This is related to my previous thread, and maybe the bass drum thread, but I thought I'd start a new one.
I've a basic incompatibility between my SDS1000m and my pads.
I'd made my own kit out of a practise kit and piezo transducers, and it worked fine, but I was getting a lot of crosstalk as the practise kit is just a single stand with arms for each pad.
I also had 2 old Simmons pads which I'd added to the arms of the practise kit - better crosstalk, but the pads didn't work too well with the snare, but seemed OK with the toms.
I now have a lovely electric blue 5 pad Simmons kit - it looks gorgeous - it's all about the colour (or so I thought) - beautiful. I think it's from an SDS8 - hard rubber pads with rubber surrounds and 1/4inch jack outputs.
Trouble is, the output of the pads aren't sufficient to trigger the bass or snare of the SDS1000m. I thought it might be my brain, but it looks like it's simply that the piezos aren't producing enough signal. I've opened up a pad, and even tapping the piezo pickup itself isn't enough to trigger the bass/snare - I have to actually hit it hard to get a trigger. By contrast, my home made trigger works fine with even the gentlest of taps on the pickup (as you'd expect I guess).
The conclusion I've come to is that I'm going to have to replace all the piezo transducers on the pads.
Any comments? Were the pads that were supplied with the SDS1000 higher output than the early ones? Or is it that over the years the piezo crystals have deteriorated so that the output has dropped.
I've got used to the idea of 're-capping' old electronic kit, but do you have to 're-piezo' drum pads?
And finally, has anyone got a service manual for a SDS1000m?
Thanks
Susie
http://www.myspace.com/susangardener