As a honkytonk sound guy I love good electric kits, but I have subs. They work great, though perhaps I'm just running into the really good kits.
I know a pro drummer who gave himself tendonitis from the rubber head kits, and having owned an octapad and similar triggers, I don't think I'd want to own anything that isn't a mesh headed kit.
I live in an apartment and have thought about getting one so I can rehearse a band in headphones, but they can often be quite loud just hitting em and they transmit noise through the structure. I don't think my downstairs neighbors would be okay with it; I don't enjoy it when their kiddos sometimes slam kitchen cabinets. So if that is your motivation, you might be careful about that.
My son had an electronic kit in our apartment. I made a tennis ball riser for him, which seems to have helped with noise. Here's an example (although I used pool noodles as well): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcPE_lTga-A
The Octapad can be improved immensely by adding an external mesh headed snare trigger, plus a cymbal pad for the hi hat so you can play with the hat in the traditional position. That's the setup I use at home - it's super compact and easy to put away when needed.
I bought one of the Alesis kits (the Nitro Mesh kit I believe its called) this Christmas (guess why) since some of my drum friends (I'm a bassist) had positive things to say about them. They've been a riot so far, the hardware quality is plenty good for a bunch of hacks banging around on them, lots of good samples in the controller. I have played some of the really cheap Simmons branded ones, which were also a lot of fun but these are more fun for not much more money.
scarecrowbob|2 years ago
As a honkytonk sound guy I love good electric kits, but I have subs. They work great, though perhaps I'm just running into the really good kits.
I know a pro drummer who gave himself tendonitis from the rubber head kits, and having owned an octapad and similar triggers, I don't think I'd want to own anything that isn't a mesh headed kit.
I live in an apartment and have thought about getting one so I can rehearse a band in headphones, but they can often be quite loud just hitting em and they transmit noise through the structure. I don't think my downstairs neighbors would be okay with it; I don't enjoy it when their kiddos sometimes slam kitchen cabinets. So if that is your motivation, you might be careful about that.
gramie|2 years ago
camtarn|2 years ago
gooseyard|2 years ago
NikolaNovak|2 years ago
I think most people prefer mesh rather than rubber, but with a bit of luck and patience you can find a good budget used kit.