Electronic Dilemma

Mizran

Junior Member
Hi!

Basically I have this problem; long story short I moved to uni and my neighbours hate noise and I need an electric kit. My budget is about $3000AUD, so I want to get something fairly decent.

What I'm planning on doing is making it mirror my acoustic kit, which is a 7 peice; (5 toms, 5 cymbals, hats snare and kick), so the dilema I face is that the only modules that support this amount of inputs from what I've found are the top of the line kits.

What I'm thinking is to buy a top-line module (I've been eyeing off the Yamaha DTX900, they go for about $1500 on eBay, which has 15 inputs), and then slowly building the kit up over time by buying the individual pads and what not.

Has anybody else done this, and is it a decent way to build up an electric kit?

The size is not an issue, I've got a large gibraltar rack I use with my acoustic kit which I was going to build the electric onto, however the other problem is I have absolutely no knowledge of what pads to buy for the toms or snare, or the cymbals or even kick pad. I've personally have had a quite big distaste for electric kits in the past, so I havn't really played them or have any experience with them.

What pads would people recommend to go with this module, bearing in mind I don't need to buy them all at once (I'm perfectly happy to start off with a 4 or 5 peice set up, and add the rest later), and where can I get them from? (I live in rural australia, so there's absolutely no decent music shops around here.)

I'm looking at mid range level of quality, as I'm more concerned about getting a decent module as opposed to top of the line pads, however obviously I don't want them to sound like absolute s**t or be terrible to play on.

Thanks very much,
Miz~
 
Re: Electronic Dilema

Hi!

Basically I have this problem; long story short I moved to uni and my neighbours hate noise and I need an electric kit. My budget is about $3000AUD, so I want to get something fairly decent.

What I'm planning on doing is making it mirror my acoustic kit, which is a 7 peice; (5 toms, 5 cymbals, hats snare and kick), so the dilema I face is that the only modules that support this amount of inputs from what I've found are the top of the line kits.

What I'm thinking is to buy a top-line module (I've been eyeing off the Yamaha DTX900, they go for about $1500 on eBay, which has 15 inputs), and then slowly building the kit up over time by buying the individual pads and what not.

Has anybody else done this, and is it a decent way to build up an electric kit?

The size is not an issue, I've got a large gibraltar rack I use with my acoustic kit which I was going to build the electric onto, however the other problem is I have absolutely no knowledge of what pads to buy for the toms or snare, or the cymbals or even kick pad. I've personally have had a quite big distaste for electric kits in the past, so I havn't really played them or have any experience with them.

What pads would people recommend to go with this module, bearing in mind I don't need to buy them all at once (I'm perfectly happy to start off with a 4 or 5 peice set up, and add the rest later), and where can I get them from? (I live in rural australia, so there's absolutely no decent music shops around here.)

I'm looking at mid range level of quality, as I'm more concerned about getting a decent module as opposed to top of the line pads, however obviously I don't want them to sound like absolute s**t or be terrible to play on.

Thanks very much,
Miz~

Get a DTXTREME III trust me wayyyyy better then the newer DTX's and the III brain is upgradable to be exactly the same as 900 for half the price. The heads on the III are wayyyyy better then those new ones they have. Hope that helps.
 
Re: Electronic Dilema

Get a DTXTREME III trust me wayyyyy better then the newer DTX's and the III brain is upgradable to be exactly the same as 900 for half the price. The heads on the III are wayyyyy better then those new ones they have. Hope that helps.

I'll look into that, thanks for the tip! :)
 
You have plenty of budget to get just about everything you need. Are you married to Yamaha or have you looked at Roland? I would think you could get the TD-15, five mesh-head pads between 10-12 inches, all the cymbals you want, and kickdrum for your budget.
 
Hi,

Take a look at the DTX700 series kits, particularly the DTX750K. The DTX700 module has 8 three zone inputs so this translates into 24 zones for programing different sounds. For example with the DTX750K configuration the toms could have different sounds assigned to the rims versus the head and the crash cymbals could have three sounds; splash on the bell, crash on the bow and china on the edge. But if more pads are needed then the DTX900 would have 14 three zone inputs or 42 zones which would make a huge kit. Hope this helps.

DTX Product Specialist
 
Re: Electronic Dilema

Get a DTXTREME III trust me wayyyyy better then the newer DTX's and the III brain is upgradable to be exactly the same as 900 for half the price. The heads on the III are wayyyyy better then those new ones they have. Hope that helps.

I'm considering getting a new DTX562. Could you please provide some details about what makes the DTXTREME III better? (I don't know anything about the DTXTREME III) The 562 comes with TCS heads, I thought they were pretty good? Also, what makes the DTXTREME III module better? It seems like it would be older technology, and looking on ebay completed listings, they appear to go for more than a new 562. Thanks for any info.
 
the Dtxtreme III is the previous version of the 900 series - Yamaha's top of the line. The module is upgradable to a 950 by a flash upgrade. It is rubber 3 zone pads so each tom pad has the the central head area as a sound, and then 2 more on the rim. The brain is also very expandable for inputs. It's the best brain yamaha makes and a big step up from those below including the 700's.

Used they seem to go for around 2000-2500. It's an excellent e-drum kit. I have a Dtxtreme II which was the previous top of the line yamaha, but it's a step down in features and sounds. I love mine though. They tend to go for around 1200 around here.

Both kits feature hi hats, 2 crashes, ride, 4 toms, snare and kick.

The biggest question with buying e-kits is the drum surface material. A lot of people like the roland mesh heads. Some like the new yamaha silicone heads. I don't mind the rubber heads on the yamaha kits. Alesis kits have a different head as well. Only you can decide for yourself which you like best. You have to try them all. If you are going to shop in the 2000-3000 range for a good kit, then look at the 2-box kit as well. It's a real up and comer.

http://www.digitaldrummermag.com/HOME.html

Digital Drummer is a free mag for all things e-drums. You would do well to go back and read every issue.

I hope this helps.
 
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