Intruder
Senior Member
Ok, This may turn into what some may consider a ugly rant. Just a warning! Don’t flame me (too much)!
First some background, About 10 years ago my wife (wonderful as she is) asked me why I always bought the cheapest low-quality crap I could find then spend my time complaining, fixing, replacing the stuff.
My answer was simple I didn’t have the $$ available to buy what I really wanted. She said that it seems that you do because you end up spending more to make it seem as good as the top of the line stuff but still complain about the outcome. This was true for most every purchase I made be it electronics, clothes, food, cars, etc.
I am not wealthy by any means nor am I considered arrogant by anyone that knows me (as far as I know)LOL.
But, (oh gosh here it comes).
I keep seeing posts here and on other forums from folks wanting to “get into electric drums” because of the noise levels of acoustic kits. Fantastic! Welcome to our world! Then starts the questions what is the best setup that sounds as good as an acoustic kit for under $200 bucks euro, ca, or other. “I am just starting out, I don’t have the $$, It’s only for a while till I get more $$, I will upgrade later”. Then after the purchase “It doesn’t sound right, what to buy to make it better (cheaply), why wasn’t I told, etc.”
I suspect that there are a lot of kits sitting around in garages, basements, land fills, kids rooms, etc. due to bad purchases made in the first place. Also a lot of would be drummers that gave up on the idea of becoming the next Neil Peart. All due to not making a good purchase decision.
I would think that the reasons for this are due to the companies producing crap, the economy, human nature, etc.
I wish that companies would be more truthful in advertising products maybe with putting some standards such as age level, experience level, performance level, etc. But that is not going to happen!
So, here is the thing if you want a Rolls Royce don’t buy a KIA. If you want a Harley don’t buy a Honda. If you want a diamond don’t buy a crystal. If you want a Roland td-30 don’t buy a Simmons SDXpress2.
There is nothing wrong with the KIA, Honda, crystal, or Simmons but you cannot expect the quality or performance of the others in comparison.
It really seems that especially with electronic drums you get what you pay for from each company. If you buy the cheapest model you get the lowest performance and it makes sense that it works out that way. The best advice that I can give to new e-drum buyers is get informed by asking questions, try it out in person and keep your expectations in line with the amount of $$ you are willing to spend!
The next thing that comes to mind is all the posts lately such as “ I just went and spent $3000 on a new kit, what is the best sounding speaker (under $50) should I buy to sound as if I am at a rock concert?” If you just bought a Rolls Royce are you really going to put $10 hub caps on it? Think about what you are doing and expecting from the purchase!
I bought an Epiphone Les Paul guitar not a Gibson or an Acme (do they make guitars?)LOL. The result was acceptable ( I’m a drummer not a guitarist ) but I also did not buy a $20 amp for it! I listened to the Gibson and others and made a decision based on what I was going to use it for and the amount of $$ I was willing to spend. The same goes for my TVs, cars, motorcycle, coffee maker, computers, etc.
I have to conclude that my wife was right (must we tell her that!)LOL 10 years ago. I have great toys that will last and I am happy with every purchase I have made since applying the no cheap crap rule. If I go shopping and cannot afford what I want I save or find another acceptable route be it used, DIY or other compromise as a means to an end.
Electronic drums are more expensive than acoustic drums. They make toy acoustic drum kits and also toy electronic drum kits it just so happens that there are more choices in toy electronic drum kits. Where you draw the line between toy and not toy is a matter of opinion when it comes to E-drums.
Electric drums don’t sound like acoustic drums. DUH!?. Electric guitars don’t sound like acoustic guitars either!
VSTs (by the way) are recordings of acoustic sounds made into electronic sounds by (magic) and sound different also (not better not worse just different) YMMV and please, please!! RTFM! It came with one for a reason or can be downloaded somewhere.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero are games! BUT, for a few bucks you CAN hook up a $9000.00 E-drum set to them and have a ball! If it can be done why not?
Sorry if I touched a nerve (not really!) and maybe I was not politically correct somewhere (I don’t care!).
QUITYERBITCHIN!!!!
Now get out there make your purchase and start having some fun and planning your next purchase ( aka GAS ).
P.S. No Cheap Crap! If you’re serious.
First some background, About 10 years ago my wife (wonderful as she is) asked me why I always bought the cheapest low-quality crap I could find then spend my time complaining, fixing, replacing the stuff.
My answer was simple I didn’t have the $$ available to buy what I really wanted. She said that it seems that you do because you end up spending more to make it seem as good as the top of the line stuff but still complain about the outcome. This was true for most every purchase I made be it electronics, clothes, food, cars, etc.
I am not wealthy by any means nor am I considered arrogant by anyone that knows me (as far as I know)LOL.
But, (oh gosh here it comes).
I keep seeing posts here and on other forums from folks wanting to “get into electric drums” because of the noise levels of acoustic kits. Fantastic! Welcome to our world! Then starts the questions what is the best setup that sounds as good as an acoustic kit for under $200 bucks euro, ca, or other. “I am just starting out, I don’t have the $$, It’s only for a while till I get more $$, I will upgrade later”. Then after the purchase “It doesn’t sound right, what to buy to make it better (cheaply), why wasn’t I told, etc.”
I suspect that there are a lot of kits sitting around in garages, basements, land fills, kids rooms, etc. due to bad purchases made in the first place. Also a lot of would be drummers that gave up on the idea of becoming the next Neil Peart. All due to not making a good purchase decision.
I would think that the reasons for this are due to the companies producing crap, the economy, human nature, etc.
I wish that companies would be more truthful in advertising products maybe with putting some standards such as age level, experience level, performance level, etc. But that is not going to happen!
So, here is the thing if you want a Rolls Royce don’t buy a KIA. If you want a Harley don’t buy a Honda. If you want a diamond don’t buy a crystal. If you want a Roland td-30 don’t buy a Simmons SDXpress2.
There is nothing wrong with the KIA, Honda, crystal, or Simmons but you cannot expect the quality or performance of the others in comparison.
It really seems that especially with electronic drums you get what you pay for from each company. If you buy the cheapest model you get the lowest performance and it makes sense that it works out that way. The best advice that I can give to new e-drum buyers is get informed by asking questions, try it out in person and keep your expectations in line with the amount of $$ you are willing to spend!
The next thing that comes to mind is all the posts lately such as “ I just went and spent $3000 on a new kit, what is the best sounding speaker (under $50) should I buy to sound as if I am at a rock concert?” If you just bought a Rolls Royce are you really going to put $10 hub caps on it? Think about what you are doing and expecting from the purchase!
I bought an Epiphone Les Paul guitar not a Gibson or an Acme (do they make guitars?)LOL. The result was acceptable ( I’m a drummer not a guitarist ) but I also did not buy a $20 amp for it! I listened to the Gibson and others and made a decision based on what I was going to use it for and the amount of $$ I was willing to spend. The same goes for my TVs, cars, motorcycle, coffee maker, computers, etc.
I have to conclude that my wife was right (must we tell her that!)LOL 10 years ago. I have great toys that will last and I am happy with every purchase I have made since applying the no cheap crap rule. If I go shopping and cannot afford what I want I save or find another acceptable route be it used, DIY or other compromise as a means to an end.
Electronic drums are more expensive than acoustic drums. They make toy acoustic drum kits and also toy electronic drum kits it just so happens that there are more choices in toy electronic drum kits. Where you draw the line between toy and not toy is a matter of opinion when it comes to E-drums.
Electric drums don’t sound like acoustic drums. DUH!?. Electric guitars don’t sound like acoustic guitars either!
VSTs (by the way) are recordings of acoustic sounds made into electronic sounds by (magic) and sound different also (not better not worse just different) YMMV and please, please!! RTFM! It came with one for a reason or can be downloaded somewhere.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero are games! BUT, for a few bucks you CAN hook up a $9000.00 E-drum set to them and have a ball! If it can be done why not?
Sorry if I touched a nerve (not really!) and maybe I was not politically correct somewhere (I don’t care!).
QUITYERBITCHIN!!!!
Now get out there make your purchase and start having some fun and planning your next purchase ( aka GAS ).
P.S. No Cheap Crap! If you’re serious.