Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hi!

> Hello everyone, I'm new to the group and Simmons. I had used a Tama
> Techstar kit back in the 80's because I couldn't afford Simmons at
> that time. I recently purchased an sds8 set that "looks" in near
> perfect condition.

Good for you!

> Since the techstars were actual heads over foam,
> the rubber over wood is uncharted territory for me. I need to know
> if the following observations are normal or problems which can be
> fixed. First, the module has an audible hum which seems to get
> louder as the unit is moved closer to the guitar amp I'm using (I
> would imagine this would be a much bigger problem through a PA
> system).

Fix it to ground (unless already done) and see if it helps... Ground hum is
my guess...

> Second, I'm noticing granular fragments of rubber along
> with pitting in the strike area of the pads. I know rubber drys with
> age, but since the pads looked like they'd never been played I'm not
> sure if this is normal.

Never heard of - must've been lying in a dry attic or something... :(

> If the rubber has dryed out, is there a fix?

Not that I know of...

> Third, when using the pads with an Alesis Dm-5 module (with the
> velocity set at max) it is necessary to use the butt end of the stick
> to get consistent triggering between the four pads. I'm using 5A's
> with moderate force. I use an overhand grip and this produces quite
> a stinging sensation on the palm of my snare hand (stick
> reverberation) unless I really keep a tight grip. Is there a more
> sensitive replacement trigger available?

Have you checked the Alesis input data? I mean, what voltage does it need to
trigger? Maybe a resistor could be replaced? I have had no problem trigging
anything with the Simmonspads I own. Quite the opposite...

> Fourth, are the pad casings
> stappled to the wood top section?

Yes!

> If so, is there a better method of
> fastening these casings to make access to the trigger easier?

I replaced two broken knobs on my SDS-1's and I removed the staples, made
the fix and replaced the casing. I didn't restapled it 'cause I felt it
seemed to stay in place anyway. Why would you need access to the trigger? I
have never felt the need on my pads? But if you're into destroying vintage
gear (a joke my friends!) I guess you could screw it in place instead. The
hardest part is removing those darn staples. They stick to the wood like
dogshit to the sole of my Getta Grips... ;)

Good luck!


electronically yours, jesper

http://www.bolina.hsb.se/hsidor/jesper
- -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----- ---- --- -- -
Electronic Obsession Mailorder
http://obsession.svart.nu

Thanks for responding jesper. I'll look into the voltages. Not sure
if I can find the trigger voltage for an sds-8 pad. I don't like the
idea of modifying classic stuff, but I bought them to use cause they
look so cool! I think the rubber has hardened from age/storage.
Might be why the low sensitivity/butt of stick/stinging palm thing is
go'in on. I guess there isn't demand to warrant aftermarket
replacement pads! So I will cut and paste some sort of stuff at the
strike area, thus totally destroying the integrity of original- but I
will be looking cool with those black hexagons! Even as I type, face
it, all around, you can almost hear Simmons pads drying out.
Somebody help me, somebody do something! Can I get a witness!!

Take care jesper,
Rich


Hi!

>
> > Hello everyone, I'm new to the group and Simmons. I had used a

Tama

> > Techstar kit back in the 80's because I couldn't afford Simmons at
> > that time. I recently purchased an sds8 set that "looks" in near
> > perfect condition.
>
> Good for you!
>
> > Since the techstars were actual heads over foam,
> > the rubber over wood is uncharted territory for me. I need to

know

> > if the following observations are normal or problems which can be
> > fixed. First, the module has an audible hum which seems to get
> > louder as the unit is moved closer to the guitar amp I'm using (I
> > would imagine this would be a much bigger problem through a PA
> > system).
>
> Fix it to ground (unless already done) and see if it helps...

Ground hum is

> my guess...
>
> > Second, I'm noticing granular fragments of rubber along
> > with pitting in the strike area of the pads. I know rubber drys

with

> > age, but since the pads looked like they'd never been played I'm

not

> > sure if this is normal.
>
> Never heard of - must've been lying in a dry attic or something... :

(

>
> > If the rubber has dryed out, is there a fix?
>
> Not that I know of...
>
> > Third, when using the pads with an Alesis Dm-5 module (with the
> > velocity set at max) it is necessary to use the butt end of the

stick

> > to get consistent triggering between the four pads. I'm using

5A's

> > with moderate force. I use an overhand grip and this produces

quite

> > a stinging sensation on the palm of my snare hand (stick
> > reverberation) unless I really keep a tight grip. Is there a more
> > sensitive replacement trigger available?
>
> Have you checked the Alesis input data? I mean, what voltage does

it need to

> trigger? Maybe a resistor could be replaced? I have had no problem

trigging

> anything with the Simmonspads I own. Quite the opposite...
>
> > Fourth, are the pad casings
> > stappled to the wood top section?
>
> Yes!
>
> > If so, is there a better method of
> > fastening these casings to make access to the trigger easier?
>
> I replaced two broken knobs on my SDS-1's and I removed the

staples, made

> the fix and replaced the casing. I didn't restapled it 'cause I

felt it

> seemed to stay in place anyway. Why would you need access to the

trigger? I

> have never felt the need on my pads? But if you're into destroying

vintage

> gear (a joke my friends!) I guess you could screw it in place

instead. The

> hardest part is removing those darn staples. They stick to the wood

like

> dogshit to the sole of my Getta Grips... ;)
>
> Good luck!
>
>
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> http://www.bolina.hsb.se/hsidor/jesper
> - -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----- ---- --- -- -
> Electronic Obsession Mailorder
> http://obsession.svart.nu

So I will cut and paste some sort of stuff at the

> strike area, thus totally destroying the integrity of original- but

I

> will be looking cool with those black hexagons!

If you're going to resurface your pads, you could try some thick
neoprene. It adds a little bounciness and muffles some of that
plywood "WHACK!" Throw your mousepad on one of your hexes and give it
a few good cracks, and you'll see what I mean.


$0.02,

Scott

Hi!

> Hello everyone, I'm new to the group and Simmons. I had used a Tama
> Techstar kit back in the 80's because I couldn't afford Simmons at
> that time. I recently purchased an sds8 set that "looks" in near
> perfect condition.

<snip>

> Third, when using the pads with an Alesis Dm-5 module (with the
> velocity set at max) it is necessary to use the butt end of the stick
> to get consistent triggering between the four pads. I'm using 5A's
> with moderate force. I use an overhand grip and this produces quite
> a stinging sensation on the palm of my snare hand (stick
> reverberation) unless I really keep a tight grip. Is there a more
> sensitive replacement trigger available?

Back when the MTM was introduced, I was at a Simmons clinic (hosted by Reek Havoc who was a Simmons rep at the time), and in talking to him, I have this fuzzy memory of him saying that the SDS8 pads put out a much lower signal than other pads (SDSV, SDS7). I think there is a resistor along with the transducer and you can cut the resistor out of the signal path and get a hotter signal. This was one reason why the SDS8 pads used 1/4" phone plugs instead of XLR's (cost obviously being another big reason). You wouldn't inadvertently hook up SDS8 pads to an SDSV or SDS7.

I've never checked this, but you might check the Alesis manual for what kind of trigger voltage it is looking for and then hook up a voltmeter to a pad and see what kind of voltage it generates.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

vince:

> Back when the MTM was introduced, I was at a Simmons clinic (hosted by

Reek Havoc who was a Simmons rep at the time), and in talking to him, I have
this fuzzy memory of him saying that the SDS8 pads put out a much lower
signal than other pads (SDSV, SDS7). I think there is a resistor along with
the transducer and you can cut the resistor out of the signal path and get a
hotter signal. This was one reason why the SDS8 pads used 1/4" phone plugs
instead of XLR's (cost obviously being another big reason). You wouldn't
inadvertently hook up SDS8 pads to an SDSV or SDS7.

But me then, beeating the hell out of my 1/4" out-pads connected to my
SDS-V? Pure luck? Let me know if memory becomes clearer or someone finds
that resistor inside...

> I've never checked this, but you might check the Alesis manual for what

kind of trigger voltage it is looking for and then hook up a voltmeter to a
pad and see what kind of voltage it generates.

Good idea, my hexabass has xlr... =)


electronically yours, jesper

http://www.bolina.hsb.se/hsidor/jesper
- -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----- ---- --- -- -
Electronic Obsession Mailorder
http://obsession.svart.nu

Oops...Obviously, I don't own an SDSV :-( ....I thought they used XLR connections.

I do own an SDS8 and SDS7....I'll try to find the time to try connecting the SDS8 pads to the SDS7 and see what the response is like.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jesper
To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 2:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] SDS8 Pads


vince:
> Back when the MTM was introduced, I was at a Simmons clinic (hosted by
Reek Havoc who was a Simmons rep at the time), and in talking to him, I have
this fuzzy memory of him saying that the SDS8 pads put out a much lower
signal than other pads (SDSV, SDS7). I think there is a resistor along with
the transducer and you can cut the resistor out of the signal path and get a
hotter signal. This was one reason why the SDS8 pads used 1/4" phone plugs
instead of XLR's (cost obviously being another big reason). You wouldn't
inadvertently hook up SDS8 pads to an SDSV or SDS7.

But me then, beeating the hell out of my 1/4" out-pads connected to my
SDS-V? Pure luck? Let me know if memory becomes clearer or someone finds
that resistor inside...

> I've never checked this, but you might check the Alesis manual for what
kind of trigger voltage it is looking for and then hook up a voltmeter to a
pad and see what kind of voltage it generates.

Good idea, my hexabass has xlr... =)


electronically yours, jesper

http://www.bolina.hsb.se/hsidor/jesper
- -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----- ---- --- -- -
Electronic Obsession Mailorder
http://obsession.svart.nu



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi!

The SDS-V _DO_ use xlr, but I own a soldering iron and can make cables... =)
What I mean is that even with my tele-to-xlr cables I haven't had any trouble
with triggering. With my homebuilt contact splitters and cables resulting in many
split point and almost 15 meters of cables I get troubles however...

But that's a different story though!

jesper

On Tue, 06 May 2003 07:14 , Vince LeGrand <vlegrand@...> sent:

>Oops...Obviously, I don't own an SDSV :-( ....I thought they used XLR

connections.

>
>I do own an SDS8 and SDS7....I'll try to find the time to try connecting the

SDS8 pads to the SDS7 and see what the response is like.

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> X-UIDL: 1052219554805
>From: Jesper
> To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 2:06 AM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] SDS8 Pads
>
>
> vince:
> > Back when the MTM was introduced, I was at a Simmons clinic (hosted by
> Reek Havoc who was a Simmons rep at the time), and in talking to him, I have
> this fuzzy memory of him saying that the SDS8 pads put out a much lower
> signal than other pads (SDSV, SDS7). I think there is a resistor along with
> the transducer and you can cut the resistor out of the signal path and get a
> hotter signal. This was one reason why the SDS8 pads used 1/4" phone plugs
> instead of XLR's (cost obviously being another big reason). You wouldn't
> inadvertently hook up SDS8 pads to an SDSV or SDS7.
>
> But me then, beeating the hell out of my 1/4" out-pads connected to my
> SDS-V? Pure luck? Let me know if memory becomes clearer or someone finds
> that resistor inside...
>
> > I've never checked this, but you might check the Alesis manual for what
> kind of trigger voltage it is looking for and then hook up a voltmeter to a
> pad and see what kind of voltage it generates.
>
> Good idea, my hexabass has xlr... =)
>
>
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> http://www.bolina.hsb.se/hsidor/jesper
> - -- --- ---- ----- ------ ----- ---- --- -- -
> Electronic Obsession Mailorder
> http://obsession.svart.nu
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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