Acoustic or Electronic? one for the drummers

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

Am thinking about getting a new kit...I really have my heart set on an electronic set...a Yamaha DTXpress III Special...one with the 3 round cymbals (not the 2 triangle ones) and the real looking hi-hat (not the pad and pedal)...I have played on them before (at Chuck Levin's Music Store)and like the feel,compact-ness,ease of set up, and sound...don't get me wrong I still love my acoustic set...just looking for something different....And I know if it don't work when I hit it I can't see whats wrong and fix like an acoustic set...but I do like the timming features (lets ya kno if you are ahead or behind)and click tracks and built in songs for practicing alone,not to mention the headphones for praticing when everyone is not into it. also having like 48 factory,and 32 user kits in one set(and 990 sounds)....I am looking for imput from other drummers on what you like? I know alot are die-hard acoustic fans and they do look best onstage(I too am old school) Just looking for some thoughts!...Thanks guys!...(ran it by the band and 1/2 of them didn't seem like they liked the idea)

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

Trucula, if you bring an electronic set in for an SOS show, I will show up, barrel through the door, and punch you right in the balls.

I'm just a die-hard fan of acoustic drums. I have used a few electronic pads in the past to trigger sounds, and when I was playing for a living on the road, I used to trigger all my drums back on to themselves to fatten up the sounds. But I just can't stand all-electronic drumkits. There's just something very spiritual about being able to pull the sound out of the drum acoustically.

That said, I am also a Yamaha freak, and the DTXpress II would make a great practice kit for ya!

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

why are drummers so dead set against going electric, us guitar player went electric a long time ago.

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

Because electric kits cannot reproduce the sound and feel of acoustic. They are getting close but no weo.
Try eating a rubber banana once, see told ya.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

I think you guys just like to be louder than everyone else

They make mesh heads now Bobby but a mesh banana would probably taste like shit too.

Trucula · Post by **Trucula** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

tonefight wrote:why are drummers so dead set against going electric, us guitar player went electric a long time ago.

Thanks for the imput from a guitar player!...I didn't want to say that to my band..I mean ..I love an acoustic guitar sound...and I will never give up my kit I have now...I am glad you said that because alot of guitar players that frown on electronic drums forget about the 5 or more pedals they step on to get the sounds they want for different songs...
And Toona....Now I know what the extra pouch is for in my coffin case stick bag!....it's for my steel cup I have to carry incase ya come see us....LOL

And Bobby...i know what ya mean!...(love the avitar)....I could never go totally electronic...as a classic kit I still want a Ludwig Vistalite set!..They were the thing in their day!.... I'd love to be on different kits now and then..
The riser we carry(which I love playing on) does not fit in most places we play,nor does my kit...so I have to down size...which sucks cause my rack takes up the same space as all the stand legs...So a compact kit would come in handy now and then.
Thanks for the feed back.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Monday Jan 30, 2006

Ya know they make mesh heads to fit your acoustic set then add triggers, electronic cymbals and a module and you've got an electronic kit, still not cheap but a neat option.

It would actually be cool if you could somehow be able to flip your drum from a mesh head to acoustic for either application.

Another option is I know practice pads have been used with triggers to turn your kit into an ellectronic.

I'm sure you could come up with all kinds of creative options with all the products out there, search some of the manufacturers sites Hart Dynamics, Roland DDrum and Yamaha.

I checking into alot of stuff and really wanted our drummer to go that route but no luck.

Killjingle · Post by **Killjingle** » Tuesday Jan 31, 2006

Do not attempt to use pulse sticky triggers, they are garbage.

I like the flexibility of having an acoustic set triggered. Because then you have the best of both worlds. Triggering the whole set in small rooms I find to beneficial for definition. Triggering the kick in big rooms is freaking fantastic. The type of music I play dictates this as well.

We did record our Deviance disc with triggered toms, triggered kick, and acoustic snare.

The toms I think ended up sounding like garbage. Too perfect. Part of that was our drummer wouldnt read the instruction manual.

I am a guitarist and a bassist. I am not a drummer.

redawg · Post by **redawg** » Wednesday Feb 01, 2006

I been through dat shit. It's a major pain in the ass. Trigger from your acoustic drums. That was even a pain in the ass. Mount a few pads for any special sounds. I talked about this topic in detail in a couple of previous threads a few months ago. The kit I used with Retroactive was a combination of acoustic drums with Ddrum triggers and pads.

Skate Toad · Post by **Skate Toad** » Saturday Feb 04, 2006

I am using the roland td-20 kit for everything i do now and i love everything about them, if you are interested in checking them out. I hate to type so i don't even want to get into everything they are capable of. Let's just say i feel they are exactly like an accoustic just with a power cord and volume knob and a ton of bells and whistles. The only down side is price 5k but worth every penny in my opinion.
here is what i had to say in another post:

I stand by my td-20's 100% the dynamics are there they play, feel, and sound just as good in my opinion..... I feel alot of you guys are judging elctronics from old tech. The newest technology is amazing. I by no means am saying they are better than real drums but i feel they hold their own. And my options are endless. If anyone has doubts and would like to try the newest and best out there let me know i'd gladly share the experience anytime. I will say that they are an unrealistic solution to the noise issue strictly from the finacial stand point. I'm paying what i could of for a killer custom kit. But the advantages for me being trapped in an apt. and playing several diff. styles of music turned me to the electronics side. I have not one regret after several months of using them for prac,gigs etc.
I can tell you this i will get the nice studio kit too when i get the funds i still have the ole dog in me but i definatly have learned a ton of new tricks since i got the td-20's.
I can say this if you haven't actually spent the time behind the 20's then keep an open mind till you do. I did a ton i mean a ton of research and played just about all of them out there. The 20's are the best and most accurate to the real thing to date. Keep in mind they have limits but so does anything you play.
Todd

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