Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hi Everyone - Nick here from Northern California.  I'm new here and just wanted to say hi to everyone.  I actually joined up a few weeks ago but have not had a chance to say hello yet.  

I recently acquired a set of black SDS-8 Pads and an SDS-8 Module.  Although I have been playing drums since the early 80's (i'm in my late 30's) I have not had much prior experience with Simmons.  I have always been a fan of the look and the sound and I am really enjoying them.  I play drums in a few tribute bands based out here (A Smiths tribute band, a New Order Tribute, and a Duran Duran tribute), so I will definitely have opprotunities to use some or all of the Simmons pads and module live. 

This actually leads to the first questions I have:

First - Any advice on types of cases out there that will work for holding one or two pads at at time and any cases that will fit the SDS-8 module?  Im gonna be using these live a lot so just wanna make sure I can protect them.  

Second - Any advice, do's or dont's, etc on using the SDS-8 live?


Oh...just in case anyone is interested, here are the bands I mentioned I'm involved with:

This Charming Band (Smiths Tribute)
www.thischarmingband.net


Love Vigilantes (New Order Tribute, based in Seattle and San Francisco)

http://www.myspace.com/lovevigilantes



Sing Blue Silver (Duran Duran tribute)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sing-Blue-Silver/282764279560?v=photos#!/pages/Sing-Blue-Silver/282764279560?v=wall


Thanks!

Nick Laquintano
San Francisco, CA