Electronic drum kits advice
Discussion
So after many years of being what I suppose I would call a frustrated musician I finally decided I should do something about it. Im in my late 50s with (I think) a reasonable sense of rhythm. Overall my family is very musical. And I guess thats were the compulsion comes from. My dad was a half decent drummer. My mother a singer. My brother plays bass. I messed around with bass guitar on and off. Not surprisingly I love bass. And it was a less expensive and least space absorbing option. But its drums for me and always has been. So I thought rather than shuffle off never having done anything about it. I should damn well get off my ass. Now clearly im not going to wow the world and turn pro or even start gigging. Im thinking of getting an Ekit and just enjoy learning and playing along. my long suffering wife has found me a space in a smallish upstairs room. Looking on ebay there is so much stuff for sale. As im thinking of going used and spending sub 1k. I was also thinking Roland with the mesh heads. Believing they would have more feel. So thats where im up to.
So folks any advice, thoughts, tips.
Thankyou in advance.
So folks any advice, thoughts, tips.
Thankyou in advance.
Ah yes, I've got a bit of experience here. As a still useless aspiring drummer of many years I ended up with a Roland TD12 - full mesh head kit with opening hi-hat. It's pretty old now but I'm really happy with the way it plays compared to a couple of lesser kits I've used. It's not perfect, the hi hats are a bit temperamental but having looked at the latest Roland equivalent (and tried one in the London store..) it didn't feel vastly different to mine. I think I paid about £600 for it maybe 18 months ago off ebay
Roland won me over with their entry level mesh kit, a TD07-something, though I bought a bundle with kick pedal etc. new as they seem to hold their value so well and it wasn't much more than used.
It seems like a decent bit of equipment to me and a solid starter kit.
ETA it's pretty compact too, and I mostly just connect my phone via Bluetooth and play along to tracks on YouTube where the drums have been removed, e.g. https://youtube.com/@drumless?feature=shared
It seems like a decent bit of equipment to me and a solid starter kit.
ETA it's pretty compact too, and I mostly just connect my phone via Bluetooth and play along to tracks on YouTube where the drums have been removed, e.g. https://youtube.com/@drumless?feature=shared
Edited by TheInternet on Saturday 14th September 22:43
stinkyspanner said:
Ah yes, I've got a bit of experience here. As a still useless aspiring drummer of many years I ended up with a Roland TD12 - full mesh head kit with opening hi-hat. It's pretty old now but I'm really happy with the way it plays compared to a couple of lesser kits I've used. It's not perfect, the hi hats are a bit temperamental but having looked at the latest Roland equivalent (and tried one in the London store..) it didn't feel vastly different to mine. I think I paid about £600 for it maybe 18 months ago off ebay
Thanks SS thats really good to know. And one day I hope to be just a little bit better than crap.TheInternet said:
Roland won me over with their entry level mesh kit, a TD07-something, though I bought a bundle with kick pedal etc. new as they seem to hold their value so well and it wasn't much more than used.
It seems like a decent bit of equipment to me and a solid starter kit.
ETA it's pretty compact too, and I mostly just connect my phone via Bluetooth and play along to tracks on YouTube where the drums have been removed, e.g. https://youtube.com/@drumless?feature=shared
Yes difinetly want a kick pedal for that 'feel'. But I will settle down with a drink later and watch your YT channel.It seems like a decent bit of equipment to me and a solid starter kit.
ETA it's pretty compact too, and I mostly just connect my phone via Bluetooth and play along to tracks on YouTube where the drums have been removed, e.g. https://youtube.com/@drumless?feature=shared
Edited by TheInternet on Saturday 14th September 22:43
wombleh said:
You can swap bits out on most Roland kits with some caveats around features. I started with a a td1mk, swapped module for a used TD15, mesh kick and added some cymbals. For your budget I’d get a used td17 kit and a decent stool, probably still have some change.
Thanks this is the kind of info I need. I was getting confused by all the different models. I want to get something pretty good. But I dont want to go over the top.macp said:
Yes difinetly want a kick pedal for that 'feel'. But I will settle down with a drink later and watch your YT channel.
Ha, not really one for watching, more playing along to. Get some pots and pans and a couple of wooden spoons.The above advice about a used TD17 is good too, and something I'd maybe have done if I knew I'd take to it. They have a good reputation for reliability so used should be a reasonable bet.
TheInternet said:
macp said:
Yes difinetly want a kick pedal for that 'feel'. But I will settle down with a drink later and watch your YT channel.
Ha, not really one for watching, more playing along to. Get some pots and pans and a couple of wooden spoons.The above advice about a used TD17 is good too, and something I'd maybe have done if I knew I'd take to it. They have a good reputation for reliability so used should be a reasonable bet.
I've played drums since 1987 (I think). I have always been lucky enough to have both space and enough separation from neighbours to have my acoustic kit set-up in all the places I've lived however recently I have found the violence of the live kit overwhelming at home, so I went out and bought an e-kit.
I knew straight away I wanted a Roland. Recently they pitched the TD27KV2 as a mid-level kit with all mesh heads, a full-size snare, an opening hi-hat and zoned cymbals. There's a ton of editing options too - more than enough to keep me entertained. I spec'd mine with an additional tomtom and cymbal, and bought two full racks for stability and to allow me to open the arc that the rack describes on the floor to better replicate where my acoustic shells fall. Most e-kits tend to feel cramped to me.
I never really saw the point of e-kits that used full-sized shells however I do wish the diameter of the Roland pads increased from left to right, rather like an acoustic kit. It's a minor point to be honest.
There's some criticism of the Roland sounds on YouTube. To be honest, there are enough sounds in the menu that I was able to create a kit of sounds I liked but I'm not the kind of drummer to change the sounds for different songs... although I'm not against it if the band demanded it. And if you want to, Roland makes that really easy. You can even buy a foot pedal to stamp on which moves you onto the next patch.
Anyway, it's really good. I play almost exclusively with headphones, despite the ludicrous number of speakers I have aimed at my drum throne. I use a good set - Bose QC35s - which give me a far wider frequency range than the speakers can. I did "interview" Roland's own PM200 stage monitor, thinking maybe that'd sound better still as it was created for that purpose, but it sounded hollow and cheap (even though it's nearly £500) so I've stuck with headphones for personal use, and I only switch on the speakers if I have guests (my band mates).
At the budget end of the scale, my son has an unnamed e-kit worth about £600 which also has an extra tomtom. He comes over and bashes mine as often as he can though because he loves the feel of the Roland but there is over 8x difference in price so it is expected.
Wanna pic?
I knew straight away I wanted a Roland. Recently they pitched the TD27KV2 as a mid-level kit with all mesh heads, a full-size snare, an opening hi-hat and zoned cymbals. There's a ton of editing options too - more than enough to keep me entertained. I spec'd mine with an additional tomtom and cymbal, and bought two full racks for stability and to allow me to open the arc that the rack describes on the floor to better replicate where my acoustic shells fall. Most e-kits tend to feel cramped to me.
I never really saw the point of e-kits that used full-sized shells however I do wish the diameter of the Roland pads increased from left to right, rather like an acoustic kit. It's a minor point to be honest.
There's some criticism of the Roland sounds on YouTube. To be honest, there are enough sounds in the menu that I was able to create a kit of sounds I liked but I'm not the kind of drummer to change the sounds for different songs... although I'm not against it if the band demanded it. And if you want to, Roland makes that really easy. You can even buy a foot pedal to stamp on which moves you onto the next patch.
Anyway, it's really good. I play almost exclusively with headphones, despite the ludicrous number of speakers I have aimed at my drum throne. I use a good set - Bose QC35s - which give me a far wider frequency range than the speakers can. I did "interview" Roland's own PM200 stage monitor, thinking maybe that'd sound better still as it was created for that purpose, but it sounded hollow and cheap (even though it's nearly £500) so I've stuck with headphones for personal use, and I only switch on the speakers if I have guests (my band mates).
At the budget end of the scale, my son has an unnamed e-kit worth about £600 which also has an extra tomtom. He comes over and bashes mine as often as he can though because he loves the feel of the Roland but there is over 8x difference in price so it is expected.
Wanna pic?
Sorry Mars
Thanks for the great reply. I dare not ask for a pic of your kit. Especially when I can probably just about afford a used TD17. Swmbo is being very supportive. And I dont want to push it out even further.
I might take a look at your sons kit. Never heard of it. But it sounds interesting.
Thanks for the great reply. I dare not ask for a pic of your kit. Especially when I can probably just about afford a used TD17. Swmbo is being very supportive. And I dont want to push it out even further.
I might take a look at your sons kit. Never heard of it. But it sounds interesting.
Alesis have just released a new set called the nitro mesh pro which might be worth a look if you want new!
My son has had the earlier nitro mesh kit for four years now, and it’s been great for him, but looking to upgrade it in the near future as it’s just quite different to his acoustic kit in terms of feel. Has taken him to grade 4 nicely but think an upgrade is on the cards to support him further as he mostly wants to bang about on the big kit!
Couple of other ones I/(we) have had our eyes on are those that replicate his acoustic “looking/sized” kit so it’s comparable to practice on (but quiet!)
That being lemon T950, millennium MPS 1000, Millennium MPS 750x Pro.
All of those are under 1k and might be worth a look.
Still most of the advice is go for a used Roland!
The problem is that Roland/Ef-Note/Yamaha acoustic shell versions are properly pricey! And the it becomes a rabbit hole!
Since we are doing YouTube you can see his Nitro Mesh in action https://youtube.com/@studiofred-d6v?si=JV4dPcrDCeh...
My son has had the earlier nitro mesh kit for four years now, and it’s been great for him, but looking to upgrade it in the near future as it’s just quite different to his acoustic kit in terms of feel. Has taken him to grade 4 nicely but think an upgrade is on the cards to support him further as he mostly wants to bang about on the big kit!
Couple of other ones I/(we) have had our eyes on are those that replicate his acoustic “looking/sized” kit so it’s comparable to practice on (but quiet!)
That being lemon T950, millennium MPS 1000, Millennium MPS 750x Pro.
All of those are under 1k and might be worth a look.
Still most of the advice is go for a used Roland!
The problem is that Roland/Ef-Note/Yamaha acoustic shell versions are properly pricey! And the it becomes a rabbit hole!
Since we are doing YouTube you can see his Nitro Mesh in action https://youtube.com/@studiofred-d6v?si=JV4dPcrDCeh...
These two channels only review electronic drums. They each have quite a back-catalogue of reviews which are worth checking out before you commit to buying anything:
https://www.youtube.com/@65Drums
https://www.youtube.com/@TheeDrumWorkshop
https://www.youtube.com/@65Drums
https://www.youtube.com/@TheeDrumWorkshop
CB07 said:
Alesis have just released a new set called the nitro mesh pro which might be worth a look if you want new!
My son has had the earlier nitro mesh kit for four years now, and it’s been great for him, but looking to upgrade it in the near future as it’s just quite different to his acoustic kit in terms of feel. Has taken him to grade 4 nicely but think an upgrade is on the cards to support him further as he mostly wants to bang about on the big kit!
Couple of other ones I/(we) have had our eyes on are those that replicate his acoustic “looking/sized” kit so it’s comparable to practice on (but quiet!)
That being lemon T950, millennium MPS 1000, Millennium MPS 750x Pro.
All of those are under 1k and might be worth a look.
Still most of the advice is go for a used Roland!
The problem is that Roland/Ef-Note/Yamaha acoustic shell versions are properly pricey! And the it becomes a rabbit hole!
Since we are doing YouTube you can see his Nitro Mesh in action https://youtube.com/@studiofred-d6v?si=JV4dPcrDCeh...
Brilliant reply thanks. This Millenium stuff looks very interesting. I just naturally went Roland. But as you point out, pricey !My son has had the earlier nitro mesh kit for four years now, and it’s been great for him, but looking to upgrade it in the near future as it’s just quite different to his acoustic kit in terms of feel. Has taken him to grade 4 nicely but think an upgrade is on the cards to support him further as he mostly wants to bang about on the big kit!
Couple of other ones I/(we) have had our eyes on are those that replicate his acoustic “looking/sized” kit so it’s comparable to practice on (but quiet!)
That being lemon T950, millennium MPS 1000, Millennium MPS 750x Pro.
All of those are under 1k and might be worth a look.
Still most of the advice is go for a used Roland!
The problem is that Roland/Ef-Note/Yamaha acoustic shell versions are properly pricey! And the it becomes a rabbit hole!
Since we are doing YouTube you can see his Nitro Mesh in action https://youtube.com/@studiofred-d6v?si=JV4dPcrDCeh...
I will check it out.
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