Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "danielmouly" <danielmouly@y...> 
wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi,
> I'm new to this group and I'd like to know what brnds/models of 
mesh 
> snares I can attach to my good old DTXPress I kit ?
> 
> Christmas is coming soon, and I'd like to add this kind of item to 
> my wish list.
> 

Hi Daniel,

Good to have you with us. The most popular, and probably not 
coincidentally the most affordable, is the 10" ConcertCast dual-zone 
snare from Pintech; the price usually hovers a little above $100 new. 
They also show up on ebay fairly often, and Ed Morin at Drumbalaya 
often stocks used ones with his new ones. Pintech also has a 14" full-
fledged snare called the AX14S, which is usually $180 new. I've 
written a lot on this forum about how the Pintech meshes do with the 
Yamaha modules. Run a search on Pintech, pot (for potentiometer), 
ConcertCast, or AX14S.  Something recent should pop up--as recently 
as a couple of days ago. 

Hart makes a really attractive snare, and once upon a time, it didn't 
work at all well with any Yamahas. I've heard fairly recently, 
however, that the TE3-triggered Harts don't seem to have the old 
problems. If you're interested in the Harts, which are more expensive 
than the Pintech options, check out Hart Dynamics Int'l's website and 
call their number. Binky may be able to help with mix and match. Hart 
was supposed to have hosted Tony Verderosa some months ago for the 
sole purpose of evaluating their components through Yamaha 
electronics (although I've heard that tune before).

The Rolands should work, maybe with a compromise or two, but my (and 
others') biggest gripe about them is their cost. But it's what the 
market will bear for the industry leader. 

The main issue with all of the mesh snares is the sensitivity of the 
triggering from soft to loud, and drummers don't have the same 
tolerance or demands. It's always best to try before you buy, but if 
you can't, make sure that you can return anything that doesn't 
satisfy you. Personally, I lean toward the Pintechs, partially 
because I know them best. If you have a Guitar Center nearby, see if 
you can attach a Roland to a DTXpress module and flail away for a 
while with various trigger settings using your own headphones. Some 
GCs even have a Pintech kit on hand (what do you think McConaghy?). 
You have to be savvy about pad type, velocity curves, and the Yamaha 
DIP switches on the back to get an accurate reading of dynamic range. 

You might be able to get away with connecting a 10" Pintech on the 
rack where your Yamaha snare is, though you'll have to turn the 
clamp, but ulimately a separate stand is better for positioning. All 
of the other snares definitely need stands. One benefit of severing 
the mesh snares from the rack is that they won't be subject to 
crosstalk, allowing for low rejection numbers, a low minumum 
velocity, and high gain (if it appeals to you). Consider also that a 
big 13 or 14 inch snare will seem really incongruous with the 8.5" 
Yamaha toms and relatively small rack. That's one reason to go with 
the small Pintech. I've assumed that you want dual zones so that you 
can use the rim as well. Only the Pintech ConcertCasts offer a single 
zone, if I'm not mistaken.

Ed