Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

What is the view of the panel on these older, relatively inexpensive 
mono cymbal pads? I plan to buy a second module (brain or MIDI 
trigger) at the end of summer (when perhaps people are being tempted 
to trade up to the new Yamaha gear). Mostly I want to support a much 
expanded cymbal set. On the face of it, these would seem to be a 
reasonable way of adding a bunch of cymbals.

Stewart

Hi Stewart,

Do you mean the PCY80 and 65 wedges? If so, I think they the PCY80 
is worth the money. To me, it always triggered as reliably as the 
nearest Roland. 

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:
> What is the view of the panel on these older, relatively 
inexpensive 
> mono cymbal pads? I plan to buy a second module (brain or MIDI 
> trigger) at the end of summer (when perhaps people are being 
tempted 
> to trade up to the new Yamaha gear). Mostly I want to support a 
much 

> expanded cymbal set. On the face of it, these would seem to be a 
> reasonable way of adding a bunch of cymbals.
> 
> Stewart

Stewart,

I shouldn't read and write in any kind of hurry. Now I notice that 
you meant the Pintech TCs. My opinion about them is negative. I've 
heard of people who were satisfied with them, but I'm definitely not 
one of them. Mine tended to choke itself and to trigger erratically. 
You get what you pay for, I'm afraid. I'd vote for used Yammy wedges 
well before I settled for the TCs. Now the Zenbals . . . they're 
another thing altogether. Sorry for the mixup.

Ed


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:
> What is the view of the panel on these older, relatively 
inexpensive 
> mono cymbal pads? I plan to buy a second module (brain or MIDI 
> trigger) at the end of summer (when perhaps people are being 
tempted 
> to trade up to the new Yamaha gear). Mostly I want to support a 
much 

> expanded cymbal set. On the face of it, these would seem to be a 
> reasonable way of adding a bunch of cymbals.
> 
> Stewart

--- "liberatusvirus" wrote:
> My opinion about them is negative.

Ah. I was a bit concerned, because they look like triggers bolted 
onto their old plastic practice cymbals. I shall deprioritise those 
in my "investigate further" list. I'd live to have Visu-lites up at 
the top of the list, but...

I do like the Yamaha pies, actually, but they are remarkably rare 
either second hand or new, especially in the UK. UK new prices are 
appalling and have an eight-week lead time, and they only ever come 
up on eBay as part of a set. Even on eBay US they are rare: I just 
finally picked up a PCY80S (which is sitting in my company's NYC 
office) for my third and final cymbal on the DTXpressII kit after 
weeks of looking.

> Sorry for the mixup.

Not a problem.

Stewart

Stewart,

You're right about the TCs. They are Pintech's practice cymbals with 
the piezo attached as an afterthought. Should we keep our eyes open 
in the States for PCYs and if any emerge, tell you about them and 
arrange to get them for you in absentia? Also, we could alert Ed 
Morin at Drumbalaya that we're on the lookout for them. The price 
will probably be a bit higher than a private sale but still viable, 
no?  Our vast network of e-drummers could go on the case.

Ed


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> wrote:
> --- "liberatusvirus" wrote:
> > My opinion about them is negative.
> 
> Ah. I was a bit concerned, because they look like triggers bolted 
> onto their old plastic practice cymbals. I shall deprioritise 
those 
> in my "investigate further" list. I'd live to have Visu-lites up 
at 
> the top of the list, but...
> 
> I do like the Yamaha pies, actually, but they are remarkably rare 
> either second hand or new, especially in the UK. UK new prices are 
> appalling and have an eight-week lead time, and they only ever 
come 

> up on eBay as part of a set. Even on eBay US they are rare: I just 
> finally picked up a PCY80S (which is sitting in my company's NYC 
> office) for my third and final cymbal on the DTXpressII kit after 
> weeks of looking.
> 
> > Sorry for the mixup.
> 
> Not a problem.
> 
> Stewart

--- "liberatusvirus" wrote:
> Should we keep our eyes open 
> in the States for PCYs...

That's a very generous and much appreciated offer. When I'm in "next 
phase of expansion" territory after the summer, I shall alert the 
assembled crew.

Stewart (honoured to be amongst such fine folks)

--- I wrote:
> --- "liberatusvirus" wrote:
> > Should we keep our eyes open 
> > in the States for PCYs...
> 
> That's a very generous and much appreciated offer.

It must have been something you said, Ed. Today, three PCY80S 
cymbals showed up on eBay, so I fell prey to temptation and bought 
two. There's still another there for $40 b-i-n price if anyone's 
minded. Couple days ago I also bought a Pintech SE-102 to try out as 
an alternative snare pad - kind fancy the extra real estate, and 
find I don't use both rim switches on the TP65S.

So that's me all maxed out, more or less. On my standard DTXP2, I 
(will) have:

* three PCY80S stereo cymbals - two on standard
  cymbal inputs (6 and 7) and I'll put one on a
  stereo tom input (5)

* one PCY65S stereo cymbal as a hi-hat (thanks
  to OldGuy for that tip - /much/ nicer than a
  tom pad

* four mono toms (two standard, two on 9, 10)

* a Pintech SE-102 10.5" stero snare

That should do nicely for now. What's next depends on what Yamaha 
come up with this summer. If I can't afford the rumoured top-end 
module, I shall just have to pick up a used DTXP2 (which are bound 
to start appearing about then) and start filling that up. At that 
time I'll be going for a mesh snare, a couple of general toms 
(timbales, bongos, etc), a couple of bar pads, a "piccolo" snare, 
and lots more cymbals.

Tra la la, tra la la la...

Stewart (slightly poorer, but grinning foolishly)

Stewart,

Congratulations. That is wonderful luck. Gee, maybe the vibe 
propitiously nudged one of the astrological signs. Could this be the 
dawning of the age of aquarius, or did that already happen?  At any 
rate, another e-drummer has edged ever so closer to maxing out his 
credit card. I figure that by September, you should be well over the 
top, pledging yet again to "she who must be obeyed" never to buy 
another piece of equipment. All Rumpoles, we. Keep all cables out of 
sight, or well secured. You don't want to give her any ideas.

Ed

> Congratulations.

Thanks. All I have to do now is wait for 'em to be delivered. Anyone 
remember the Calvin and Hobbes series where he was waiting for his 
propeller beanie (free with six coupons from Chocolate Frosted Sugar 
Bombs) to be delivered? That's me, that is.

So. What doohickus should I be using to attach the PCY as the hi-
hat? I'm so out of date with hardware... is it an X-hat I need?

Stewart

My wife used to love to tell people about how I looked out the 
window every five minutes or so when my first e-drum kit (the 
DTXpress, of course) was on the way. No feeling like it. On the hi 
hat stand, Hart's x-hat might be the right thing, but e-drum 
hardware is a brave new world. Ed Morin informed me that the fancy 
do-dads made by Pintech that allow me to pivot otherwise flat mesh 
toms on the square tubing of a Pearl rack were inspired by the 
cowbell holders of yesteryear. Maybe you should check old guy's 
pictures/email him privately for what he's using, or go to 
Drumbalaya's site and look at the hardware photos.

Hi Everyone:

I've had my DTXpress II for almost 4 months now, and I notice that the KP-65 
kick pad is crumbling on the rubber surface where the beaters are hitting it.  
I called Yamaha, and they said to either use a softer beater or go ahead and 
send it in.  As I play every day, I asked about putting beater patches on the 
kick pad, and they said that it will NOT void the warranty in any way.

Has anyone had this problem?

Thanks!
Stephanie

--- Stephanie wrote:
> ...kick pad is crumbling on the rubber surface
> where the beaters are hitting it.
> Has anyone had this problem?

Absolutely. Someone else brought it up here, and it prompted me to 
go and look. I've had mine for just two months and it's starting to 
go.

I'm dubious about Yamaha's suggestion to use a softer beater. I'm 
beginning to wonder if the hard, smooth plastic side of the beater, 
rather than the felt side, would be best. The plastic, while harder, 
isn't rough like the felt surface. There is inevitably some lateral 
play as the beater strikes the pad, since despite Yamaha's efforts 
the kick pad just isn't as stable as a kick drum. I suspect it's 
this momentary "rubbing" motion that's causing the wear rather than 
the direct strike itself.

Stewart

> Absolutely. Someone else brought it up here, and it prompted me to
> go and look. I've had mine for just two months and it's starting to
> go.

> I'm dubious about Yamaha's suggestion to use a softer beater. I'm
> beginning to wonder if the hard, smooth plastic side of the beater,
> rather than the felt side, would be best. 

It doesn't matter.  I originaly used the hard side of my beaters, and then 
switched to the felt side (which are really hard & rough).  I went and bought 
bass drum beater patches, which works just fine now and won't interfere with 
the sensitivity of the triggering.

Stephanie

If I were you, I would send it in for a replacement,
then buy a softer beater-give Dave Ksycki a call at
616-940-4964, or send him an email @
dksycki@....  He replaced a PCY65 for me, and I
was able to keep the part until the replacement came.
Jade
--- Stephanie <sellison-unix@...> wrote:
> Hi Everyone:
> 
> I've had my DTXpress II for almost 4 months now, and
> I notice that the KP-65 
> kick pad is crumbling on the rubber surface where
> the beaters are hitting it.  
> I called Yamaha, and they said to either use a
> softer beater or go ahead and 
> send it in.  As I play every day, I asked about
> putting beater patches on the 
> kick pad, and they said that it will NOT void the
> warranty in any way.
> 
> Has anyone had this problem?
> 
> Thanks!
> Stephanie
> 


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Stewart
> an alternative snare pad - kind fancy the extra real estate, and 
> find I don't use both rim switches on the TP65S.

If you don't use both rim switches on the TP65S, then why put the 
third PCY80S on zone 2 to get pad/rim/choke. Remember that zones 2,6 
& 7 can be used with three zone input TP65s or with PCY80S to get 
pad/rim/choke.

OldGuyDrummer

--- oldguydrummer wrote:
> If you don't use both rim switches on the TP65S, then
> why put the third PCY80S on zone 2 to get pad/rim/choke.
> Remember that zones 2,6 & 7 can be used with three zone
> input TP65s or with PCY80S to get pad/rim/choke.

Good thinking, Batman! Plans suitably modified...

Say, any news on the new ROMs with choke on 1 through 8?

Stewart

> 
> Say, any news on the new ROMs with choke on 1 through 8?
> 
> Stewart

Stewart,

It just showed up by UPS. They only shipped one chip, not the three I 
had asked for. I have not had a chance to install it because of a 
respiratory virus my wife and I have been fighting for the past week, 
but I should get it installed in the next day or so. I am going to go 
thru all the menu's and voices to see if anything special was added 
other than the choking.

OldGuyDrummer

--- "oldguydrummer" wrote:
> > Say, any news on the new ROMs with choke on 1 through 8?

> It just showed up by UPS.

Thanks for letting me know. Get well soon!

Stewart