Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I guess I better speak out, or be lost in the ether.
I have answered the occasionally plea for help, but there's a core of
individuals now who not only know in DTX's inside and out, there willing to
dismantle various bits to see what makes them tick.

Me, I've just a DTXpress Mk 1. Got it about two years ago locally for \ufffd500
second hand, guy even supplied a drum throne (don't call them stools -
people think your talking about something else), a decent box to carry it
all in, a pair of sticks, and a few extra leads, and best of all, a Premier
kick pedal (\ufffd130 worth).
A cracking deal, even today.
I'm a huge fan of Roland gear, but at the price this was, I had to get it -
I'm was not disappointed, plus as I already owned a Yamaha RM50 drum module
(cracking bit of kit, be not very user friendly).

I've added on to it a bit:
Extra stereo cymbal pad PCY65S - for the mute function.
Extra cymbal arm with Gibraltar clamp
Stereo snare pad TP65S - for rimshots, but the downside is the main snare
pad area is smaller.
Addition Yamaha clamp - so not to waste old snare pad - I've gained an extra
tom.
Yamaha Bell cymbal thingy - guy I got the extra cymbal pad from had it
spare, and sold it to me for a very reasonable price.

Now our DTXpress experts will have realised that's too many pads for a
DTXpress to handle, luck would have it I just happen to have a Roland
Octapad II lying around, so I have a standard (mono) cymbal pad going to
that, and then it's MIDI'd up to the DTXpress.

Just managed (about 2 weeks ago) to get the new type of kick drum trigger
(KP65) for my kit. I hated the old (original) one, worked okay (I know some
have issues with reliability - or rather the lack of it), I just found is so
it made too much noise. The new one is quieter, and 'feels' great.

Future projects:
New rack - as mine is the Mk1 there's a lack of bracing that you get with
the revised DTXpress kits. So it tends to wobble a bit while in use.
I scan ebay almost daily, but funds are tight. A know Gibraltar hardware is
compatible, any other brands fit Yamaha clamps?

Might be tempted to get a mesh headed snare at some time - suggestions
welcome - but I live in the UK which limits my options.
If I see one on ebay - perhaps a DTXpress Mk 2 module - are there any
'sonic' differences or are they basically the same?
Might also be tempted to get a cymbal shaped cymbal pad - the Yamaha pads
are useable, but 'it don't mean a thing if they ain't got that swing..'


Shall not bore you all anymore, I'll return to lurk mode until otherwise
required to surface..

"the Sonic Energy Authority - a sound investment"