Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi

I'm about to purchase a new KP65 because I think my old one is
triggering intermittently. It's still under warranty, but I've a gig
coming up and I don't want to trust to sending it off and waiting for
a new one to arrive.  I figured I'd buy a new one, then send the old
one back for replacement. If the unit's as dodgy as you guys reckon, a
spare won't do me any harm.

Is there a preferred place to buy bits from or shall I carry on with
my local shoppe? Any guide prices?

Any other thoughts on my strategy?

Oh, also, I'm getting all excited about the idea of buying a guitar
compression pedal and putting the kit through that to get a sound
that's easier to listen to. Then I thought I could have a line of
pedals on the floor and trigger them for all sorts of effects. Fuzzed
drums, chorussed drums. Maybe, if I'm thinking that way, there's a
single effects box that would do everything I want .. any ideas on
that?

J