Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "slushycow" <slushycow@y...> wrote:
> Hi again all,
> 
> I've been playing live for nearly a year with my DtxpressI kit. I'm 
> having mixed feelings lately and need some advice.
> 1) Everytime I play my kit we get many compliments on our sound 
> balance. Since most of the clubs in Tokyo are small, it's really 
> important not to blow everyone away.
> Now, almost always after that compliment, people say "Man! you 
gotta 
> play real drums. Those things are just not cool." Of course they 
> don't understand that my drums are one of the main reasons we sound 
> as good as we do. It kills me.
> Plus, I love the easy set up and break down. 

Hi Jonathan,

You already got great response from the board, but I just have to add 
that this is a common complaint. People have viewed "different" as 
wrong for a long time. Some e-drummers seem to work through it; after 
all, nothing is weird forever. Sometimes emphasizing the novelty, 
instead of trying to downplay or justify it, can turn perceptions in 
its favor. Run a string of Christmas lights across the rack or 
something. Or hang a scrim from the front of the rack to the floor 
with the name of the band and, maybe, "Yamaha electronic drums" in 
small letters at the bottom. It would server two purposes--(1) to 
announce proudly your choice of percussion and (2) to create the same 
kind of filled space that an acoustic kick drum provides. I bet that 
the emptiness beneath the toms is behind a lot of the negative 
comments.

> 2) As far as the set itself. I find my self adjusting it before and 
> during each song. I've had the snare pad fall off many times. I've 
> replaced the pad and the "arm", but it still slips and falls.

Follow Stewart's advice, or possibly convert to a snare on a separate 
stand (though this tactic may present other problems).
 
> So these days I'm thinking of converting an acoustic kit. My idea 
is 
> to put mesh heads with triggers all the way around. This way, I can 
> keep the balance,get a better look, and not worry about things 
> falling off. It's just going to be a problem lugging those things 
> through the streets of Tokyo. I wish I had an alternative solution.

If Stewart's suggestion about conversion is too labor-intensive, and 
you have a little money, you might look into the Pearl Rhythm 
Traveller kit, which is already halfway toward conversion. Another 
almost ready-made solution might be the acoustic Arbiter Flats kit, 
which is almost as portable as the DTXpress. I've never seen one in 
person, but it looks ripe for conversion. I have to say, though, the 
idea of adapting the current e-kit to meet your various needs makes 
the most sense to me.

Ed