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To all you drummers out there

Please advise. Getting electronic drum set - obvioulsy acoustic is better but this is to keep wife happy. Set is to indulge me in my increasingly senility and 8 year old daughter who has become a drum fanatic. Lessons start next month. Of course I will rent with option to buy - so choice is very important ...if I buy then I want something to compete with acoustic and that will last perhaps 10 years (i.e no poor quality that will frustrate quickly - bear in mind I really prefer the sound/feel of acoustic drums but am forced to go electronic). Playing along to music files and no tuning issues will also be a key reason to go electronic.

Roland has been highly recommended - specifically TD9. Should I get all MESH toms or is mesh for the snare enough? That is my conundrum. I don't care for the feel of rubber and I am told the mesh is even quieter and more realistic...but it adds significant expense obviously.

So drummers out there - feel free to chime in! Any other tips for a person who typically wants to upgrade each year and who wants to make sure they get something good enough to kill that urge for at least five years.
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Showing 3 responses by tvad

tvad's avatar
tvad
11,453 posts
 
I have owned a kit comprised of a Roland mesh head snare and Pintech mesh head toms and mesh head bass drum. Check out the Pintech gear. Great build quality and great prices compared to Roland. They work seamlessly with Roland electronics. I used a Roland TD8. You can find these used at terrific savings.

The only drum pad I think requires Roland is the snare because of its excellent sensitivity and realistic response.

I would also recommend the Roland hi-hat pedal.

I strongly suggest the use of the cymbal-type triggers rather than rigid pads for cymbals. Hitting rigid pads is brutal on the hands and wrists, especially if you're a head banger like me!

Yes, use mesh heads for all the drum triggers. The feel is superior to rigid pads, and they can be "tuned" like a real drum head for firmer or softer rebound.

Have fun!
tvad's avatar
tvad
11,453 posts
 
03-05-08: Shadorne
Thanks for reponses so far - much appreciated.

Tvad and Electroid - I take it that mesh is really worth it but I may be able to find cheaper than Roland for Toms. Is the Roland Hi-hat you recommend the ordinary one - electronic triggered foot pedal and a 5" cymbal? - they have some seriously expensive ones too that look like the real ones but I hoped that was not necessary.

Pintech is substantially less expensive than Roland, and you won't give up much. In fact, I believe the Pintech are sturdier. You can use Roland mesh heads on the Pintech triggers if you wish.

The hi-hat I was referring to is the pedal. You can use whatever trigger you wish. The key is the sensitivity and "action" on the pedal, IMO.

I wouldn't go cheap on the items that can and should feel as close as possible to the real deal (pedals and drum heads for example). It will make transitioning to acoustic drums easier for your daughter.
tvad's avatar
tvad
11,453 posts
 
Roland mesh heads do "feel" better than Pintech mesh heads, but I doubt if a novice or intermediate student drummer would be proficient enough to tell the difference. The key drum for response is the snare, and I definitely recommend the Roland for this instrument.

Once you replace the Pintech mesh heads with Roland mesh heads, there is no difference whatsoever in the response between the two brands. I suggest saving some cash and buying Pintech drum triggers for the toms and bass drum (you are fine with the Pintech mesh head on the bass drum).
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