Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Just lucked into a new DTXtreme pad set (birch shell real head 
pads).  I'm now wondering if anyone here can/would like compare and 
contrast their experience with these pads vs the DTXpressII(which 
I've only had for a month and love).  Also, does anyone have 
experience in using these pads with the DTXpress module...

Thanks...

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "SKWatson" <skwatson@b...> wrote:
> Just lucked into a new DTXtreme pad set (birch shell real head 
> pads).  I'm now wondering if anyone here can/would like compare and 
> contrast their experience with these pads vs the DTXpressII(which 
> I've only had for a month and love).  Also, does anyone have 
> experience in using these pads with the DTXpress module...

That's a nice bit of luck. There's some disparity between the Xtreme 
pads and Xpress module. You'll suffer in the number of inputs/ 
outputs, which break down on the Xtreme as 16/8, as opposed to 10/2. 
If memory serves, the Xtreme toms are dual-zone, like the snare, 
making the number of inputs even more critical. The input sensitivity 
settings for the Xpress, which come under the heading of "pad type" 
in the trigger menu, may not have a perfect match for the Xtreme 
heads (more on them below). The Xpress module won't get you the 
positional sensing on the snare (and a few of the other perks that 
its now deceased big brother had--like muffling), but, if truth be 
told, the DTXTU was getting old in the tooth and ready to be retired, 
and it is in seriously short supply these days on the used market. 
You may have trouble resisting the new Yamaha module when it comes 
out, though other modules available now would be able to provide moe 
commensurate with the Xtreme kit than the DTXpress can.  Plus, the 
rack built for the Xtreme is not interchangeable with the one that 
comes with the Xpress. It's bigger, more stable (steel rather than 
aluminum), and requires different mounts; the snare sits on a 
traditional stand. 

On the matter of how well the respective heads approximate the 
acoustic experience, it's no contest. For all intents and purposes, 
the Xtreme pads ARE acoustic drums, right down to the mylar heads. 
Mesh heads are a Roland invention to which Yamaha was not privy. As a 
result, the Yamaha mylars are noisier than the gum rubber of the 
Xpress II. You can convert them to mesh, but, at the very least, you 
will need a foam insert. Contact Yamaha, which apparently doesn't act 
quickly on this matter anymore, or check the archives at Yahoo's 
DTXreme group for detailed advice about the conversion. 

You scored some nice drums, but you may have a little work to do 
getting the most out of them.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "SKWatson" <skwatson@b...> wrote:
> Just lucked into a new DTXtreme pad set (birch shell real head 
> pads).  I'm now wondering if anyone here can/would like compare and 
> contrast their experience with these pads vs the DTXpressII(which 
> I've only had for a month and love).  Also, does anyone have 
> experience in using these pads with the DTXpress module...

SK,

Coupla things. The DTXtreme rack was aluminum, too. I should also 
clarify that if your pads came with the YESS mounting system (I don't 
know whether all of them did), they might work with the Xpress 
hardware/plasticware, but they were not made for it.

Ed

Played with one of the pads last night to see how it worked with the 
DTXxpress II.  Triggering was ok, but they do make a lot of noise 
with the regular heads.  In my situation, it probably won't be 
acceptable (child sleeping in the room above).  So I'm thinking of 
changing out the head to mesh on the snare, and selling off the rest 
of the pads (which is really why I snagged them in the first 
place)...

The pads fit the hex rod mounts (but were meant for the YESS ball 
type mounts), but the rods are way to long.  As such, I'd have to 
modify the rods to make them work, and the DTXtreme pads are a lot 
heavier than the rubber ones...

But they look so nice, it's hard to think about getting rid of 
them.  Also picked up a new RS80 rack at the same time (deal was too 
good to pass up) since I wanted to expand a little on the DTXpress, 
and it was almost cheaper to buy the whole rack than just the 
parts...


Thanks...


Steve


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "liberatusvirus" 
<liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "SKWatson" <skwatson@b...> wrote:
> > Just lucked into a new DTXtreme pad set (birch shell real head 
> > pads).  I'm now wondering if anyone here can/would like compare 
and 
> > contrast their experience with these pads vs the DTXpressII
(which 
> > I've only had for a month and love).  Also, does anyone have 
> > experience in using these pads with the DTXpress module...
> 
> SK,
> 
> Coupla things. The DTXtreme rack was aluminum, too. I should also 
> clarify that if your pads came with the YESS mounting system (I 
don't 

> know whether all of them did), they might work with the Xpress 
> hardware/plasticware, but they were not made for it.
> 
> Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "SKWatson" <skwatson@b...> wrote:
> Played with one of the pads last night to see how it worked with 
the 
> DTXxpress II.  Triggering was ok, but they do make a lot of noise 
> with the regular heads.  In my situation, it probably won't be 
> acceptable (child sleeping in the room above).  So I'm thinking of 
> changing out the head to mesh on the snare, and selling off the 
rest 
> of the pads (which is really why I snagged them in the first 
> place)...
> 
> The pads fit the hex rod mounts (but were meant for the YESS ball 
> type mounts), but the rods are way to long.  As such, I'd have to 
> modify the rods to make them work, and the DTXtreme pads are a lot 
> heavier than the rubber ones...
> 
> But they look so nice, it's hard to think about getting rid of 
> them.  Also picked up a new RS80 rack at the same time (deal was 
too 
> good to pass up) since I wanted to expand a little on the DTXpress, 
> and it was almost cheaper to buy the whole rack than just the 
> parts...

Steve,

I'll bet it's hard to imagine giving them up. Can you afford the rest 
of the YESS hardware? Did you get three toms or four, and which 
sizes? I wish we could think of a way to adapt without breaking the 
bank. The right hardware plus the mesh transformation wouldn't be 
cheap, but it wouldn't be negligible either. Selling your almost new 
Xpress pads could help. Anyway, not too long ago, someone at DTXtreme 
was looking for pads; I hope it doesn't come to that.

Ed

Got the 3 tom set (5 piece total).  Toms are 8,10,and 12.  Snare and 
kick are 12 also...  I'll keep looking, I noticed that one other 
person had the pads mounted on tom stands instead of a rack...  
Steve