How long has your ekit lasted?

PorkPieGuy

PorkPieGuy

Platinum Member
How old is your ekit?

Over time, has it lost any sensitivity? If so, have you been able to fix it?
 
I guess you mean the pads, not the module?
My Roland TD-9KX is still going strong since 2008, no problems with the kick, snare or tom pads nor the VH-11 hihat.
The only issue I have is with 1 CY-8 cymbal, I need to hit it more precisely - I still have to look if I can fix that.
 
I've used my SPD-SX more in the last year than my acoustic kit (hear the angels cry?). One of the top edge pads has lost some sensitivity and I need to hit it just right to trigger it, and the ON/OFF button is glitchy. I have to wiggle it a bit to activate it. 🫤

When I was at DCP early this month, I talked with a couple guys about the longevity of the kits (They had Roland, Yamaha, Alesis, DrumTech, DW and Efnote on display, and functioning via headphones). The gear with a decent controller is as expensive as a premium acoustic kit! Both guys I spoke with were, like me, apprehensive 'cuz digital gear is always on an upgrade cycle. It's a cycle I'm tired of, given that I'm surrounded by digital cameras & computers for work.
 
Let's see. I had a Yamaha DTXtreme IIs kit I bought in 2008, I think. I just got rid of it. The only issue I was having was the cymbals were getting a little wonky, but this was actually a known issue and easily fixed (the ribbon cable for the piezo needed to be reseated.) I could still be using it and be happy, but I got a killer deal on an efnote 3x and upgraded.
 
cbphoto said:
Is that the kit with the rather large interface/distro box?
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Nah, but I wish. It's their midline kit with the interface that looks like an old Palm Pilot. lol

FWIW, the Yamahas were great and I'd buy another Yamaha kit without hesitation.
 
I have much edrum stuff I bought starting at 1979 and every year onwards - all still working. Addon things - yes I was [cough, yuk] "hybrid" from 1980! to multipads (from 1981) to full kits from the 80s to weird stuff like a Dynacord RhythmStick etc etc etc up to 2025 gear...

Yes - piezos have a life - spend 50 cents/pence and swap 'em out when you need to - I've replace a couple on pads I bought in 1986....
FSRs [e.g. in my TrapKat] also die after a bit (but cost tonne to replace!)
 
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I had an e-kit that I cobbled together over time. It started out as a Pearl DRX-1 kit in 1985. The pads lasted until I got rid of my kit in 2018. I went through several modules, moving up to an Alesis D4 and then a Roland TD-12. Both modules worked flawlessly while I owned them. I sold the D4 to finance the TD-12, and I sold the TD-12 when I went back to an acoustic kit in 2018. Many TD-12 modules were plagued by failing LCD screens as they aged, but I was fortunate to not have that problem with my module. I later added a few Roland PD-8 pads, a Roland ride cymbal, and Roland hi-hat. All held up very well up to the time I sold off everything. So, to answer the OP's question, my e-kits have been very reliable. I now use a Yamaha EAD10 which has worked flawlessly over the past 5 years.
 
I picked up a used Roland PD-6V over 13 years ago, it's been a workhorse for rehearsing. The hi-hat pedal needs to be replaced, it's lost its sensitivity. I also replaced the
snare PD-8 pad recently. It's a great little kit.
 
2x Alesis Surge, 2x Strike module - 6 years, looks and works like new.
Cymbals had no issues, but were replaced after about 3 years to bigger/better Lemon ones which are all fine.
One Strike needed a fader replaced after 2 years, but Sweetwater fixed in under warranty.
I got rid of the original hihat pedal after a few months, it's not a piece you want to live long anywhere near the kit.
I sold the Surge module, it found a good home and works.
 
Sensors are cheap and easy to fix in regular drums. It only gets problematic with the cymbal edge and bell membranes and digital pads, though I've seen the whole Roland digital snare basket being sold separately. Roland hihat pedal sensors can also be bought, but other brands not. Most issues there come from the rubber actuator though which is also easy to fix or cheap to replace. Modules usually last, but if not, that's a bigger issue. Some older Rolands like TD12, 20 are notorious for fading/dying LCDs that are difficult and expensive to replace.
 
I appreciate everyone's replies! It seems like just about every one I've played that wasn't brand new has some sort of triggering issues. Granted, it may simply be user error!

With that said, I've always loved the sound and feel of the Alesis Strata Prime. Each pad and cymbal does exactly what I want it to do whenever I play one in the store. All of the other ones I feel like I fight a little; however that one just feels good to play.
 
I build my own A2E kits nowadays but I toured with the old mark 1 2Box Drummit 5 kit for over a decade (the hideous orange one lol!). I don't know how it survived all the wear and tear on the road and soggy festival stages, but it did! One of of the pads died eventually, but it was quite a remarkable run. Well made edrums are surprisingly robust!

As for cymbals I'm currently playing all Efnote cymbals on my A2E kit (see link in my signature below if you wanna see it) and I have been absolutely walloping them for years and they have held up beautifully. I've heard that some people have cracked cheaper branded cymbals like Lemon but for the price, they are so cheap to replace that I kinda think that getting a couple of years out of a Lemon cymbal is still a sound investment!
 
I've had an alesis crimson 2 se kit living at my house since about 2021 or maybe 2022. It sees anywhere from 0-5 hours of play a week. Aside from it being an absolute annoying dust magnet, it's working fine. The only signs of wear I'm starting to notice are the ride pad (my most played pad beside bass and snare) is starting to be a little less sensitive and the hi hat pedal is starting to get a little loose and floppy. Both cases are very minimal though and if you weren't used to the kit you probably wouldn't notice.
 
My TD-9 is close to 20 years old, and it's lived in the garden shed for 15 of those.
I had to change the rubber in the HH pedal 5 or 6 years ago but that's it.
 
Have any e-kit users upgraded the controller/brain?
 
Acoustic2Electronic said:
I build my own A2E kits nowadays but I toured with the old mark 1 2Box Drummit 5 kit for over a decade (the hideous orange one lol!). I don't know how it survived all the wear and tear on the road and soggy festival stages, but it did! One of of the pads died eventually, but it was quite a remarkable run. Well made edrums are surprisingly robust!

As for cymbals I'm currently playing all Efnote cymbals on my A2E kit (see link in my signature below if you wanna see it) and I have been absolutely walloping them for years and they have held up beautifully. I've heard that some people have cracked cheaper branded cymbals like Lemon but for the price, they are so cheap to replace that I kinda think that getting a couple of years out of a Lemon cymbal is still a sound investment!
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While I don't have all the first hand experience that you do I do generally agree with all of the above. Last time I looked at Lemon cymbals you could get an 18" 3 zone ride for under $200 US, that's cheaper then most budget line bronze cymbals.
 
cbphoto said:
Have any e-kit users upgraded the controller/brain?
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I never upgraded per say but when I first got my crimson 2 I still had my old nitro mesh, for fun one day I plugged the crimson module into the nitro pads and the nitro module into the crimson pads. This was how I learned that the nitro module supports 2 zone toms and 2 zone cymbals with choke. It was an interesting find because the sounds on the nitro module really aren't that bad, in theory you could have a decent full set up of multi zone pads with a lesser module. It's also frustrating because alesis is intentionally hiding these features. If someone has a nitro and wants dual zone toms and cymbals they feel like they have to buy a whole new kit when they can just buy a few new pads.

Also, the bass drum and ride cymbal sounds are way better in the nitro then the crimson which isn't super cool. I know, I can just use a vst and laptop but that's not how I personally roll with ekits.
 
cbphoto said:
Have any e-kit users upgraded the controller/brain?
Click to expand...
I've swapped(?)/ used many different modules over the last 4+ decades, yes - and used different pads bought anytime over that period- from pads I bought in the 80s to pads bought in the last couple of weeks. (but I still own all the older modules - apart from a [big regret] Simmons SDS7)
 
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