Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

You can tell whomever at GC that this is all just fine with me. 
Drumbalaya and GC are both about 15-20 minute drives from my house.  
For other people who aren't so lucky with location, if they are going 
to have to wait anyhow, they are likely to just order online...  I'm 
sure Ed at Drumbalaya will send GC a big "Thank You" card with little 
hearts all over it.

    I will be buying a IIISP and I agree:  GC is making a mistake by 
showing the kit that looks at a glace pretty much identical to last 
year's model.  In fact, I think they'd be losing out quite a bit:  
The DTXpress I & II pretty much look the same and have been holding 
down the same showroom floor space for a LONG time.  Everyone comes 
into the drum section of their music store and EXPECTS to see one. 
They know what it looks like and have probably played around on one 
before.  To that crowd of people if the DTXpress III on the floor 
looks like the II (and the original for crying out loud), it will be 
invisible (i.e. been there, done that).  But what could drive more 
impulse traffic than signficantly changing something people have seen 
a zillion times before?


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Stuart McConaghy <stuart@s...> wrote:
> I've got some info on my employer Guitar Center's stand on the new 
> Yamaha DTXpress III and DTXtreme IIs sets. The DTXpress III (i.e., 
the 
> one with the pie-shaped cymbal pads) will be available in all 
stores 
> from pretty much the second week in February onwards. the DTXtreme 
IIs 
> will come in March to select stores only. If the store near you 
isn't 
> in a big market, i.e. Boston, NYC, Hollywood, Chicago or San 
Francisco, 
> you won't see a DTXtreme IIs in a GC showroom.
> As for the DTXpress III Special, the one with the new round cymbal 
> pads, GC will NOT be carrying them. They will NOT be available for 
> demoing, they will only be available on a special order basis.
> I personally am pretty disgusted about that, we have the showroom 
> space, and people want to try this kit, am I right? I'm in 
discussions 
> with our buyers and allocators to try and get them to acknowledge 
the 
> buzz on forums like this about this kit, but so far I'm running on 
deaf 
> ears. I'm not giving up, however, those guys know me as a person 
who'll 
> complain for months if I have to, and getting GC to carry Pacific 
drum 
> racks was one hell of an uphill struggle....
> My store, Orange, CT, will see the DTXpress III set, but most 
likely 
> not the DTXtreme IIs.
> 
> As for Roland, the V-Compact will be replacing the low-end Pintech 
> Spirit pad sets in GC's product roster, price at $899.99. The V-
Tour is 
> currently priced at 1395.99, an will be available in a few weeks 
time. 
> V-Pro (TD20SBK) will be available in select stores (big market 
areas, 
> see above) fo $5499.99, that is, until Roland comes to their senses 
and 
> lowers MAP price. Again, my store will see the V-Compact and the 
> V-Tour, but unlikely the V-Pro.
> 
> I'll keep you all posted on any developments, I hope I can change 
this 
> trend of our management ignoring customer demands around, at least 
for 
> a little while. In the meanwhile, bug your local GC drum 
salespeople 
> and get them to relay to their buyers that you as a customer want 
to 
> check this set out, and demo then new gear.
> 
> Stuart McConaghy
> Canopus Drums
> Meinl Cymbals
> SilverFox Sticks