V-drums vs yamaha

[thebaron]

First post on drums and percussion - yaaay! good to have a forum where our gripes,praise and suggestions may actually be picked up on by manufacturers.

In looking to buy a 'quiet' drum kit and I have to ask why ask why are V-Drums so much more expensive than the competition but at the same time why do Yamaha not have a tension-able head system that competes with the feel of v-drums?

what to do - value for money versues a sexier TD9 that will leave me broke?

[barrydv247]

hi there, thanks for joinin up.

I have no idea why none of the other big players have developed a similar system to Roland's, which has been so sucessful, but I imagine that Roland have very strict patents on their technology and have done it so sucessfully that perhaps the path for someone to bring out something similar is blocked. DDrums did have a similar head at one stage but have now reduced their elecronic range to triggers and no kits.

Sounds like you need to weigh up what are the most important factors in getting an electronic drum kit. If it's for (quiet) practice purposes alone and budget is tight then the Yamaha DT Express and Explorer kits are fantastic value and have great brains - the TD3 is now competing with them on price too and is has a mesh snare.

If you want a kit to record from (MIDI or Audio) or even gig with then it's hard to argue against using mesh heads. The TD9 with mesh heads is actually fantastic value when compared to the prices that the likes of the TD10 used to go for. I'd sell a kidney to have one of these kits in my living room - but I sold one already to get a Mac. I do think they're well worth the money, or a spare body part or organ.

We've got the DT Express and Explorer, a TD3 and a TD9 with mesh heads and an Alesis DM5Pro Kit on demo in our Romford store so if you're in or around the London area you can check them out and make a more informed decision or get back in touch for help.

[Steve]

I recently got a TD9KX and I love it! Expensive yes, but I can get on and learn to play without destroying my relationship with my neighbour - who is my landlord! Haven't tried an electronic kit without mesh heads so can't comment on them, but the only thing not so good, in my opinion, on the TD9 is the cymbals - very "clunky" to play. I've still got the Ludwig Accent CS Combo (lovely wine red - anyone want to buy it? £240 ish including Vic Firth pads) but even with practice pads it was way too loud - pity!
My drumming is progressing quite well.
I'd keep your kidneys, but if you're after a kit you can practice on quietly the TD9 is wonderful.

(My apologies if the "advert" is inappropriate. The kit IS actually for sale though... )

[ajmuso]

My Drummer has a TD9 kit that I use now and again to record via midi to my Alesis Fusion, and even from my keyboardists clumsy drumming style they make me sound good!, granted it helps if you have some nicely mapped samples but I realy just clicked with it and the best part.... I get to use, and I didnt pay!! marvelous..

[barrydv247]

Steve - chuck your kit on the second hand section of the forum too -

Mr Baron - can you hear the TD9 calling out your name yet?

I've yet to play on an electronic kit with cymbals that matched the feel of a v-drum mesh head. I've seen alot of people use V-Drums live but with real cymbals. it's just one shortcoming of any of the electronic kits availible. i see alesis have tried to remedy this with their Surge cymbals. Look forward to giving them a try when we get our hands on them.

[Joostie]

[QUOTE=barrydv247;282]Steve - chuck your kit on the second hand section of the forum too -

Mr Baron - can you hear the TD9 calling out your name yet?

I've yet to play on an electronic kit with cymbals that matched the feel of a v-drum mesh head. I've seen alot of people use V-Drums live but with real cymbals. it's just one shortcoming of any of the electronic kits availible. i see alesis have tried to remedy this with their Surge cymbals. Look forward to giving them a try when we get our hands on them.[/QUOTE]

Hey guys. I've always wondered why the huge price difference with Roland compared to any other kit out there. But from what I've read and heard, they really are just that much better.

I'm really interested to hear what you think of the Surge cymbals that Alesis have come up with. Please let me know what you think when the stock arrives, Barry. I'm keen to invest in my first practice kit and I'm looking at the DM5 USB/Midi version. From the picture you guys have up, it looks like they come with Surge cymbals too.

[barrydv247]

Hey Joostie,

the current release spec says that the DM5Pro USB kit will come with Surge Cymbals. If you're looking at spending that kind of money though you should also look at the Roland TD3 and the Yamaha Express and Explorer. The cymbals probably fall short of those on the Alesis wth both Yamaha and Roland but if you're after a practice kit to keep the noise down - especially if you live in a flat - I'd strongly recommend a TD3 or a Yamaha - the alesis kits come with a tried and tested module and are great value but they make alot more noise than the others. The TD3 comes with a mesh head snare - which is worth more to me than realistic cymbals because I value the feel of a snare more than anything else on a kit. If plastic/rubber cymbals and hats really turn you off then maybe the Alesis DM5Pro USB is the one for you!!!

I should be able to fill you in about the surge cymbals very soon!haven't tried them just yet. I'll let you know as soon as I've got my hands on them!

[DrumKing]

I would go with a Yamaha Xpress 4 standard (just under £600) or special

I prefer yamaha just because IMO the sounds are so much better straight out of the box without any editing becuase the kits on the drum module have been sampled from yamaha's real kits.

[Timgosden]

Don't forget to check out DDrums.

Although they are slightly more expensive, the quality great and from a playing point of view have a much better feel than the Yamaha kits.

The modules also contain samples from real kits.

Tim.

[tudan]

dont forget RET, check out some of their playing surfaces, YouTube - Mikey's VPT kit 1: electronic drums

[Fastlane]

i've got a Yamaha DTXTREME 2S and its amazing!!! really couldn't ask for more

[pjcoopjazz]

I have the TD12 which has a really realistic feel. There's a good forum for v-drums ([url=http://www.vdrums.com/forum/]vdrums.com forum - Powered by vBulletin[/url])
(sorry for putting a link to another forum!!!)

[tudan]

i bought a td10 10 yrs ago and it cost me £3500

i upgraded the controller to a tdw10 expanded ( cost me another £300)

Still using the vdrums to this day (10 YRS ON!!!)

how in the studio i use superior 2 by toontrack for my sound module and the TD10 module and pads to trigger, with my 01x i get amazingly low latency and can trigger in real time the S2 sounds via midi.

best investment i ever made buying the V Drums, they are still going strong a decade on.

IMO stick with Roland, they know how to make Great Edrums and fantastic brains - You may pay more, but you get what you pay for.

Just my 2p worth

Cheers

[Joostie]

Thanks a lot for all the feedback guys. It's all very helpful.

I would say the drums that are the least noisy would be top priority for me as I live in a house share situation and my rooms wall is directly against the neighbors which is paper thin.

Time I get some serious saving done I guess. Thanks fella's!

[HalfpennyStudios.com]

[QUOTE=tudan;1726]i bought a td10 10 yrs ago and it cost me £3500

i upgraded the controller to a tdw10 expanded ( cost me another £300)

Still using the vdrums to this day (10 YRS ON!!!) ...[/QUOTE]

Exactly the same situation here. Nothing's gone wrong with them at all and the same feel is there. I'm quite keen on getting the upgrade TDW10 as it allows for the 'new' Roland cymbals, rather than the pads. It has to be sent off to Roland though which is a bit of a hassle when the kit's in use every day.

Go for Roland - they know what they're doing. It's every pro's choice. Joe