Mesh head KICK trigger versus rubber - which is better?

[brocker]

Cost aside, which is better, a mesh-type kick trigger (such as KD-120) or a rubber kick trigger such as the KD-8? I play some double bass.

[Fullback32]

You're going to get different answers to this question. Simple, some like mesh, some like rubber. I use mesh (Hart Pro) and love it. It was pretty bouncy at first and was getting a lot of double strikes I didn't want. I tend to have my heads pretty tight, but on the bass drum I found that if I loosened the head a bit, that bounciness went away (and a few tweaks on my pedal). I've been happy ever since. I've never used the rubber so I can't really talk about any differences.

[Big Bopper]

Fullback32's right. I used a KD7 for 10 years and it was okay but I didn't like the angle and the time to impact. Couldn't really adjust much. Now I've got a KD120 and a double Iron Cobra and like it much better. More adjustment, looks better, not angled. But it's still preference.

Shalom
Bruce

[TB Biggs]

I agree with both Fullback 32 and Big Bopper. I also have a mesh head KD120 with Iron Cobra pedals. I also had to play around with the tension to avoid double hits. But I had that problem with rubber heads as well.
The only thing I can add is that mesh gets me much closer to a real drum feel than my old rubber drum heads.

[Drumzilla]

Rubber Kick

I'm putting in my vote for the KD-7's and KD-8 that I have on my setup. I played with the KD-85 and KD-125 at the drum shop but didn't like it. I like to play the KD-7's with DW 4000 pedals that has the offset sprocket and the KD-8 with the DW 7002 double pedal that has the turbo sprocket. Reversing the pedals would feel weird to me. When I played a KD-8 with a DW 5000 pedal that has the offset sprocket, it didn't feel right.

Like Fullback said, you'll get different answers for this question. It's all very subjective.

[Michael Render]

Since I am the self-appointed final arbiter of all things V-Drums, I will tell you!

I traded in my KD-120 for a pair of KD-8s. So the answer is rubber.

All kidding aside, you got to go play a few, if you can, and decide on the feel. How do you set up your acoustic kick? If you stuff a pillow against the head, you're going to love rubber. If you tune it large and floppy, you might love mesh.

[Relayer]

Since I am the self-appointed final arbiter of all things V-Drums, I will tell you!

For now my friend...for now.

I love a chance to hate on mesh heads! I've had two mesh drums in my life, and I absolutely loathed the feel of both of them - they mistriggered a lot as well. I still play acoustics a fair amount of the time, and I think mesh heads are too forgiving, especially on things like tight rolls AND kick drum feel. Messes up my style and I can't have it. I know I'm in the minority, but rubber just feels more like the real thing, IMHO. Getting really tight rolls on my PD-9 makes them a breeze on my acoustic snares.

So I say rubber.

Cheers.

Steve

[Swaledale]

We could go on forever with "I prefer...", but ultimately it's what YOU prefer.... so go try in a shop, or buy both, choose, then sell one.

Pragmatic, but true!

[Big Bopper]

Now where's the fun in that?

Shalom
Bruce

[Swaledale]

Now where's the fun in that?

Shalom
Bruce

Buying every product available to try out, then selling for a profit on ebay!