Electric Drum Kits

Dave · 19 Jul 2014 at 13:06

Hi all,

I've been out of playing drums for a while now, and since I now live in suburbia rather than the middle of the countryside, an acoustic kit isn't really an option. I see that Roland have updated their old electric kits over the last few years - does anyone have an electric drum kit that they could pass on their opinion of? I have played the old Roland TD-20 before in a studio and liked it very much - are the new kits (TD-15/TD-30) much of a step above this? Are the Yamaha's worth a look in?

Thanks

Merlin5 · 19 Jul 2014 at 15:04

Hi Dave, if you can afford the very high end of Roland V drums, the biggest advantage is that all have white mesh heads, including the bass drum. This makes them feel more like real drum heads which is ultimately more satisfying to play. The lower end, which are still expensive, generally have a mesh head for the snare and standard black rubber for the toms and bass drum.

As well as acoustic kit, I teach on a couple of older V drum kits at a school, TD4 and TD9 from what I remember, which are effectively obsolete now I believe. TD4 is basic with one mesh snare head, but good enough for learning on and having fun on. That used to retail around £800. TD9 is better with about 50 different kit sounds and a ton of songs to play along with. That used to retail around £1200 or so.

I've not played any of the later models, suffice to say, you can't go wrong with V drums, and the modules will offer you a ton of options, songs and kits to play with. Yamaha have some great offerings too, and I think they have their own version of 'real feel' heads now. My preference is Roland, but if I were you, I'f find a shop to try some in as you may prefer the sounds of Yamaha to Roland or vice versa. Wembley Drum Centre is my local, it's a great place to go and try some as they have a dedicated booth set up with electric kits. Hope this helps a bit!

Dave · 19 Jul 2014 at 15:49

I'll definitely go for the mesh heads - as my first experience was a TD-20, I don't think I could go down to the standard black rubber ones! Wembley Drum Centre is not too far from me so I may pop over at some point to see if I can have a look at some of them. I was wondering really if the premium of the newer kits is worth it over picking up something like a TD-12/20 off eBay? They seem to be quite in demand, so buying second hand doesn't appear to save that much money over a new kit.

ianh · 19 Jul 2014 at 15:50

Hi there, I owned a Roland TD-12 for 10+ years and shared use of a TD-20 for about 4 years and I prefer to match the Roland module and Cymbals with Jobeky drums. They use the same "mesh" style head but housed in real drum bodys and feel better than the Roland versions in my opinion and, as a bonus, you can buy that setup directly from Jobeky (Roland TD Module/Cymbals with Jobeky hardware).

The only Yamaha drums I've used were in a shop and the quick 5 min demo wasn't great. The heads were way too springy and the module sounds weren't very well modelled but I've no idea if that was due to them being an unloved demo kit which had been "fiddled" with.

bloodiedathame · 20 Jul 2014 at 22:25

Try and find somewhere to have a play. I used to own a td8 (all mesh heads) and it was great. Wish I hadn't sold it.

teh_captain · 21 Jul 2014 at 11:03

It's all about Roland and Yamaha really - I've got an Alesis DM10 Studio at home (in a 1st floor flat) so using my acoustic just isn't an option. Whilst it's pretty decent for the money (got it 18 months or so ago for £400 2nd hand) the other brands are better if you have the coin.

I've got mine hooked up to to my PC along with Addictive Drums 2 and the samples are far higher quality, they sound really great. I only really use mine to practice at home when i'm not at band rehearsal/to record on ideas the the other guys send me, so for me it's not worth buying a more expensive kit.

As you're thinking of Yamaha/Roland you might as well ignore me

lol

bloodiedathame · 21 Jul 2014 at 12:55

teh_captain said:
It's all about Roland and Yamaha really - I've got an Alesis DM10 Studio at home (in a 1st floor flat) so using my acoustic just isn't an option. Whilst it's pretty decent for the money (got it 18 months or so ago for £400 2nd hand) the other brands are better if you have the coin.

I've got mine hooked up to to my PC along with Addictive Drums 2 and the samples are far higher quality, they sound really great. I only really use mine to practice at home when i'm not at band rehearsal/to record on ideas the the other guys send me, so for me it's not worth buying a more expensive kit.

As you're thinking of Yamaha/Roland you might as well ignore me lol

Is that via a midi out? I used the midi out from the TD8 and it was ridiculously sensitive, just left me with a load of messy triggers to sort out.

teh_captain · 21 Jul 2014 at 13:06

bloodiedathame said:
Is that via a midi out? I used the midi out from the TD8 and it was ridiculously sensitive, just left me with a load of messy triggers to sort out.

I guess so - although it's hooked up to my PC via the USB connection? Is that the same? Honestly i'm pretty clueless when it comes to electrics and audio production; the guitarist in my band (who is pretty good at that sort of thing) just told me what to do to get it to work

He did say after a quick recording there may have been some crosstalk going on (some random things being played); I need to check the output on Reaper to see what it thought I played.

ttaskmaster · 21 Jul 2014 at 13:47

Any kit with the mesh heads will be great fun and should serve your needs exceedingly well.
The feel is slightly weird, but it's the most realistic and responsive I've found.

However, if you're considering actually gigging with them and/or getting into some of the really technical stuff with dynamics, ghost notes and all that, a number of people (myself included) have found them somewhat limiting.
Being hooked up to a mixing desk does limit your volume (seemingly to about five different levels), whereas a normal kit or even something like the Arbiter range will play as LOUD or as softly as you.

bloodiedathame · 21 Jul 2014 at 20:20

Ah a direct USB interface, snazzy.

Personally I found mesh heads very bouncy, it gave me a false sense of security blasting and doing fast rolls (going into the rehearsal studio and I just couldn't play as fast). Though ive played on the rubber pads in the past which have 0 feel. I'm going to have a play on some e-kits soon in the west end and ill report back.

RetiredGreyFox · 21 Jul 2014 at 23:03

ianh said:
Hi there, I owned a Roland TD-12 for 10+ years and shared use of a TD-20 for about 4 years and I prefer to match the Roland module and Cymbals with Jobeky drums. They use the same "mesh" style head but housed in real drum bodys and feel better than the Roland versions in my opinion and, as a bonus, you can buy that setup directly from Jobeky (Roland TD Module/Cymbals with Jobeky hardware).

Have you ever been to the Jobecky Drum Show up here at Stafford Bingley Hall?
I've been 3 times now and they even asked my 13 year old nephew to demo a kit for them (he is awesome).

ianh · 21 Jul 2014 at 23:23

I went to the very first one at Colins old shop in about '06 or '07 I think. He was only just starting out and his shell kits were only half depth, no bass drums just an upright 8in snare and his own plastic CF-look "Kit-Toys" style cymbals.

Every now and again I'll meet up with him at a random Drum show, the last one was at the London Drum Show in '11, and have a chat about his rapidly expanding business.

I've had to give up all my electric kits now so I'm now looking for an acoustic set and a lock-up I can practice in

Merlin5 · 22 Jul 2014 at 23:14

bloodiedathame said:
Ah a direct USB interface, snazzy.

Personally I found mesh heads very bouncy, it gave me a false sense of security blasting and doing fast rolls (going into the rehearsal studio and I just couldn't play as fast). Though ive played on the rubber pads in the past which have 0 feel. I'm going to have a play on some e-kits soon in the west end and ill report back.

If you want speed, practise singles and doubles on dead non bouncy surfaces such as pillows, and develop your wrist strength and endurance.

bloodiedathame · 23 Jul 2014 at 18:33

Merlin5 said:
If you want speed, practise singles and doubles on dead non bouncy surfaces such as pillows, and develop your wrist strength and endurance.

A non rehearsal practice, heh, not done that for about 4 years.

I recorded an album last September and I've not played since then. Booking some gigs up now for the end of the year so hoping to recover some form in the studio from Sept onwards.