Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello to all, I am new here. I have been reading your posts for 
several months now, and you all have to be some of the most helpful 
people on the planet. Super advice givers, Thanks.
 
Last summer when I bought my two DtxpressII kits, I got the best 
price I could online and printed out the quote and took it to my 
local Guitar Center Store and they price matched it. They even 
deducted the equalant of the local sales tax. The kits were quoted 
online to come with the basic kit plus a thone, bass pedal, 
headphones and a cd. They price matched and gave me the free items 
lists for each kit. Since I didn't need two thones and two 
headphones, they let me swap them out for better headphones, sticks 
and cables for the $995.99 per kit. In addition, since I bought a 
Roland KC500 at the same time they discounted it to $449.99 from 
their list price of $499.99. Since then I have taken other store 
catalogs in and not only have they price matched but they have always 
beat them. Example, Midwest list a Gilbraltor multiclamp for $19.95, 
they gave it to me for $15. So if your near a Guitar Center, it would 
be well worth it check them out.

Quick summary of my toy. As you are reading this, remember..I have no 
kids to feed/support/bail out of jail,etc...
I am just completing phase III of my kit project, (which my wifes 
refers to it as the "Final phase".)

Phase I was the two kits above plus the Roland KC500.

Phase II, I added three PCY80S and one PCY10.

Phase III, I added a third DtxpressII module, three PCY65s, four 
PCY10, one BP80, a Mackie DXF12 Mixer and a Midiman4x4.

I also currently building a cable distribution system consisting of 
1" pvc electrical conduits and LB conduit fittings. Each 1" pvc 
condulet (LB) nicely holds 5 TRS jacks, of which I have eight 
condulets located at varies points around the rack. The conduits feed 
back to two larger condulet fittings (each containing 16 TRS jacks)
and a 4x4 box that contains 8 TRS jacks for a total of 40 
distribution points. All jacks are feed with stereo cables. 

(HeHE, This is the great part about my wife not knowing how to use 
the computer and being able to see what I post on the web.)

My logic for this arrangemtn was: A module uses up to 10 jacks, three 
modules x 10 jacks = 30 jacks which leaves 10 spare jacks for now. 
Now I told my wife that the extra jacks are for flexibility to shift 
pads around, or if something breaks...but...lets see 10 spare jacks 
could be for.....say...a fourth module....in the 
future...hmmmmmm...could be Phase IV????)
Any way, I should have the project complete within another week or so 
and I will post some pictures if anyone is interested.

The only thing I need to experiment with is getting all the modules 
to change to the same user kit number by hitting the one BP80 (left 
pad=dec, right pad=inc. When there was just two modules, it was easy, 
but now with three modules, I'll need to dig the manuals back, unless 
someone here knows.

Again, thanks for all the wonder advice so far.

OldGuyDrummer

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> Hi KLX,
> 
> Here are two good stores, in terms of price and service: Drumbalya 
> (shopping.netledger.com), which deals exclusively with electronic 
> drums, has the kit for $999, though they seem to be offering some 
> kind of discount over that price. Midwest Percussion 
> (midwestpercussion.com), which, as its name implies, is a drummer's 
> store--and a good one. Their price is $995, and they throw in a 
> throne and a kick, which don't come standard with the DTX, valued 
at 
> $200 or so (other good stores like Riks Music do, too, but not 
> necessarily the same items at the same price). If you don't need 
the 
> free merchandise, savings are even higher. Most stores hover around 
> the same price for the kit (just under $1000); the difference among 
> them tend to be what they offer free and/or whether you like the 
> vibe, shipping options/cost, etc. If you see a much lower price 
> elsewhere, watch out for the shipping charge; sometimes that's 
where 
> they git ya.
> 
> Ed
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "KLX Racer" <klxracer@y...> wrote:
> > Cheers for that, looks like my mind is made up!!  The versatility 
> of 
> > the electric kit certainly did appeal and I must admit that after 
> > selling my Tama kit late last year I kept all of my cymbals, so I 
> > have a bunch of Zildjians (3 crashes, a splash, a china, and a 
> ride) 
> > at home which I could easily mount up for a live situation.
> > 
> > Oh well, time to hit the shopping button I guess - any 
suggestions 
> > for where I can find the best price.  I am in Australia but have 
> > relatives in the continental US whom I normally use for getting 
> gear 
> > in the USA.
> > 
> > KLXracer
> > 
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "underneathheaven" 
> <realvast@s...> 
> > wrote:
> > > Hey KLX!  Most of the reasons you mentioned for purchasing an 
> > > electronic kit were the same as mine.  Particularly being able 
> to 
> > > play with headphones, along to external music, and a sick 
amount 
> > of 
> > > sounds that are able to be manipulated causing a stand still in 
> > any 
> > > current social life you have.  Electronic drums are easy to 
> record 
> > > with, easy to transport, excellent to practice with, and fun to 
> > play 
> > > gigs with.  I think a monster electronic set with three or so 
> > > modules and a ton of extra pads and cymbals looks pretty cool.  
> > The 
> > > audience will be impressed too.  Or they won't even know what 
> the 
> > > hell your playing on.  If your worried about looks why don't 
you 
> > > throw in some real cymbals or something?  Besides its not about 
> > > shiny oak drums, its about music, its about what you play.  No 
> > ones 
> > > gonna care about a crappy drummer on an awesome looking set.  
> > > Besides I have a user defined kit I call "chick magnet" for 
> > obvious 
> > > reasons.  Can acoustic drums do that? :)
> > > 
> > > - UN.H
> > > 
> > > 
> > > P.S. I love acoustic drums too.
> > >  
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "KLX Racer" <klxracer@y...> 
> wrote:
> > > > Hi All,
> > > > 
> > > > I am currently looking at purchasing a DTXpress II kit 
> following 
> > > > many years playing acoustic drums.  My reasons for going 
> > electric:
> > > > 
> > > > - I live in an apartment complex, acoustic drums just aren't 
> > > > feasible any longer
> > > > - Practise with headphones and not annoy my wife!
> > > > - Easy to record and jam with the rest of the band quietly at 
> > home.
> > > > - Multiple drum sounds
> > > > - Small and light, easily transported to gigs etc.
> > > > 
> > > > We play mostly rock / hard rock, and are looking to use the 
> kit 
> > > for 
> > > > jamming, practise, some home recording, and some small gigs.  
> Is 
> > > > there anybody else in a similar situation who could offer 
> > > feedback / 
> > > > assurance that I am going the right way?
> > > > 
> > > > The only downsides I can see are that it does not have the 
> > > aesthetic 
> > > > appeal of a fullsize acoustic kit, and it does not have the 
> raw 
> > > > acoustic sound (or does it?).
> > > > 
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > KLXracer