Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

I'm going to order the DTXPRESS III SE on Saturday. The guy at the 
music store said it would be about 2 weeks to get it in.  Just 
wondering about the pads, has anyone had any issues with tearing or 
breaking of pads?  How are the sounds? I heard that the DTXPRESS III 
has better cymbals than the DTXPRESS II?  Does anyone know?  
Thanks...

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, jmascharka@y... wrote:
> I'm going to order the DTXPRESS III SE on Saturday. The guy at the 
> music store said it would be about 2 weeks to get it in.  Just 
> wondering about the pads, has anyone had any issues with tearing or 
> breaking of pads?  How are the sounds? I heard that the DTXPRESS 
III 
> has better cymbals than the DTXPRESS II?  Does anyone know?  
> Thanks...

Hi J,

Your post contains significant news. First, I'll deal with the 
question part. I've never heard of anyone tearing or breaking gum-
rubber TP drums; on rare occasions, however, after a lot of use, the 
gum rubber PCY wedge cymbals of the DTXpress I and II, which are 
thinner than the TPs, have cracked. As unusual as this damage is, it 
looks to be all but impossible with the new, more substantial cymbals 
that accompany the DTXpress III SP. Sounds on a module eventually 
come down to subjective considerations, but Yamaha modules have 
always held up well in comparison with those of Roland and Alesis. 
Cymbal voices might not be their strong suit in general, but a few in 
particular were always very good. Plus, the DTXpress' ability to 
stack two of them together or crossfade one into the other can help 
disguise any weakness. By all pictoral and verbal accounts, the III's 
SP cymbals are a vast improvement on their predecessors (the III STD 
cymbals, however, are not much different from them, if different at 
all). The fact that they are round and appear to be more physically 
robust can only be considered an advantage, and I have it from one 
respected source that the new cymbal voices on the III's module are 
great.

Here's where it gets dicey. You're supposed to be getting your III in 
two weeks, but Yamaha is not even officially showing it in this 
country until winter NAMM later in January. The current release date 
for consumers is sometime in March. I notice that you're in Kansas. 
I'm aware that a lot of wizardry originates there,  but I can't see 
how your dealer has managed to circumvent Yamaha's plans altogether. 
Can you give us a little more information, or ask your dealer to show 
his hand? 

Ed

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 12:56:38 -0000, liberatusvirus@... wrote:
>\ufffdHere's where it gets dicey. You're supposed to be getting your III in
>\ufffdtwo weeks, but Yamaha is not even officially showing it in this
>\ufffdcountry until winter NAMM later in January. The current release date
>\ufffdfor consumers is sometime in March. I notice that you're in Kansas.
>\ufffdI'm aware that a lot of wizardry originates there, \ufffdbut I can't see
>\ufffdhow your dealer has managed to circumvent Yamaha's plans altogether.
>\ufffdCan you give us a little more information, or ask your dealer to show
>\ufffdhis hand?

Ed,

How did you figure he was in Kansas? Yahoo Profile?

I looked at his email originating IP address and it indicates it came 
from Asia Pacific Network (Australia). That might explain his dealer
having "early access" to a DTX III system?

I actually *do* live in Kansas and even with a realllllly big tornado,
that Oz is a long long way away... ;-)

Matt

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Matt Pobursky <ccsuser@m...> wrote:
> Ed,
> 
> How did you figure he was in Kansas? Yahoo Profile?
> 
> I looked at his email originating IP address and it indicates it 
came 
> from Asia Pacific Network (Australia). That might explain his dealer
> having "early access" to a DTX III system?
> 
> I actually *do* live in Kansas and even with a realllllly big 
tornado,
> that Oz is a long long way away... ;-)

Matt,

Yeah, his Yahoo profile. I glance at them quickly to for demographics 
purposes. Members' first posts come to the moderators so that we can 
make sure that they're drum-related. J's profile lists Wichita KS, 
though it also says that he's late of the marines, which might exlain 
his globe hopping.

Ed

Ok, to answer your questions,  I'm in Okinawa, Japan right now. Have 
been here just over a year.  The DTXPRESS III was released in Japan 
last month.  I have the latest brochure on the DTXPRESS III, it's 
all in Japanese, but later today I'll translate some of it for you 
and give you some information on the new updates.  It's 6am Thur 
right now.  Give me about 14 hrs and I'll be back from work and can 
get back to you.  Need to update my profile... 

Just a few words on the cymbals, that is what Yamaha really worked 
on with this new stuff.  Not just the look, but they are now 3-zone. 
The high-hat is on a regular high-hat stand and reacts like one. It 
is 3-zone also.  The toms were updated, not sure in what way, but 
the part # is now changed. More on this later.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, liberatusvirus@y... wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Matt Pobursky <ccsuser@m...> 
wrote:
> > Ed,
> > 
> > How did you figure he was in Kansas? Yahoo Profile?
> > 
> > I looked at his email originating IP address and it indicates it 
> came 
> > from Asia Pacific Network (Australia). That might explain his 
dealer
> > having "early access" to a DTX III system?
> > 
> > I actually *do* live in Kansas and even with a realllllly big 
> tornado,
> > that Oz is a long long way away... ;-)
> 
> Matt,
> 
> Yeah, his Yahoo profile. I glance at them quickly to for 
demographics 
> purposes. Members' first posts come to the moderators so that we 
can 
> make sure that they're drum-related. J's profile lists Wichita KS, 
> though it also says that he's late of the marines, which might 
exlain 

> his globe hopping.
> 
> Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, jmascharka@y... wrote:
> Ok, to answer your questions,  I'm in Okinawa, Japan right now. 
Have 
> been here just over a year.  The DTXPRESS III was released in Japan 
> last month.  I have the latest brochure on the DTXPRESS III, it's 
> all in Japanese, but later today I'll translate some of it for you 
> and give you some information on the new updates.  It's 6am Thur 
> right now.  Give me about 14 hrs and I'll be back from work and can 
> get back to you.  Need to update my profile... 
> 
> Just a few words on the cymbals, that is what Yamaha really worked 
> on with this new stuff.  Not just the look, but they are now 3-
zone. 
> The high-hat is on a regular high-hat stand and reacts like one. It 
> is 3-zone also.  The toms were updated, not sure in what way, but 
> the part # is now changed. More on this later.

So much for that little mystery. We look forward to your translation 
(and your impressions of the kit when you get it). Does the manual 
make any general statements about what's new about the sounds in the 
module? 

Ed

Ed

The 3-zone hi-hat is definitely news not previouly reported.The websites all
call it out as two zone.

The changed part number for the tom pads make sense, since one Japanese web
site described the pads as being more responsive (different rubber).

I have asked Yamaha USA for an advance copy of the DtxpressIII manual, we
have to see if they actually are able to send us one, since it has not been
officially released here in the States.

Matt, if we can't get a copy of one here in the States, can you get your
hands on one or see if any of the Japanese stores know where a PDF version
can be gotten from?


Thanks,

OGD

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	jmascharka@... [SMTP:jmascharka@...]
> Sent:	Wednesday, December 17, 2003 4:01 PM
> To:	DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:	[DTXpress] Re: DTXPRESS III
> 
> Ok, to answer your questions,   I'm in Okinawa, Japan right now. Have 
> been here just over a year.   The DTXPRESS III was released in Japan 
> last month.   I have the latest brochure on the DTXPRESS III, it's 
> all in Japanese, but later today I'll translate some of it for you 
> and give you some information on the new updates.   It's 6am Thur 
> right now.   Give me about 14 hrs and I'll be back from work and can 
> get back to you.   Need to update my profile... 
> 
> Just a few words on the cymbals, that is what Yamaha really worked 
> on with this new stuff.   Not just the look, but they are now 3-zone. 
> The high-hat is on a regular high-hat stand and reacts like one. It 
> is 3-zone also.   The toms were updated, not sure in what way, but 
> the part # is now changed. More on this later.
> 
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, liberatusvirus@y... wrote:
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Matt Pobursky <ccsuser@m...> 
> wrote:
> > > Ed,
> > > 
> > > How did you figure he was in Kansas? Yahoo Profile?
> > > 
> > > I looked at his email originating IP address and it indicates it 
> > came 
> > > from Asia Pacific Network (Australia). That might explain his 
> dealer
> > > having "early access" to a DTX III system?
> > > 
> > > I actually *do* live in Kansas and even with a realllllly big 
> > tornado,
> > > that Oz is a long long way away... ;-)
> > 
> > Matt,
> > 
> > Yeah, his Yahoo profile. I glance at them quickly to for 
> demographics 
> > purposes. Members' first posts come to the moderators so that we 
> can 
> > make sure that they're drum-related. J's profile lists Wichita KS, 
> > though it also says that he's late of the marines, which might 
> exlain 
> > his globe hopping.
> > 
> > Ed
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Community email addresses:
>    Post message: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
>    Subscribe:     DTXpress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>    Unsubscribe:   DTXpress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>    List owner:    DTXpress-owner@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Shortcut URL to this page:
>    <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DTXpress>
> 
> Alternate DTXpress site:
>    <http://www.dtxpressions.com> 
> 
> 
> 
>   _____  
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> *	To visit your group on the web, go to:
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DTXpress/>
>    
> *	To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> DTXpress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:DTXpress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
>    
> *	Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>. 
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________________________________
> This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs Email
> Security System. For more information on a proactive email security
> service working around the clock, around the globe, visit
> <http://www.messagelabs.com>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 
 
**************************************************************************
The information transmitted herewith is sensitive information intended only
for use to the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader
of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that
any review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, copying or other
use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error,
please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer.

________________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs Email
Security System. For more information on a proactive email security
service working around the clock, around the globe, visit
http://www.messagelabs.com
________________________________________________________________________

Ed,
As addition somehow the components were TP80S*5,
KP80S,PYC80S*2 and HH80S. I guess these are the upper
version of pads(?). The module is called DTX version
2.0 which is an old one i know.. Any advise.

Baris

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing.
http://photos.yahoo.com/

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, baris kirbas <bkirbas1@y...> wrote:
> Ed,
> As addition somehow the components were TP80S*5,
> KP80S,PYC80S*2 and HH80S. I guess these are the upper
> version of pads(?). The module is called DTX version
> 2.0 which is an old one i know.. Any advise.
> 

Baris,

Those are the appropriate components for the DTXv2.0, which, as you 
say, is an older discontinued Yamaha set. These components are still 
around, but they are no longer current. It was actually a slightly 
more elaborate system than the DTXpressI in its day, with an extra 
stock tom, more stereo pads, and a more feature-oriented, user-
friendly module. Even though it's something of a dinosaur at this 
point, people still use it with great success. I haven't checked its 
selling price lately as a complete configuration, but the module 
probably sells on ebay for about $250 these days. My guess (and it is 
a guess) is that you could buy the whole thing for between $500 and 
600 now if you could find it. The price in S.A. is hardly a bargain 
in U.S., Japanese, or European terms. It's twice what a brand-new 
Yamaha kit would cost.

Definitive advice is hard to give under these conditions. On a level 
playing field, I'd suggest that you pass and wait for a more current 
kit at a better price. But if you won't be leaving S.A. for a long 
time, that might mean that you couldn't play an electronic kit. If 
you can't get your hands on something else at a more reasonable cost, 
the v2.0 might be your only option. Does this store expect you to 
barter? Are they waiting for you to tell them that the v2.0 is no 
longer in production and not worth the price that they're asking? If 
so, drive a really hard bargain; you should pay less than half of the 
ticket price. 

Ed