Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hi guys

Well, my Simmons obsession (started back in July this year, I think when I saw La Roux performing with a non-functioning Simmons kick drum, and a light bulb went on in my head) has made good progress.  I have a 12 piece kit made out of black SDS-9 pads and a couple of SDS-1s, plus a SDS-V (bass, snare, 3 x toms), a SDS-800 and a Trixer (quite nice samples on this one).  I'm a happy man.

Now then.  I am not lucky enough (yet) to have a Hihat module for the SDS-V.  (Anybody got one to spare?  No, thought not.)  So far I am making do by using two channels of the SDS-800 to simulate a closed hihat and an open hihat.  It's not too realistic, but I didn't buy Simmons to get realistic.  :-)

Problem at the moment is that I am using two pads to trigger the two channels.  Not very natural, and a waste of a pad really.

I'm sure I've seen a hihat pedal which takes a single input from a trigger pad, and then has two outputs, one for when the pedal is pressed and the other for when it is open. Obviously I'd be able to use this to route the trigger from the pad to either of the two SDS-800 channels depending on the position of the pedal.

However I now cannot find a pedal which seems to operate like this, even though I'm sure I saw something like this once.  I think it may have been called Electrohat or Electohat but searching for this on Google doesn't come up with anything useful.

Does anybody have any ideas? Is there a product out there which will do the job for me?  The irony is that most of the hihat pedals out there seem too complex or advanced - I need something really simple!

Thanks in advance for any advice!  And many thanks to those who have already been able to offer advice over the last six months or so - it's been hugely appreciated by me.

Happy holidays

Aaron

the_green_dome skrev:
> Hi guys
> 
> Well, my Simmons obsession (started back in July this year, I think when 
> I saw La Roux performing with a non-functioning Simmons kick drum, and a 
> light bulb went on in my head) has made good progress. I have a 12 piece 
> kit made out of black SDS-9 pads and a couple of SDS-1s, plus a SDS-V 
> (bass, snare, 3 x toms), a SDS-800 and a Trixer (quite nice samples on 
> this one). I'm a happy man.

That's quick if you've just got hooked in July! Good work! :D

> Now then. I am not lucky enough (yet) to have a Hihat module for the 
> SDS-V. 

Check the info on how to convert a tomtom into hihat and cymbal!

> I'm sure I've seen a hihat pedal which takes a single input from a 
> trigger pad, and then has two outputs, one for when the pedal is pressed 
> and the other for when it is open. Obviously I'd be able to use this to 
> route the trigger from the pad to either of the two SDS-800 channels 
> depending on the position of the pedal.

Can't you simply build one yourself? A simple switch that switches to
another output when closed? I'm no tech wiz myself but that sure sounds
like a very basic project, even for a beginner.

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se

> > Well, my Simmons obsession (started back in July this year, I think
when
> > I saw La Roux performing with a non-functioning Simmons kick drum,
and a
> > light bulb went on in my head) has made good progress. I have a 12
piece
> > kit made out of black SDS-9 pads and a couple of SDS-1s, plus a
SDS-V
> > (bass, snare, 3 x toms), a SDS-800 and a Trixer (quite nice samples
on
> > this one). I'm a happy man.
>
> That's quick if you've just got hooked in July! Good work! :D
>

I've been really lucky I think - some good auctions on EvilBay, plus a
very lucky find on a site called PreLoved, which is a UK classified ads
site.  That was the SDS-V!

The 12-piece kit has been assembled from three or four separate auction
wins, plus some extra non-Simmons hardware (Pearl tom arms, generic
clamps added to the Simmons rack, that sort of thing).

It's as big a kit as I will ever get away with, without my wife killing
me (probably by beating me over the head with a tom arm).

> > Now then. I am not lucky enough (yet) to have a Hihat module for the
> > SDS-V.
>
> Check the info on how to convert a tomtom into hihat and cymbal!
>

I'm sure I've seen you say elsewhere that you prefer to see the word
"cymbal" on the module front.  I know exactly how you feel!!

> Can't you simply build one yourself? A simple switch that switches to
> another output when closed? I'm no tech wiz myself but that sure
sounds
> like a very basic project, even for a beginner.
>

You'd think, wouldn't you.  I have the technical skills of an over-tired
monkey.  Anything I tried to build would end in a broken heap of solder
and red mist.  I may have no option - but it's frustrating when I'm sure
I saw something out there...

Aaron

the_green_dome skrev:
> The 12-piece kit has been assembled from three or four separate auction
> wins, plus some extra non-Simmons hardware (Pearl tom arms, generic
> clamps added to the Simmons rack, that sort of thing).
> It's as big a kit as I will ever get away with, without my wife killing
> me (probably by beating me over the head with a tom arm).

I'm a vintage guy when it comes to my kit these days... even on this
list. With the exception of my SDS-V mk1 bass drum all the others are
from the 70's: MusicAid, Pearl and Pollard. Funky mix of plexiglass and
wood. I've never had anyone complain about it though, not even during my
married days. And as you know... my kids love them! :D

> I'm sure I've seen you say elsewhere that you prefer to see the word
> "cymbal" on the module front. I know exactly how you feel!!

OK, you're a collector as well as a user too. Welcome to the moron club! :P

> You'd think, wouldn't you. I have the technical skills of an over-tired
> monkey. Anything I tried to build would end in a broken heap of solder
> and red mist. I may have no option - but it's frustrating when I'm sure
> I saw something out there...

OK, I stayed away from the real electronics for many years, but passive
stuff like switches and the likes are my thing. There I feel a lot more
at ease.

Good luck with finding a switch that fits your needs!

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se