It's Oliver's 16th birthday next week. He is coming along very nicely on drums, currently using TRAPS acoustic set. The noise level is fine, but only from 4pm to 5:30pm as all neighbours are home outside those times.
So, I am buying him a Roland Vdrums kit this weekend TD-15K . Taking a bit of time with this one as this is quite a hefty investment for a birthday present so rather than just ordering it online as I normally do on a whim I've got a session booked at the PMT music store on Saturday to spend an hour or so with the drum technician to test all of this out thoroughly, eg, feel, sound and all the good stuff.
He's going to enjoy this !
Also, after school on the 17th (his birthday) we are taking him into London to the dominion theatre to see "We will rock you" ....should be fun !
Very cool. Congrats Oliver!
Just back from the music store. Had a real blast trying out the various Roland kits. Spent a bit more money that I was going to initially as the TD-15K has smaller pads and a "fixed" high hat, so went for the TD-15KV, bigger, more responsive pads and with a high hat that is used on a standard high hat stand that really does complete the "realness" of the kit. The whole thing is just so responsive from the lightest tap to the heaviest whack. The mesh heads really do feel like playing a real kit. The sounds seem very very close to the real thing as it was very easy to drum roll and paradiddle. The kick drum was also very nice and responsive to touch and had a lovely bounce feel to it too. We cranked the volume through the PA in the store and bashed out some earth shattering sounds with some huge kicks that made the whole place vibrate. Well worth the money for the fun factor alone ! Delivery is on Tuesday, just in time for Oliver's birthday on Thursday.
This is the kit (although I went for the single kick pedal, instead of the double shown here)
I can't claim to know anything about them, but that sure looks like a nice kit to me. I'm sure he will be thrilled.
Looks nice but, if that's the whole kit, then I know what you'll be doing next: Adding extra toms & cymbals! :D
Mine started out with about that many pieces, but it wasn't really fun until I expanded it out (and replaced the snare). ;)
It looks like this now:
BTW - The SPD-20 was my drumkit before I got the V-Drums. Afterwards, it works great for all those extra percussion sounds you might want to use like cow bell, triangle, rain chimes, gong, etc. :)
What's that stuff all over the pads, mildew or have you been whacking off over them :o
Wait until your kid starts hitting the new pads with his sticks and you'll probably see 'em too.
(Then you can decide for yourself. ;) )
CraigBert — Oct 13, 2013Wait until your kid starts hitting the new pads with his sticks and you'll probably see 'em too.
(Then you can decide for yourself. ;) )
That must be something that happens to rubber pads. The TD-15KV has all mesh heads. Never seen that before.
Yeah, mesh heads are great.
I can't imagine adding more toms... We have a 5-piece in the studio, but we ended up pulling one of the rack toms... 4 pieces is just about perfect. More cymbals I can imagine, but I'm kind of a cymbal freak... but even there, we've only got two rides, to crashes, and a hat actually up...
You won't regret the mesh heads. Those rubber pads have the weirdest touch sensitivity ever...
The only additional we will probably get is an additional crash cymbal, as the standard kit is one crash and one ride. 3 toms is plenty.....that's all we have on the real kit and never had any need for any more than that.
Yeah, those rubber heads aren't great but are a lot of fun for someone who doesn't really play drums. I got the fourth tom when we were playing Judas Priest's version of Green Manalishi. :D
I've used it more than once to enter MIDI information though. Great for fills. :)