New Pintech AX14S - First look

[boose44]

Just got the new Pintech AX14S in today and all I can say is wow!

As Eric had posted in an earlier thread, they have completely re-designed the drum and it has a new shell!

Some impressions:
1. New 14 lug shell with rectangular lug tubes. Looks great and is built very solid.
2. Black Mesh heads -- no trampoline effects! Very solid feel. Maybe still a little bouncey compared to the Rolands and Harts.
3. Triggering seems very accurate -- both head and rim. I just spent a fun hour or so going through all the TD-6's kits, and it didn't miss a stroke.
3. You get two identical heads - top and bottom.
4. The foam and head trigger is now mounted on a center bar that runs the length of snare. The trigger is in the bottom of the mesh and not in the middle.

With the TD-6, setting up wuz just dead easy using the trigger settings from the Pintech's website. The only thing I've tweaked so far is the head sensitivity, which I raised from 9 to 11 as the volume was a little quiet compared to my other pads.

Here's a couple of quick pixs. Sorry for the crappy quality:







When you consider that the Pintech is half the price of a PD-120, I think it's quite a deal -- at least so far!

-bruce

P.S. they also sent two of strangest drum keys I've ever seen.

[/gush mode]

[Rythmstik]

Thanks for the review and flicks. I've been looking at these, but haven't made the plunge, yet. Where'd you buy it?

[sepdrums]

Great pic, and info...

I have since noticed that it plays 2x better than the old design. However mine came in with the center bar tilted at a 30% angle, and all of the screws loose... Maybe UPS kicked it around a bit....dunno.. After some wrenching it is fine...

Good job Pintech!

Erik

[boose44]

The internals seemed pretty solid when it was shipped, although the lugs were only finger tight.

It arrived double boxed, so maybe the extra padding helped.

I wonder, do they buy the shells from another company? And if so, I wonder who?

-bruce

[szvook]

Originally posted by boose44
I wonder, do they buy the shells from another company? And if so, I wonder who?

I wonder...

[boose44]

lol, szvook.

Mystery solved. I *knew* it looked famillar.

So Hart discontinues them....and Pintech grabs them up from Hart's supplier.

The only difference (not counting the internal trigger/bar/foam) is that there's only a single stereo output jack and not the separate jacks of the Acusnare.

-bruce

[szvook]

Originally posted by boose44
So Hart discontinues them....and Pintech grabs them up from Hart's supplier.

[boose44]

No, I think Hart has made them go zap.

All of the kits on Hart's website now show the Hart Professional Snare, and the AcuSnare is now longer listed anywhere on the web site or in their PDF catalogs.

Even their mid-level kits like the Studio A and Studio B have the Pro Hand Hammered Snare vs. the AcuSnare they used to come with.

I guess that would help explain the recent rise in their prices.

-bruce

[sepdrums]

For Hart it was basically a smart business move to axe the Acusnare - mainly for production purposes - it was not wise to carry all of the parts for the Acusnare and the Pro snare when they were basically the same thing....IMO the Pro snare looks a lot better anyway...

Their price increase may be a supply / demand issue. They are slamed right now with orders...economics 101.

If you have noticed, some of the kit prices went down (all Studio kits), and some went up (Pro kits)...

Great gear tho.... wait till you see what's they've got coming next!!!



Erik

[GRRAVEE]

the axe-yousnare 2003

[Rythmstik]

Yo, Boose44. Thanks for the PM.

[boose44]

No prob, Rythmstik. You're right though. I forgot to add in the price of the snare stand, which I paid like 50 bucks for a cheapie Sonar stand. Sheesh.

Funny thing is, after playing only the e's for the past month or so, playing a 14" drum seems almost comical. It seems so HUGE.

-bruce