worldwide
1993 – Mars Pro Series released. First mid-range Kit with lacquered Finish Spec
1997 – Black Panther snare drum series introduced.
2009 – Quantum Series marching drums introduced.
2014 – SONIClear™ bearing edge introduced in conjunction with the class-leading mid-range Armory Series
2017 – Black Panther Design Lab introduced showing the highest level of Mapex Innovation.
2022 – Venus series returns producing a class-leading full kit package in conjunction with the “Drummer For Life” Campaign.
Mapex has won many awards and has had too many incredible artists and achievements to list but the one “milestone moment” that sticks with me more than any other is the legacy of a mentor and hero of mine, the late, great, unforgettable Joe Hibbs. Joe joined Mapex in 2003 after successful positions with ProMark, Tama, and Premier to elevate the Mapex brand through product development and artist relations. On me, many in our company, and many more in the MI industry as a whole, Joe would have an impact so deep and memorable that most of us think about his laugh, insight, love of drummers and drumming, and his simple wisdom every day without evening realizing it. Joe would similarly produce a profound impact for the Mapex brand through this same love of music and people of all walks until his unexpected passing in 2016 at age 63. The Mapex of today embodies much of Joe’s spirit as those of us tasked with carrying on the work of producing Mapex Drums do so having known him, learned from him, and loved him.
How important have associations with respected drummers/artists and endorsements been in establishing Mapex on the national and international stage and consciousness?
It’s a very important part of what we do. Collaborating with players at all levels and in all genres really feeds the innovation and development process.
You just released the special anniversary edition of the Saturn Evolution Drum kit. Are there any other anniversary events, initiatives, et cetera upcoming to celebrate this milestone? Anything special prepared for the NAMM Show? Mapex celebrated rather heavily during our 30thanniversary and this 35th sees us settling into a little bit different pattern. Our philosophy has developed into one of nearly constant improvement and innovation. Anniversaries and trade shows are important to recognize and to be a part of, but the market and our world are ever-evolving and changing and so is Mapex. We were loud and proud at the NAMM Show 2025 showing off our latest developments, but our new product releases are nearly quarterly now in the last few years, not tied to certain events or dates. It’s really a constant evolution.
With 35 years now in the books, what are your hopes and expectations for the Mapex brand in the coming years?
My hopes and expectations are to continue to do two very important things that sound very similar but are fundamentally different:
- Develop new and exciting instruments for experienced musicians based on sound-first principals.
- Develop new and exciting instruments that meet and inspire new young drummers to not only play today, but to really become Drummers for Life.
