Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

By the way: Does anybody know with which brain(-s) the Hexahead pads
have been delivered with or were they some kind of stand alone products?

Just some extra infos added to Jym's answer
> 1.  which models started using the rubber heads that are more
comfortable to play?  are 
> the heads replaceable?
The first of two generations of rubber pads was introduced with the
SDS7 in 1984. These pads featured non flexible rubber heads, XLR plugs
and the screws on the shell side, custom colors available like blue
burst (the one on Ebay last week was far to cheap :-( )
http://195.37.239.143:6663/Simmons_sds7_set.jpg
The second generation came with the SDS9/1000/2000/200/400/800/MTX9,
featured 1/4" plugs for those series, "swimming heads", changable
backside shells, attachement screw inside the rubber head. These pads
were part of the SDS7 also from that time on (I guess 1986), the only
difference where the XLR plugs instead of jacks. Available colors were
the standard colors you already mentioned.
Pictures:
http://195.37.239.143:6663/Simmons_MTX9_1.jpg
http://195.37.239.143:6663/Simmons_MTX9_2.jpg 


> 
> 2.  why do some seem to have xlr outputs and others 1/4"?  are the
ones with xlr better 
> made in any way?
As already mentioned: The XLR pads have been delivered exclusively
with the SDS7 which has always featured XLR plugs on the brain side
also. Technically (talking about the second rubber headed generation)
they are identical

> 
> 3.  do the colors of Simmons drums have anything to do with the
model numbers or were 
> all models different colors?
no

> 
> 4.  do ZI(zone intelligent) triggers only work with the sdx brain? 
what kind of outputs do 
> they have?
stereo 1/4" jack for toms and some kind of 4 pin XLR for dual trigger
snare pad

> 
> 5.  can u use DW kick pedals with Simmons Kick pads?
No, they only take British Premier pedals (harhar, joking..., my Tama
pedal works also)