OrangeHound
Busy doing highfalutin adminy stuff ...
+1,335|7097|Washington DC

Hey guys,

I'm about to sink some money in a Roland V-drum system for a band ... unfortunately, I don't have a real drummer yet (just incompetents like me who can lay down basic rhythm, fills and riffs).

If you are a drummer (rock, modern, contemporary), how sensitive would you be to the size of your snare and toms?    Here's the three options I'm considering:

Option A:   (1) 10" snare, (2) 8" rack toms, (1) 8" floor tom
Option B:   (1) 12" snare, (2) 10" rack toms, (1) 10" floor tom
Option C:   (1) 12" snare, (2) 10" rack toms, (1) 12" floor tom

I realize that bigger is better, but I'm interested in what could be minimally tolerated here and how important the size of these would be.  Obviously, Option A costs more than Option B, and Option B costs more than Option C.  I'll add a second floor tom eventually.

And, yes, I have to use V-drums (small rooms where even a screen won't work).
El Beardo
steel woolly mammoth
+150|6168|Gulf Coast

I work in a music store and play a bit of drums. I'm actually a bass player but since my store carries Roland v-drums I end up playing them for a half hour or so on my lunch break. A decent drummer should be fine even with the smallest drum sizes since if they have been playing on acoustic drums the idea is to hit the center of the drum head anyway. This is just how I feel but when you end up having to buy an instrument for someone else in the band make sure you put your budget before their needs(if they are that serious they'll have their own kit.) Plus those drums get kind of pricey! What sound module are you planning on getting? We sell the TD9S kit which has the TD9 sound module and it is freakin awesome!!
Phaytal
Member
+20|6602|Engarlandd
To correct you, bigger is most definately not better. I have the TD12k kit myself, mind blowing kit, but a huge hit to your wallet, I'd only reccomend it your commited to your drumming. I have a 12" Snare, and 10" toms including the floor. Suits me fine and having smaller toms may even help increase your accruacy.. I play a lot of jazz/tech music and I love a big snare, the toms etc can be any size within reason.

In all honesty, a basic cheap kit will do you fine, can just put your own sound sets over it if the sound isn't good enough and if you aren't the drummer yourself, let the drummer sort it out for himself..
OrangeHound
Busy doing highfalutin adminy stuff ...
+1,335|7097|Washington DC

DrPeePeeFace wrote:

What sound module are you planning on getting? We sell the TD9S kit which has the TD9 sound module and it is freakin awesome!!
We're looking at the TD9-SX (tom upgrade over the TD-9S) ... the toms respond much better on that kit.   I played one of these for the first time last week, and the sound was tremendous.

I typically play keyboard ... I use the Roland 700-GX (another sweet instrument) ... but, I can move over to the drums when needed.
OrangeHound
Busy doing highfalutin adminy stuff ...
+1,335|7097|Washington DC

Phaytal wrote:

To correct you, bigger is most definately not better. I have the TD12k kit myself, mind blowing kit, but a huge hit to your wallet, I'd only reccomend it your commited to your drumming. I have a 12" Snare, and 10" toms including the floor. Suits me fine and having smaller toms may even help increase your accruacy.. I play a lot of jazz/tech music and I love a big snare, the toms etc can be any size within reason.

In all honesty, a basic cheap kit will do you fine, can just put your own sound sets over it if the sound isn't good enough and if you aren't the drummer yourself, let the drummer sort it out for himself..
Thanks for that insight.

We have guys who can play drum, but not as their primary instrument (e.g., I can do it, but I prefer keyboard ... one of our bass players can do it, but he prefers bass and acoustic).   So, I'm trying to get the perspective of those who have a primary passion for drums.

So, upgrading the snare from 10" to 12" might be a possibility, then I could move the base kit's 10" snare over as a fourth tom.
El Beardo
steel woolly mammoth
+150|6168|Gulf Coast

OrangeHound wrote:

DrPeePeeFace wrote:

What sound module are you planning on getting? We sell the TD9S kit which has the TD9 sound module and it is freakin awesome!!
We're looking at the TD9-SX (tom upgrade over the TD-9S) ... the toms respond much better on that kit.   I played one of these for the first time last week, and the sound was tremendous.

I typically play keyboard ... I use the Roland 700-GX (another sweet instrument) ... but, I can move over to the drums when needed.
yeah, the mesh heads are well worth the money over the rubber pads. If you find a drummer who's been playing acoustic they'll appreciate the more natural response of the mesh heads. Plus those kits are so much fun to play i can pretty much guarantee you'll find yourself playing this kit a lot......seriously a lot. They even have a good practice tool that plays a built-in metronome while the module scores out what you're playing on the screen. It's a really great way to becoming your own drummer

Board footer

Privacy Policy - © 2025 Jeff Minard