V-Drum Kits

[Pashley26]

Righteyho, help please

Looking for an electric drum kit, which goes against everything I once believed in. However with pet birds and disturbed neighbors I cannot justify a proper kit anymore.

I sold my PE about 4 years ago, and now I'm getting the itch again. My stepdad (who is a producer and bass player) has offered to buy me a V-Drum kit as it is something we used to do together, which is very generous.

So I need some opinions, in my current and outdated mind I am only happy to buy a Roland or Yamaha kit. Is this no longer the case?

I was looking at either a used Roland TD3 or Yamaha DTX series, does anybody have any personal experience with these kits?

Having been out of it for 4 years now I am afraid to say I haven't got a clue where to start! Everything I know about electric kits has been well outdated; I'm going into town on Thursday to the local music shop to try a couple of kits out and get a feel for it again.

Any help or experience much appreciated.

[Andeee]

First of all what is your budget?

I use a Roland TD9-KX2 rrp is like £2049 but i paid £1649 which is a bargain.

Its great to have a electric drum kit as well as an acoustic as i have access to both depending on what project i am on with within my music degree. My other kit being a 7 piece mapex saturn with full zildjian a customs all round.

Plus the pro's with an electric kit is you are always guaranteed to get a practice no matter what time or day it is.

I find the roland a very good quality of kit especially the mesh heads as they make the difference compered to the likes of rubber heads. It is also easy to record aswell as it is just plug in n play on my interface to record.

But now roland seem to be doing mesh head kits at really good affordable prices. Mine is sort of classed as the mid-near top range kit which they offer.

Will post a pic ;-)

Hope this helps.

[Pashley26]

TD9 would be mental, very jealous of that! Pics?

Budget wise I'm assuming we're looking at £500, from what I can see that would get me a nice but slightly older TD4 setup second hand?

I've done a bit of research today and I am siding towards Roland, the sound seems much more realistic and from watching youtube video's and reading reviews they seem to feel more like an acoustic kit. Where as the Yamaha kit makes no bones about being an electric kit and the sound seems very manufactured. I also like the ease at which you can tune the drums on the Roland, where as the Yamaha's within my budget see to offer little to no tuning of the individual drum presets.

I'm also a huge fan of the Roland interface and coaching functions which the Yamaha seems to also do; but with gimmicky names. Do you find yours easy to navigate and work with?

I'm looking at something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roland-TD-4KX-V-Drums-/130797233390?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ&hash=item1e741f64ee

[Blake]

TD-3 and 4's look like great kits.

Personally I think that a mesh head on the snare is the only one fully necessary, as the hard toms feel fine, and a more responsive sound isn't required as much.

As long as they have a decent brain with a fair bit of customisation then it will be great. My friend got a td-6 on ebay for under £500 I think, and it plays and sounds sooo good.

[Pashley26]

I have looked at TD6's and that is now my top choice.

Going to look at one tomorrow.