Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "willpeach2002" <028215@c...> wrote:
> Hey guys great group and i have been scanning the messages for a 
few 
> weeks now. As an interested e-drummer, whose interest lies 
> specifically in the variety of sounds and the ability to practice 
in 
> a quieter environment than my currrent acoustic kit, I have 
arranged 
> to go look at a guy who is moving to the US(from the UK) Yamaha 
> DTXPRESS 2 kit. I was just wondering what kind of things i should 
> check out and ensure to ask him before committing to buying the kit 
> off him.

Hi Will,

Welcome. I'll start, but I hope that others more familiar with the 
details of the II will contribute to this thread as well. One thing 
in your favor is that the II isn't particularly old; not too much can 
phyically depreciate during the relatively short time that it's been 
out. The unfortunate part is that unless you're familiar with how to 
program the kit, you won't know whether any anomaly that you 
encounter is a deal breaker, or just a user error. Have the seller 
assure you that all parameters are in good working condition so that 
if you find something wrong, and he can't fix it, you can think twice 
about buying the kit.

Forgive me if I'm too obvious. Sit down at the kit, preferably with 
headphones, because distortion is less evident through amplification 
and speakers. Hit each drum and cymbal repeatedly, listening for 
uniform, clear triggering--in other words, no drop-outs, no 
stuttering, and no double triggers or echoing (reverb excepted). If 
you notice something odd, ask the seller to correct it. If he can't, 
make a note of it and report it to this board.

Based on members' observations, the kick pad is subject to wear 
fairly quickly. Look for signs of thinning and discoloration where 
the beater hits it. If you see any suspicious damage, get a few bucks 
off the asking price and check back here about how to inhibit the 
problem. if the kick triggers poorly no matter what the seller does, 
internal damage may be indicated.

Hit the snare and hi hat at the same time. If one of them won't 
trigger, a parameter is wrong, but don't worry. It shipped that way 
and is easily fixed. If they work simultaneously, ask the seller 
whether he had to contact Yamaha or whether he figured it out 
himself. The question will show that you're a force to be reckoned 
with.

Play the hi hat--open, closed, and in-between. The middle part may 
not permit much variation, but it should be distinct from the 
extremes. If it sounds too dry or too wet, don't worry; that is 
subject to control.

Ask the seller whether he ever uses the kit for external MIDI 
applications. If he says "yes," ask whether he had to do a factory 
reset to make MIDI work. The unit out of the box requires an 
immediate factory reset for the external MIDI feature to work 
properly; again, a minor Yamaha bug, though it cost a few of us a lot 
of time and trouble to discover it. This point would be another 
feather in your cap.

Check the rack hardware for stability. None of the pads should wobble 
or move on their mounts when struck. If they can't be tightened, the 
clamps may be stripped. Does the ride cymbal have the metal stopper 
that keeps it from turning on the stand? If the seller has it, you 
should get it; it's a useful part. 

Are you getting the throne and kick pedal with the kit? They may not 
have come with it originally, so it's worth asking. Has anything 
original been replaced? Let us know.

I'm sure that I've neglected a few things, and maybe some important 
ones. I hope that my fellow members will pick me up.

Ed