Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Very well put! Finally a detailed examination of rubber vs mesh 
without any bias. I thought I was the only one who loved Yamaha 
pads. Just to put my two cents into the pot. I've been drumming for 
over 20 years. Ten on and off the road playing night after night. I 
still practice as much as time allows as I have a day job, and 
cannot play as much due to family responsabilities. I hope that 
qualifies me to post about something so personal as how the pad 
plays and feels. My openion and a buck twentyfive will also get you 
a cup of coffie. I play my TP-120 every day, sometimes up to 3 
hours. You would think a "rubber" pad would become annoying after 
three hours but it plays so well it's like playing a top quality 
drum. I hate going to bed because I want to keep playing the darn 
thing. The same DTX kit is in the music store beside a TD-8 kit. Not 
to poo poo on Roland who I have great respect for, but DTX vs TD-8, 
no contest. Xtreme hands down winner. Roland has a bigger following, 
and that's fine with me, but the Xtreme is very under rated. The 
entire line of DTX samples and modules, under rated. Why? Under 
hyped. I am getting off topic, sorry. The samples of the Xtreme and 
triggering is top notch. The TD-8's have a over processed sound that 
just do not sit right in my ears. do not take my word on anything, 
try it for yourself and make an educated evaluation. The xt's rock 
en roll sound wise. Getting back on topic, the pads, they are 
rubber, and they look like little space ships with a red knob. 
Playing those babies live with the thunder rocking out of the PA, I 
say, who cares? I forget all about the space ship look, and rubber 
vs silent mesh. It feels real, sounds real and pounds real good 
through the PA. I've yet to play on the TD-20's so I cannot comment 
about them. I own mesh drums with Roland heads and cannot get into 
the bouncyness of mesh. I love the look of Hart pads though. I know 
we are not into Roland bashing here thank goodness. With that said, 
hopefully the TD-20's are as good as everyone is saying as it only 
makes Yamaha work harder to make better modules. I would add pads, 
but the TP series of pads are TOPS! I personally love my xtreme drum 
samples and wish I had a D Drum and TD-20 beside my module to test 
those unit's sounds.