Roland KD85 Kick: Need Info/Advice

[Infaustium]

Hello all,

I have a few important questions I desperately need answers to, for those who can help. I'd greatly appreciate it.

I own the TD-9S V-Tour Roland kit, and need to replace the kick drum because hitting it's hard rubber surface is actually a bit loud. It sounds like someone banging in the apartment (and my wife and I live in a larger town home) and can be heard unless the kit is far away from any wall.

It's especially loud because I play in the genre of extreme metal, so my feet are moving very fast and hard.

I've heard the KD85 kick, as demonstrated by Johnny Rabb on a vid I watched recently, is supposedly both quieter due to the foam core, and those types of mesh heads feel more real than I'm assuming this hard rubber head feels.

So, two questions:
1) How quiet is it in comparison, and in general?
2) Since you have to use hard beaters (felt beaters apparently destroy the mesh head), would that just "make up for" the loudness and I'd be in the same position?

Any/all info is greatly appreciated on this issue, as it's interfering with my being able to play, and I have a lot of recording to do in the near future for a few different albums.

Thanks in advance to all, and I'm glad I found these excellent forums!

P.S.
3) Does the KD-120 kick have the same foam core, and would it be worth it to just move up to that? Seems like the KD85 would suffice, but just curious.

[daveybabes]

Mesh is a bit quieter than the KD8, but not so much that it will solve your problems, even if you take away the kick pad totally and instead let the pedal beater strike the palm of your hand the vibes will still eminate down the pedal and through the floor.

It does depend though if you are in an upstairs room?

I tried everything, putting a square piece of soundproof foam under the pedal itself and the rack feet made a difference but i got fed up so i took it out from under the pedal and now just say "hey! it's a drum kit! get over it ha ha"

I use a felt beater with a patch on the mesh to stop wear, it's a square of strong tape.

[Michael Render]

It is true that a lot of vibration is transferred from the pedal through the floor, but the mesh heads make a big difference in loudness. The KD-8 makes more of a thwack, whereas the KD-85 is nearly silent. And the beater doesn't seem to make a difference there. The KD-85 and KD-120 are generally the same technology wise. The KD-120 just uses a bigger head. Some people prefer the feel.

[lopan]

I have the KD-8, KD-85 and a KD-120. The KD-85 is a little more quiet than the KD-8 but the small mesh surface still transfers a lot of sound. the KD-120 is by far more quiet than the other two and in my opinion feels better.

[eric_B]

I'm also interested in this, but reading the three answers there only seems one conclusion: I have to listen to them myself. Different people, different opinions...

[Michael Render]

I have to listen to them myself. Different people, different opinions...

Quote of the day. I think it all boils down to that!

[jaks]

KD 85 Foam grainy and failing

Anyone ever see this? It happened the first time because I was using a felt beater. I replaced the round foam, the head and the beater at the same time. It's now doing it again, deteriorating into a grainy sand. It's burrowing out an impression of the beater. Why is this happening?

[Colquhoun]

Anyone ever see this? It happened the first time because I was using a felt beater. I replaced the round foam, the head and the beater at the same time. It's now doing it again, deteriorating into a grainy sand. It's burrowing out an impression of the beater. Why is this happening?

Discussed quite a bit here on these forums...and the warning is true.
Felt beaters destroy mesh heads.
Either use a plastic beater, or use an adhesive strike patch if you want to use the felt beaters.

[jaks]

Meant to say, I replaced the felt with plastic - still doing it

[snared]

I have a KD-80 and it is really loud, but I have nothing to compare it to. I owned a Accupad 10" kick in the past and it was probably about as loud. I have heard that the heavier duty the kick is, the quieter it is. I read a post several months ago that someone said the Hart Dynamics 13" Pro Series Bass Drum is much quieter because it is bigger than most other brands and that it is heavy duty steel rather than wood or plastic. I can't substantiate this, though because I have never played one. But, because of this, I am contemplating either buying a Hart Pro Kick to replace my KD-80 or making one that is big and heavy.