From A to E

[XXL66]

Hello,

I'm a drummer for a coverband (pop/rock/disco from 70's till now). We mainly play small gigs. Currently I play a Sonor Delite kit but for some weeks now i have serious hearing troubles (however i do use hearing protection most of the time). I don't want to bash my ears any further but i don't want to quit drummer either. So i'm thinking of buying a e-drum kit. I think an e-kit may also very well fit for the various types of music we play.

The only thing i'm worried about is the racks of e-kits like Roland. Are they rugged enough to break down and build up again time after time ? I ones had a ddrum4 kit and i only used this at home. After moving it ones from basement to a hobbyroom one of the clambs already broke down.

I know there is alternative hardware like HART but i think i'd best stick to a complete kit avoiding loss of possibilities, sensitivity etc...

Would it be possible using a A-kit rack like Pearl ? It maybe doesn't look as nice but it sure is rugged enough.

I'm thinking of buying a TD20, but I still believe they don't sound as good as the ddrum4. But of course a ddrum4 isn't an option anymore because of the bad cymbals. Would a laptop using samples be a good alternative ?

thx!

[steve.pie]

I was a ddrummer for 15 yrs before coming over to the dark side !! ... and yes the cymbals were 'bad' so i stayed with Paiste ....... use the search engine here and you will find several days worth of reading about the Roland racks and they're durability ........... changing to Gibraltar seems the route most people had gone for, though i'm a regular gigger and my MDS-10 rack has been fine for me.... i dont 'break it down' as such, i fold the arms in.

[daveybabes]

Conversion

Hi

Would an easy option be to convert your kit to an e kit? check out Mystic Fred on the search bar, he's just done the same.

Also any 1 and half inch pipe racking can be used, many here use Gibraltar or Pearl, it's your choice.

The TD12 module is very good and realistic.

EDIT - heres the thread http://vdrums.com/forum/showthread.p...ht=mystic+fred

The conversion is reversible if u come to sell ya kit some day, it's basically an ally crossbar, a piezo, a foam cone, all wired to 1/4 " jack connector (see Jmans diagram) and out to TD12 that can be stand mounted next to the kit.

Crossbar - any diy store
Piezo and Jack connector - wireless shack - Maplins if in UK or off Ebay for a dollar
Cone and rim guard - UFO in the states, punch it in he's online.
Double sided foam tape and double sided carpet tape.

That's it - save ya ears, i use Vic Firth isolation headphones (cuts out 26db of noise) Thomann in Germany.

Dave (if ya need any help just whistle)

If ya don't fancy doing that maybe just change all those noisy skins for mesh heads and use clamp on drum triggers all going to the TD12 ? http://www.ddrum.co.uk/ddrum/drumtriggers.html

[XXL66]

Thx for the replies guys. I'm not going for a conversion because one of the advantages (less big things to move) is gone. Also i'm not going to drill holes in my Delite. I'm gonna sell all my acoustic sets and cymbals and use this money for the best E-kit. I also already have a JBL Eon for monitoring. I will have to addapt to e-sound and playability. As i said earlier my ears ask for it.

[steve.pie]

( mesh ) playability is not an issue as its very very realistic ..... and the e-sound is normally only compromised by its reproduction ... the Eon should cope fine.

[daveybabes]

Portability and light

yeah e kits are more portable ... most things can be left on the rack ... pick up and go, he he - here's mine.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...eydrums003.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...eydrums001.jpg

All fits into a 4 x 5ft space and folds in at night.

[XXL66]

Well i decided to go for the TD20 with the original rack. I'm going to the shop today and hope to be able to do some jamming on ninjam this evening. I haven't been drumming for some weeks now...