Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

>  
> 
> Is there a noticeable difference in output levels of different versions 
> of hex pads?
> 
> I have an SDS1000m which works great with some home made pads with piezo 
> pickups on a single stand practice kit, but because they are all 
> connected to the same stand I get crosstalk. I bought a couple of old 
> Simmons pads, in the hope the crosstalk might be less, but they have 
> trouble triggering the mid tom. My diy pad is fine on the mid tom.
> 
> I'm considering buying a complete set of mk1 pads and stands, but is it 
> possible I might get the same mid tom issue? Was the SDS1000m designed 
> for later pads with possibly higher output levels?
> 
> It's possible there's a fault with the SDS1000m but it seems fine when 
> used with my DIY pads.
> 
> Also, do I need to worry about how hard the mk1s are? This is just going 
> to be for studio use, so it won't get a huge amount of bashing. I heard 
> that a lot of drummers got stress fractures from the old pads.
> 
> Cheers
> Susie

>
> Have you tried switching pads around? It may sound obvious but isn't all 
> clear in your post.
> 
> I e, plug a working tom into the mid tom input of the brain. That should 
> give you a hint of what's wrong.
> 
> If that works, it's the pad. If it doesn't there is some issue with the 
> brain.
> 
> 
> -- 
> electronically yours, jesper
> 
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
> www.myspace.com/machinepop
> 
> 
> 
> windsurfinsusie skrev:
> >  
> > 
> > Is there a noticeable difference in output levels of different versions 
> > of hex pads?
> > 
> > I have an SDS1000m which works great with some home made pads with piezo 
> > pickups on a single stand practice kit, but because they are all 
> > connected to the same stand I get crosstalk. I bought a couple of old 
> > Simmons pads, in the hope the crosstalk might be less, but they have 
> > trouble triggering the mid tom. My diy pad is fine on the mid tom.
> > 
> > I'm considering buying a complete set of mk1 pads and stands, but is it 
> > possible I might get the same mid tom issue? Was the SDS1000m designed 
> > for later pads with possibly higher output levels?
> > 
> > It's possible there's a fault with the SDS1000m but it seems fine when 
> > used with my DIY pads.
> > 
> > Also, do I need to worry about how hard the mk1s are? This is just going 
> > to be for studio use, so it won't get a huge amount of bashing. I heard 
> > that a lot of drummers got stress fractures from the old pads.
> > 
> > Cheers
> > Susie
>

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: windsurfinsusie 
  To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 5:39 PM
  Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Mk1 pad output levels


    I'll check tonight, but I think both Simmons pads were the same on the mid tom. My original conclusion was that the Simmons pads had a lower output than my DIY pads, and that the mid tom wasn't as sensitive as the other 2 toms. The mid tom did sound, but just not very loud.

  I wondered if whatever pads were sold with the SDS1000 had a higher output. The danger of me buying a mk1 kit is that I'll still have a barely audible mid tom. Maybe I should hold on for later pads.

  I wonder how old my pads are though. They have a (mono?) jack socket. I've seen pads with XLR outputs. Are the XLR pads early or late models?

  --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
  >
  > Have you tried switching pads around? It may sound obvious but isn't all 
  > clear in your post.
  > 
  > I e, plug a working tom into the mid tom input of the brain. That should 
  > give you a hint of what's wrong.
  > 
  > If that works, it's the pad. If it doesn't there is some issue with the 
  > brain.
  > 
  > 
  > -- 
  > electronically yours, jesper
  > 
  > - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
  > www.electronic-obsession.se
  > www.myspace.com/machinepop
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > windsurfinsusie skrev:
  > > 
  > > 
  > > Is there a noticeable difference in output levels of different versions 
  > > of hex pads?
  > > 
  > > I have an SDS1000m which works great with some home made pads with piezo 
  > > pickups on a single stand practice kit, but because they are all 
  > > connected to the same stand I get crosstalk. I bought a couple of old 
  > > Simmons pads, in the hope the crosstalk might be less, but they have 
  > > trouble triggering the mid tom. My diy pad is fine on the mid tom.
  > > 
  > > I'm considering buying a complete set of mk1 pads and stands, but is it 
  > > possible I might get the same mid tom issue? Was the SDS1000m designed 
  > > for later pads with possibly higher output levels?
  > > 
  > > It's possible there's a fault with the SDS1000m but it seems fine when 
  > > used with my DIY pads.
  > > 
  > > Also, do I need to worry about how hard the mk1s are? This is just going 
  > > to be for studio use, so it won't get a huge amount of bashing. I heard 
  > > that a lot of drummers got stress fractures from the old pads.
  > > 
  > > Cheers
  > > Susie
  >



  

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

>
> windsurfinsusie skrev:
> > I'll check tonight, but I think both Simmons pads were the same on the 
> > mid tom. My original conclusion was that the Simmons pads had a lower 
> > output than my DIY pads, and that the mid tom wasn't as sensitive as the 
> > other 2 toms. The mid tom did sound, but just not very loud.
> > 
> > I wondered if whatever pads were sold with the SDS1000 had a higher 
> > output. The danger of me buying a mk1 kit is that I'll still have a 
> > barely audible mid tom. Maybe I should hold on for later pads.
> > 
> > I wonder how old my pads are though. They have a (mono?) jack socket. 
> > I've seen pads with XLR outputs. Are the XLR pads early or late models?
> 
> XLR and metal rims + shiny plastic surface are the first.
> Let us know about the rest and we'll sort it out. :D
> 
> -- 
> electronically yours, jesper
> 
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
> www.myspace.com/machinepop
>

>
> But you know of the internal 1kohm resistor in the MK1 Pad, do you? The pads have much more output if you remove this. It is soldered to the XLR output socket, you have to open the pad to reach it. The resistor is only recommended for SDSV and SDS7.
> Michael

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jimstew37 
  To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:00 PM
  Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Mk1 pad output levels


    I've often wondered about that resistor myself, because I've been hearing on this board and elsewhere, that only MK1 pads would work properly with SDSV. I was under the impression that the output of later pads was not enough to provide a good trigger signal. But maybe this is backwards? In other words, later Simmons pads could be used with SDSV if the resistor is added to them? There can't be that much difference in the piezos themselves.

  Jim Stewart

  --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Buchner" <buchnerelectronics@...> wrote:
  >
  > But you know of the internal 1kohm resistor in the MK1 Pad, do you? The pads have much more output if you remove this. It is soldered to the XLR output socket, you have to open the pad to reach it. The resistor is only recommended for SDSV and SDS7.
  > Michael



  

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

From: "Michael Buchner" <buchnerelectronics@...>
To: <Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Mk1 pad output levels


> The other aspect is, that the hard surfaces are the most responsible part 
> for a needle-sharp click sound. As you know, the piezo is something like a 
> microphone. Plug different pads with different surfaces directly into a 
> mixing console and play: A rubber pad will sound different and will 
> produce a rugged click on an SDSV. The hard surfaces produce a tight, 
> aggressive short trigger pulse. After all drummers were complaining about 
> their aches, simmons offered rubber overlays for the Mk1s, but they 
> definitely changed the sound!
> Michael

And this can be heard very clearly on various records from the early to mid 
eighties.

WT

>
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Michael Buchner" <buchnerelectronics@...>
> To: <Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Mk1 pad output levels
> 
> 
> > The other aspect is, that the hard surfaces are the most responsible part 
> > for a needle-sharp click sound. As you know, the piezo is something like a 
> > microphone. Plug different pads with different surfaces directly into a 
> > mixing console and play: A rubber pad will sound different and will 
> > produce a rugged click on an SDSV. The hard surfaces produce a tight, 
> > aggressive short trigger pulse. After all drummers were complaining about 
> > their aches, simmons offered rubber overlays for the Mk1s, but they 
> > definitely changed the sound!
> > Michael
> 
> And this can be heard very clearly on various records from the early to mid 
> eighties.
> 
> WT
>

>
> I've often wondered about that resistor myself, because I've been hearing on this board and elsewhere, that only MK1 pads would work properly with SDSV. I was under the impression that the output of later pads was not enough to provide a good trigger signal. But maybe this is backwards? In other words, later Simmons pads could be used with SDSV if the resistor is added to them? There can't be that much difference in the piezos themselves.
> 
> Jim Stewart
> 
> --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Buchner" <buchnerelectronics@> wrote:
> >
> > But you know of the internal 1kohm resistor in the MK1 Pad, do you? The pads have much more output if you remove this. It is soldered to the XLR output socket, you have to open the pad to reach it. The resistor is only recommended for SDSV and SDS7.
> > Michael
>