Simmons-ish

[Plutonic]

Hey there!

I love the retro look of old-school Simmons drum pads, and was thinking about how I might be able to make something like that... I know mesh pads are a lot more sensitive, but they don't look as wild as the old hex pads I'm going for that 80's Bill Bruford kind of thing

Here is what I came up with, but I'm not sure if it would work. Check out the pic I'm attaching and tell me if it WOULD. Here are my questions:

1) Should I leave the Piezo in the case? I don't want it to be over-sensitive, but I want it to trigger even if I don't hit right on top of it all the time. I know some of it could be dealt with using x-talk and sensitivity parameters within the module.

2) Would the padding between the frame and the vibration plate be necessary? I figure it probably would be since I want the pad to work no matter where I hit it.

3) I'm thinking the vibration plate should be balsa wood or ABS plastic. My first thought was aluminum, but I thought it may vibrate TOO much. Any thoughts?

So there is my idea. I won't be able to implement it quite yet, so I want to iron it out on paper as much as possible.

Sorry, kind of a lot of feedback I'm asking for, but its driving me CRAZY! I want to test it out, but I won't have an opportunity for weeks

P.S. I was too lazy to try to make a hexagon in Paint

[Guest]

Hey there!

I love the retro look of old-school Simmons drum pads

1) Should I leave the Piezo in the case? I don't want it to be over-sensitive, but I want it to trigger even if I don't hit right on top of it all the time. I know some of it could be dealt with using x-talk and sensitivity parameters within the module.

Depends, you might have to try it both way, but I would say take it out.

2) Would the padding between the frame and the vibration plate be necessary?

I don't see why it wouldn't hurt, however I would only put it where the frame meets the plate.

3) I'm thinking the vibration plate should be balsa wood or ABS plastic. My first thought was aluminum.

I would sick to the aluminum. If you want to use plastic, you can use 1/8" plexiglass, but you will need to support it with low density foam.

One other thing you might want to check out is some used TAMA techstars like these:

They come up on ebay pretty often. They will give you that hex look, but they use real drum heads. You might be able to even upgrade them to mesh. You can always paint the techstars a different color using Krylon fusion paint!

[drum4ever]

...or you could buy my old Simmons pads.

[Plutonic]

...or you could buy my old Simmons pads.

Hmmm... Tempting... Would they work with a TD-12 module? Or do I need the old Simmons module?

[vdrummer20]

I have some old Simmons pads that I would part with as well (and the brain, SDS7 I think?) They are black.

[Bobvan]

I have some old Simmons pads that I would part with as well (and the brain, SDS7 I think?) They are black.

Ha ha brings back memories I had that one I dont think its Midi though, has that noisy eprom board technology they used to cost the same as a Td-20 back in the day! had loads of fun with it at the time.

[Michael Render]

Remember that the old Simmons pads were just particle board with a piezo glued to one side and a (too) hard surface on the other.

Test your neoprene idea first. Neoprene doesn't tend to have a quick rebound. I use it for dampening rather than for stick surfaces.

[Guest]

Remember that the old Simmons pads were just particle board with a piezo glued to one side and a (too) hard surface on the other.

Test your neoprene idea first. Neoprene doesn't tend to have a quick rebound. I use it for dampening rather than for stick surfaces.

I agree. That is why I suggested the TAMA techstars. They have the hex look but can be upgraded to modern heads (mesh) and sensing systems (cones or reflection plate and foam).

[drum4ever]

Mine is the SDS-8 kit (Plywood, not particle board, not much better but lighter and more stable) amd work fine with new modules. I clipped the resistor in them years ago. Played those pads for 15 years.