Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says it's 
superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says it's 
> superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!

Hi Jon,

I took a look at the listing. The seller is accurate and 
comprehensive about what the kit and module are and do. The module, 
in particular, is much more user-friendly and comprehensive in 
certain features that are still relevant than any of the DTXpress 
modules are. What the seller doesn't tell you is that this particular 
unit w/pads is the oldest in the Yamaha lineup, and it has been 
discontinued for longest time. It occupied the middle ground between 
the Xpress I and the Xtreme (before it was discontinued) and was a 
relative bargain at the time. Although the basic technology of 
triggering hasn't altered much for years, subsequent Yamaha offerings 
carry improvements based on time testing that the DTX v2.0 doesn't 
have. The size of the kit and the extra dual-zone input are definite 
advantages, but the old rubber pads were not as responsive as those 
on the DTXpress II (the sellers' are probably even less responsive 
given their age). The KP80 kick and HH80 hat controller are better 
than what the DTXpress I had, but I'm not so sure that I'd see either 
as an advantage over their counterparts in the DTXpress II, 
especially after all this time. The designs got better, at least for 
the kick. The rack is not as collapsible as that of the DTXpress II.

That's the short story. A lot of people still own or buy this kit and 
are happy with it (check out the Yamaha DTX Group). If you want a 
good unit that probably won't fall apart any time soon, and the price 
is right, you could do worse. However, if staying more current, using 
three-sound pads, starting from scratch with new pads, and having the 
benefit of nearly ten years' R&D appeals to you, I'd pass on it. The 
DTXpress II and III, by virtue of their youth alone, are hard to 
beat; the age of the DTX v2.0 carries risks that count, particularly 
after a certain price point. Check the ebay price on the module 
alone; I don't think that it fetches more than $250 these days.

Ed

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says it's 
> superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!

A bit unkind of the seller to describe the DTXpress as a "beginner's 
kit" I thought.

Chris

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <proguk@h...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> > Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says it's 
> > superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!
> 
> A bit unkind of the seller to describe the DTXpress as 
a "beginner's 
> kit" I thought.

Buyer's license, I suppose, but it certainly isn't true. It's simply 
a blatant attempt to incline someone who might be considering the 
DTXpress toward his sale instead--like his neglecting to say just how 
old the kit is. I'm not a big fan of the sales approach of not 
exactly lying but not quite telling the truth either. It may be the 
American way, but it's definitely the dark side.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> > Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says it's 
> > superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!
> 
> Hi Jon,
> 
> I took a look at the listing. The seller is accurate and 
> comprehensive about what the kit and module are and do. The module, 
> in particular, is much more user-friendly and comprehensive in 
> certain features that are still relevant than any of the DTXpress 
> modules are. What the seller doesn't tell you is that this 
particular 
> unit w/pads is the oldest in the Yamaha lineup, and it has been 
> discontinued for longest time. It occupied the middle ground 
between 
> the Xpress I and the Xtreme (before it was discontinued) and was a 
> relative bargain at the time. Although the basic technology of 
> triggering hasn't altered much for years, subsequent Yamaha 
offerings 
> carry improvements based on time testing that the DTX v2.0 doesn't 
> have. The size of the kit and the extra dual-zone input are 
definite 
> advantages, but the old rubber pads were not as responsive as those 
> on the DTXpress II (the sellers' are probably even less responsive 
> given their age). The KP80 kick and HH80 hat controller are better 
> than what the DTXpress I had, but I'm not so sure that I'd see 
either 
> as an advantage over their counterparts in the DTXpress II, 
> especially after all this time. The designs got better, at least 
for 
> the kick. The rack is not as collapsible as that of the DTXpress II.
> 
> That's the short story. A lot of people still own or buy this kit 
and 
> are happy with it (check out the Yamaha DTX Group). If you want a 
> good unit that probably won't fall apart any time soon, and the 
price 
> is right, you could do worse. However, if staying more current, 
using 
> three-sound pads, starting from scratch with new pads, and having 
the 
> benefit of nearly ten years' R&D appeals to you, I'd pass on it. 
The 
> DTXpress II and III, by virtue of their youth alone, are hard to 
> beat; the age of the DTX v2.0 carries risks that count, 
particularly 
> after a certain price point. Check the ebay price on the module 
> alone; I don't think that it fetches more than $250 these days.
> 
> Ed
----------------------------------------
Thanks for the comprehensive reply, Ed.....and also for comments from 
Chris. I got the impression it was old gear from the pic on the 
advert but I guess I wanted my suspicions confirmed. As per earlier 
comments made on this forum, the DTXPRESS II is not too easy to come 
by. I sounded out Piedog.com who're making noises about the kit being 
in some post Christmas offer, but have they got one in stock? No! The 
authorities should outlaw the practise of advertising with nil stock. 
This is particularly evident in the Hi-Fi market here in the UK. It 
seems whenevers there's a bargain to be had, they don't have it in 
stock.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:

As per earlier 
> comments made on this forum, the DTXPRESS II is not too easy to 
come 
> by. I sounded out Piedog.com who're making noises about the kit 
being 
> in some post Christmas offer, but have they got one in stock? No! 
The 
> authorities should outlaw the practise of advertising with nil 
stock. 
> This is particularly evident in the Hi-Fi market here in the UK. It 
> seems whenevers there's a bargain to be had, they don't have it in 
> stock.

Did you try Drumbalaya.com?

--- jonddf wrote:
> ... the DTXPRESS II is not too easy to come 
> by [in the UK]

--- Ed wrote:
> Did you try Drumbalaya.com?

Remember that Drumbalaya can't export new Yamaha gear. Of course, 
that still leaves a loophole, but...

Jon, there's four DTXpressII kits on eBay in the UK right now.
Ignoring the ones that I usually immediately dismiss (no feedback, 
and/or using a catalogue photo) that still leaves two, one of which 
is brand new and from a reputable seller (ADCDrums).

Stewart

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" <moosetication@y...> 
wrote:
> --- jonddf wrote:
> > ... the DTXPRESS II is not too easy to come 
> > by [in the UK]
> 
> --- Ed wrote:
> > Did you try Drumbalaya.com?
> 
> Remember that Drumbalaya can't export new Yamaha gear. Of course, 
> that still leaves a loophole, but...
> 
> Jon, there's four DTXpressII kits on eBay in the UK right now.
> Ignoring the ones that I usually immediately dismiss (no feedback, 
> and/or using a catalogue photo) that still leaves two, one of which 
> is brand new and from a reputable seller (ADCDrums).

Thanks, Stewart. Jon said UK right in his post, and I still botched 
it.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "moosetication" 
<moosetication@y...> 
> wrote:
> > --- jonddf wrote:
> > > ... the DTXPRESS II is not too easy to come 
> > > by [in the UK]
> > 
> > --- Ed wrote:
> > > Did you try Drumbalaya.com?
> > 
> > Remember that Drumbalaya can't export new Yamaha gear. Of course, 
> > that still leaves a loophole, but...
> > 
> > Jon, there's four DTXpressII kits on eBay in the UK right now.
> > Ignoring the ones that I usually immediately dismiss (no 
feedback, 
> > and/or using a catalogue photo) that still leaves two, one of 
which 
> > is brand new and from a reputable seller (ADCDrums).
> 
> Thanks, Stewart. Jon said UK right in his post, and I still botched 
> it.
-----------------------------------------------
Hey Ed! I'm not coming after you just because you don't read my posts 
properly!! Let me say immediately that this forum is the tops. It's 
good to know there are like-minded individuals who you can discuss 
stuff with....it's great! Yes, I'm in discussions with the two 
DTXPRESS2 sellers on UK Ebay. Thing is - and as said previously - in 
theory, a new DTX2 can be had for £725, so when you get reserves on 
second-hand kits as high as £700, you tend to hesitate....
JonD
Leeds, UK

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
 
> I'm in discussions with the two 
> DTXPRESS2 sellers on UK Ebay. Thing is - and as said previously - 
in 
> theory, a new DTX2 can be had for £725, so when you get reserves 
on 
> second-hand kits as high as £700, you tend to hesitate....

£700 as a reserve for a second hand DTXpress is a bit high as you 
rightly point out.  However, I'm not sure there are many IIs around 
in the UK anymore and maybe the sellers know this.

It's a shame that the auction for the boxed kit being sold by ADC 
Drums has now closed.  It went for a great price (£650 with the 
postage) and Andy at ADC has always been good to deal with in my 
experience.  Admittedly I've only bought small items from him but I 
don't see any reason why buying a kit should be any different.

Chris

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <proguk@h...> wrote:
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> > > Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says 
it's 
> > > superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!
> > 
> > A bit unkind of the seller to describe the DTXpress as 
> a "beginner's 
> > kit" I thought.
> 
> Buyer's license, I suppose, but it certainly isn't true. It's 
simply 
> a blatant attempt to incline someone who might be considering the 
> DTXpress toward his sale instead--like his neglecting to say just 
how 
> old the kit is.

Seems that it didn't work.  The auction closed without a single bid.

Chris

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <proguk@h...> wrote:
> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "emf" <liberatusvirus@y...> wrote:
> > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <proguk@h...> wrote:
> > > --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "jonddf" <jonddf@a...> wrote:
> > > > Anyone know anything about this kit? The seller on Ebay says 
> it's 
> > > > superior to the DTXPRESS 1&2 ?!?!
> > > 
> > > A bit unkind of the seller to describe the DTXpress as 
> > a "beginner's 
> > > kit" I thought.
> > 
> > Buyer's license, I suppose, but it certainly isn't true. It's 
> simply 
> > a blatant attempt to incline someone who might be considering the 
> > DTXpress toward his sale instead--like his neglecting to say just 
> how 
> > old the kit is.
> 
> Seems that it didn't work.  The auction closed without a single bid.

Justice. I've noticed that people seem to do their homework and don't 
respond to false advertising and high prices on ebay, particularly 
when it comes to specialty products like e-drums. If you ran a search 
on Yamaha DTX, you'd have noticed that along with the kit in 
question, a few other DTX kits came up with more realistic 
expectations. Sometimes the market does take care of itself.

Ed