Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I've just had a long informative talk with Brian LaRue at Pintech 
about Pintech's distribution deal with Yamaha. Pintech products have 
always been a viable option for owners of Yamaha modules, but the 
connection is about to become even closer. Pintech is about to do 
extensive testing of the new Yamaha modules. Brian tells me that 
Pintech may well address any attenuation issue affecting Pintech 
meshes through Yamaha modules by adding a sensitivity adjustment to 
the pads themselves. Pintech also has plans to offer 12 and 14 inch 
ConcertCasts to the current 10" models. This news is all the more 
important because Yamaha will not be offering any woven-head pads of 
its own; Roland has an exclusive hold on not only mesh heads per se 
but also on center-mounting with them. This patent situation has had 
at least some effect on everyone from Yamaha to Hart to ddrum. 
Pintech, through a special arrangement, is the only company able to 
offer mesh heads in the Roland style for use with other company's 
modules. This practical situation, as well as Brian's dedication to 
convergence, is very good news for those interested in both woven 
heads and Yamaha electronics. Incidentally, Pintech's experience with 
the shells in the Visual series means that the new 12-14 inch 
ConcertCasts will not suffer any triggering anomalies despite their 
larger size.

More big news of a more general nature is definitely in the works for 
Pintech in the not too distant future. Stay tuned. 

Ed