Electronic drumset recommendations?

[James Bond]

I've played drums (drumset) off and on since I was about 10. I'm 24 now. I had an accoustic set throughout college but I no longer own it.

I live with several roommates and having a regular set isn't really an option. I started doing some searching on CL and found some sets that seem to be decent, and are affordable (<$1000 if possible).

Specifically, I've been looking at this model, TD-6V (not that ad per se, I've seen them for a couple hundred cheaper), as well as the TD-10V.

Does anyone have experience with these? I don't need something that's at a "professional" level really, just one that I can jam on. I REALLY want to be able to play tracks through my computer, hopefully without the drum channel, and play along with it through headphones - is that possible?


Update:
I went and checked out a set last night, a TD-6V. It comes with the PD-120 mesh pad.

MAN. The mesh pad makes such a huge, huge difference, I absolutely love the feel to it.

The guy wanted the whole set for $725. I offered $600 and he wouldn't budge, $650 and he wouldn't budge. I wasn't willing to give $700 more out of principal than anything (that would only be $25 off!!). I was pissed all night about it. I checked craigslist prices again and saw that most of the TD-6V's were going for around $600-$700... and those don't have the mesh pad (which alone is what, $250?).

I called him this morning and caved. I'll be picking it up tonight for $700

 

[helpme]

I have the original DTXPRESS and it works good. The current DTXpresses are a deal...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIVSP
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIV

Used prices should be right up your alley.

If you want mesh pads, then I can't help, since I've never had any...

You can use the MIDI out to get your PC, or just use the audio out of the brains. They have an audio IN, so you can feed in your music to jam with, and you don't have to use your PC if you don't want.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: helpme
I have the original DTXPRESS and it works good. The current DTXpresses are a deal...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIVSP
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIV

Used prices should be right up your alley.

If you want mesh pads, then I can't help, since I've never had any...

You can use the MIDI out to get your PC, or just use the audio out of the brains. They have an audio IN, so you can feed in your music to jam with, and you don't have to use your PC if you don't want.

Very cool. When using audio in, do you find that the actual drums from the song interfere with your playing? Or does your set mostly drown that out?

 

[helpme]

It really depends on how the incoming song's instruments are balanced with the song you're feeding in. It's realyl personal preference how much you want your playing to blend with the music. There isn't any feature or anything to help with this, but you can easily overpower the track's drums with your own.

Some prefer to use midi versions of the songs without drums as well.

 

[Nik]

Say goodbye to dynamics if you go the hard rubber pad route. I played on a Roland set for years at my old church and believe me there's nothing like going back to a real set. Sticks didn't rebound the same way and I couldn't get any range of dynamic volume with them. Digital versus analog, ya?

I would strongly suggest something like this simply because you've got the velocity-sensative pads to keep your skills proper.

It's very easy to find a 5+ piece set sub-$1000 that includes velocity-sensative pads.

 

[stinkynathan]

I'm not a drummer, but I have a degree in music and have been involved with a couple drummers that ordered these. Trust me when I say that you want to spend as much as you possibly can or get yourself an acoustic set and play with rock sticks. We have a few year old Roland TD-20KX and our drummers still would rather play on a nice DW kit. The flexibility of sounds is nice, but there's just no good substitute for the real deal.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: stinkynathan
I'm not a drummer, but I have a degree in music and have been involved with a couple drummers that ordered these. Trust me when I say that you want to spend as much as you possibly can or get yourself an acoustic set and play with rock sticks. We have a few year old Roland TD-20KX and our drummers still would rather play on a nice DW kit. The flexibility of sounds is nice, but there's just no good substitute for the real deal.

Read the thread. :frown:

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: helpme
I have the original DTXPRESS and it works good. The current DTXpresses are a deal...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIVSP
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIV

Used prices should be right up your alley.

If you want mesh pads, then I can't help, since I've never had any...

You can use the MIDI out to get your PC, or just use the audio out of the brains. They have an audio IN, so you can feed in your music to jam with, and you don't have to use your PC if you don't want.

can u choke the cymbals on these puppies?
what about rim shot on the snare?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: Nik
Say goodbye to dynamics if you go the hard rubber pad route. I played on a Roland set for years at my old church and believe me there's nothing like going back to a real set. Sticks didn't rebound the same way and I couldn't get any range of dynamic volume with them. Digital versus analog, ya?

I would strongly suggest something like this simply because you've got the velocity-sensative pads to keep your skills proper.

It's very easy to find a 5+ piece set sub-$1000 that includes velocity-sensative pads.

alesis, yuck.
i like the rolands with the mesh heads.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

oh, and it's electrONic.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: Nik
Say goodbye to dynamics if you go the hard rubber pad route. I played on a Roland set for years at my old church and believe me there's nothing like going back to a real set. Sticks didn't rebound the same way and I couldn't get any range of dynamic volume with them. Digital versus analog, ya?

I would strongly suggest something like this simply because you've got the velocity-sensative pads to keep your skills proper.

It's very easy to find a 5+ piece set sub-$1000 that includes velocity-sensative pads.

alesis, yuck.
i like the rolands with the mesh heads.

While I agree that the particular brand isn't that great, it's cheap as hell, provides one of many solutions, and more importantly, illustrates the point I was trying to make: that hard rubber pads suck donkey balls and that you can find velocity-sensative electronic sets within his price range.

 

[helpme]

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: helpme
I have the original DTXPRESS and it works good. The current DTXpresses are a deal...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIVSP
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIV

Used prices should be right up your alley.

If you want mesh pads, then I can't help, since I've never had any...

You can use the MIDI out to get your PC, or just use the audio out of the brains. They have an audio IN, so you can feed in your music to jam with, and you don't have to use your PC if you don't want.

can u choke the cymbals on these puppies?
what about rim shot on the snare?

The DTXPRESS IV Special has 3 zone snare with "tension" adjustment knob, so rim shots are in.

Two of the cymbols are 3 zone, so you can choke 2 of them.

The non special edition has a 3 zone pad, but it doesn't have that tension adjustment knob.

Nik, the Yahama kits are velocity sensitive (are there any name brand kits that aren't?), but of course rubber pads are rubber pads.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: helpme

Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo

Originally posted by: helpme
I have the original DTXPRESS and it works good. The current DTXpresses are a deal...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIVSP
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDXPIV

Used prices should be right up your alley.

If you want mesh pads, then I can't help, since I've never had any...

You can use the MIDI out to get your PC, or just use the audio out of the brains. They have an audio IN, so you can feed in your music to jam with, and you don't have to use your PC if you don't want.

can u choke the cymbals on these puppies?
what about rim shot on the snare?

The DTXPRESS IV Special has 3 zone snare with "tension" adjustment knob, so rim shots are in.

Two of the cymbols are 3 zone, so you can choke 2 of them.

The non special edition has a 3 zone pad, but it doesn't have that tension adjustment knob.

Nik, the Yahama kits are velocity sensitive (are there any name brand kits that aren't?), but of course rubber pads are rubber pads.

Admittedly, I've not played on an electronic set in... 7 years? All of the Roland sets I've played on are not velocity sensative so I guess I'm behind the times. Still, I'd rather have an air-filled mesh head than a rubber pad.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i played with this at sam ash.
i really liked it.
roland td4http://drums-percuss...Drum-Set?sku=580565[/L

 

[PatrickBateman]

I was looking for an electronic set a year ago and was going to get the Alesis DM5 pro until I actually saw it in person. It was more like a toy with plastic heads. I ended up getting the Roland TD3 (now pretty much called the TD4) and love it. It is not the best, but works great for jammin away to an ipod. The snare has a "tunable" mesh head and the rubber pads are pretty dynamic (you can play loud or soft). I would recommend it to someone who doesnt plan on going on tour with it, but want to jam along to their ipod.Cymbals are 2-zone and chokable, snare has rim shot...

 

[TechBoyJK]

any of the kits i would recommend are $1,500 or more. Roland TD9 would be a good start. It only has the nicer snare, but it's expandable and you could build on it as you get more cash. Most of the other kits for less are locked in and not expandable. Most of the Simmons are not expandable.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: PatrickBateman
I was looking for an electronic set a year ago and was going to get the Alesis DM5 pro until I actually saw it in person. It was more like a toy with plastic heads. I ended up getting the Roland TD3 (now pretty much called the TD4) and love it. It is not the best, but works great for jammin away to an ipod. The snare has a "tunable" mesh head and the rubber pads are pretty dynamic (you can play loud or soft). I would recommend it to someone who doesnt plan on going on tour with it, but want to jam along to their ipod.Cymbals are 2-zone and chokable, snare has rim shot...

Yeah, and really, this is exactly what I plan on doing.

Did you buy it new? How much was it, if you don't mind?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: James Bond

Originally posted by: PatrickBateman
I was looking for an electronic set a year ago and was going to get the Alesis DM5 pro until I actually saw it in person. It was more like a toy with plastic heads. I ended up getting the Roland TD3 (now pretty much called the TD4) and love it. It is not the best, but works great for jammin away to an ipod. The snare has a "tunable" mesh head and the rubber pads are pretty dynamic (you can play loud or soft). I would recommend it to someone who doesnt plan on going on tour with it, but want to jam along to their ipod.Cymbals are 2-zone and chokable, snare has rim shot...

Yeah, and really, this is exactly what I plan on doing.

Did you buy it new? How much was it, if you don't mind?

td3 was retailing for $1200, then price dropped to $1k, then on sale for $700.

i would say roalnd > yamaha > simmons generally speaking.

 

[James Bond]

This is one of the ones I'm looking it. Looks like its mostly single trigger though:
http://www.roland.com/products/en/TD-6K/index.html

Theres one on craigslist that comes with this for snare, though:
http://www.rolandus.com/produc...ails.php?ProductId=188

The set plus the PD-120 pad is like $750...

 

[PatrickBateman]

James Bond, I paid $900 new last year at Sam Ash and I can add one more trigger (cymbal)....I like having the separate bass drum kick trigger though ( i have a dual pedal on it)

 

[biggestmuff]

Please stay away from Alesis. I've own some of their equipment in the past; not good.

Also, stay away from the TD-3 or it's replacement. The MIDI output circuitry has a lot of latency. If you ever wanted to use your electronic set to trigger external sound sets you won't be happy with the TD-3. The rest of Roland's line is good. I love those mesh drums.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Please stay away from Alesis. I've own some of their equipment in the past; not good.

Also, stay away from the TD-3 or it's replacement. The MIDI output circuitry has a lot of latency. If you ever wanted to use your electronic set to trigger external sound sets you won't be happy with the TD-3. The rest of Roland's line is good. I love those mesh drums.

I think that the one I'm looking at it TD-6V, plus the PD-120 mesh pad which I would use for snare.

The mesh pads look really cool.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

please edit the title. it's electronic drums.
electric is for guitars.

 

[JDub02]

I've played both the older Yamaha DTX's and Roland V's. The rubber pads on the Yamaha's are OK, but the Rolands do a great job replicating the look and feel of an acoustic set. The new DTX's look a little better (full circular cymbals and "drum-like" pads) .. not sure how they feel.

For me, properly mic'd acoustic drums >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Roland V's >>>>Yamaha>>>>>>>>>>>>poorly mic'd acoustic drums

 

[James Bond]

Anyone have experience with the TD-6V specifically? That's the one I'm looking at. It's stock, except for the PD-120 mesh pad he's including.

Also, how much would you guys pay? I'm having a hard time finding prices. It looks like the PD-120 alone sells for 250+