Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Jim wrote: Who makes the most solid and quiet kick pad tower? My 
DTXpress pad is 
> getting rather noisey. It has not even been in use for a year and 
> that is somewhat bothersome to me. Thanks...

Hi Jim,

If the KP60 is the tower that you have now, ditch it fast. It's the 
worst of the lot. I wasn't as concerned with its noise level, 
however, as with its triggering inconsistency. But that's another 
story. I was all set to buy the Pintech ConcertCast version a few 
years ago when I ran into the DrumTech Kick Pad and never looked 
back. The DrumTech may be rubber, but it's a more forgiving rubber 
textured to simulate a kick drum (without the periodic head 
replacement). It also has a large playing surface, and its metal 
frame is built like the proverbial tank. It's triggering is 
flawless. Unfortunately, it tends to be in short supply, though 
Drumbalaya advertises it now, and it's not cheap. The woven head 
options would stand to be the least noisy--all things being equal. 
To my mind, the Pintech is the best bang for the buck; Roland is 
much too pricey; and Hart pads often don't work well with Yamaha 
electronics. None of the manufacturers has cornered the market on 
the basic technology. People seem to like Yamaha's newer KP65, but 
relative quietness is probably not one of its selling points. 

Ed