Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "bongokonzelmann" <carsten@h...> 
wrote:
> 
> Hi Ed,
> 
> although this is an old message I would like to pick it up again as
> indeed I am now sitting with a total dmagae of my KP65 kick tower. 
The
> rubber pad is worn but more severe is the fact that the foam behind 
is
> dented and the piezo double triggers. The first signal is fired when
> the beater hits the pad and the second (lower in volume) when the
> beater swings back. Very strange (although I now can impress people
> with some kind of magic double bass playing ...).
> 
> Interesting was also that my dealer refused to replace the pad (1 
year
> old with a 2 years warranty) saying that Yamaha Netherlands does not
> see a possibility to repair or exchange. I therefore asked Yamaha
> Germany to help me out and they were reacting immediately. The pad 
now
> is on its way.
> 
> Does anybody have found a solution to cover/protect the rubber pad 
at
> least?

Hi Bongo,

At least a year ago, we had that issue crop up. OGD noticed that the 
kick was subject to wear in just the ways that you mention. You might 
buy yourself an acoustic kick drum patch, from any number of 
companies, to place over the pad. You could also use a bicycle tire 
patch (OGD's suggestion) or even a mouse pad cut to size, none of 
which will void your warranty. Those devices will protect the pad and 
foam from deteriorating too quickly (though the foam will eventually 
recede, anyway, as those of us who used the early mesh pads were to 
find out). Another strategy that can help is to change the strike 
point of your beater a little bit every once in a while so that you 
don't simply batter one spot all of the time. Hold onto your old pad, 
or at least some of its guts; it might come in handy someday. Let's 
see if other people have suggestions, too.

Ed