I'm also an owner of a Maxim MDS-1000 (no pads just the brain)
The voice cards are identical to the equivalent SDSV cards right
down to the layout of the pcb tracks. The only difference is where
the front pcb mates to the main pcb of each voice. This is only because the Maxim uses slide pots versus rotary pots. Sound wise
mine is identical to an SDSV. The build quality is better than the
SDS though it is a fair bit larger. There is an added function in the
mixer section that allows sending each voice to an effects buss.
Yes it is a clone of the beloved SDSV but in my opinion it is worthy of the tag. The build quality is solid and what the original should have been. The sound (in mine anyway) is the classic SDSV boom. For the collector it is unusual and reasonably hard to find so probably worth hunting down.
As to the statement that yours has a "Japanese" sound I'm not sure what you mean. When I received mine I restored the electronics (replaced electrolytic caps etc) and as I said above mine sounds identical to the SDSV. Identical to the point that no 2 SDSV's ever really sound the same at the same settings due to the nature of analog electronics.
Cheers
Richard
--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, Thomas Heckmann <troperecordings@...> wrote:
>
> Hi list,
>
> today I received the biggest ever clone rip-off of Simmons, the Maxim MDS-1000 modular drumsynth :-)
> It is a very nice built clone of the original SDS V and it seems the circuit is nearly identical (also SSM 2044).
> The only difference was the turn to sliders instead of potis and it's double the height of the SDS V.
> It also has one factory, two "programmable" and the direct access push button for the sliders.
> Mine has the Bassdrum, Snare, Hi Tom, Low Tom and Bass Tom modules and you could upgrade it to 7 altogether as well.
> Another difference is an effect loop that can be inserted and the cards can be pulled out with power lead attached
> for better service and adjustments.
> It sounds pretty much like the V, but has it's own "japanese" sound to it...
>
> More and pics follow soon and I'm only guessing who snatched the pentagon shaped bass and tom pad at the German Drummeeting last weekend (Wolfgang ?).
>
> Best
>
> Thomas
>
> Thomas P. Heckmann
> Trope Recordings - AFU Limited - AFULAB - trope mastering
>