Electronic Drum-kit vs. Acoustic Drum-kit

[Hawk]

I've been on Rockpage stating that I would never play an E-kit.

Then, joining The House Band, I decided I wanted to carry less, set up and tear down fast, so I got a Roland Octapad. I fell in love with the simplicity and the really high quality drum sounds. I used it as a stand alone drum kit (it can also be used as a side effects with an A-kit and many many other things). I did however get tired of hearing that it just didn't look right (as a stand alone drum kit).

So I got a Yamaha E-kit. (Adam D. teased me that I caved to the pressure.) The Yamaha E-kit, with toms and cymbals and hi hat looks a bit more like an A-kit and watching a drummer looks more like watching a drummer playing an A-kit. So yeah Adam, I did cave, but I love my new E-kit.

I was on a couple of Drum sites asking for advice before I bought the Yamaha. Below is the "cut and paste" final review I did on one of the sites.

After gigging this E-Kit for a while now, I know buying this Yamaha 532 was the right thing to do.

Now I just leave all of the drum pads and cymbal pads and module connected, lower the cymbals, partially fold it, and carry it to the car. It stands up n the car securely. (Rav 4)

Plug it in, good to go. Un-plug it, tear down complete! The only thing I have to connect or disconnect is the kick tower and the hi hat.

I'm happy with the sound. I'll add a new 15" cymbal pad. Probably at some point I'll replace the hard black rubber tom pads with the silicone textured pads which I really like.

A friend of mine just got the Roland flag ship model (can't remember the model - but it's the most expensive one they make). Beautiful kit but NOT what I would want for my situation. I don't need all the bells and whistles. Just a decent drum kit sound and simple transport.

The bottom line is that the 532 is a nice kit to practice on and (for me) small gigs in bars and clubs. And it suits the variety of music we play. It's not for everyone, but with the little research I did, it proved to fill the bill. I still play an A-kit in a prog rock band, but I have used the E-kit for practice in that band and while I wouldn't gig with the E-kit in that band, it works well for rehearsals. One thing with the A-kit in Skye 2.0 is that it needs to be mic-ed and a good sound tech to make it sound good.

Shameless Plug: You can see and hear this new kit tonight (Saturday 8/10) at Family Pizza with The House Band. I'd like to know what you think of it.

[f.sciarrillo]

I like the E-kits myself. They are fun to play. Especially with all the sounds you can get out of them. Then being an amateur drummer who really isn't all that great, I just find it that way. The thing I like best about them is that you have more volume control over them in situations where you need it and can put a pair of headphones on and play without bothering others in the same room, or house. My brother's Roland V-Custom (TD-20) is a beautiful set.. Although when I listen to him play it, I just want to give up ..

[bassist_25]

It's funny how your views change over the years about gear. Part of it's becoming more open minded about things, but another part of it is the technology just becoming better, which e-drums have.

I opened for a pop/Top 40/hip-hop band earlier this year and the drummer used an e-kit. For what they did, which required copping a variety of sounds, many of them electronic, that kit made the most sense. He had a great kick sound.

[Jasaoke]

The set-up, tear-down, and transportation is hard to argue with. Compare it to pianos. No, nothing sounds like standing next to a 7' Steinway. But taking one around town isn't worth it. From the back (or middle) of the room, a good synth does the same job.

I think the E-kits help the overall mix tremendously. All the tricky work is done, and you've got absolute control from a mixing standpoint.

[ToonaRockGuy]

I would consider adding a few pads and a brain to my kit, but will never go all electronic. The drummer makes the kit sound good, not the other way around.