DIY ecymbals vs. what is already out there

[JLee]

I know that this is a site dedicated to the DIY drummer, but thought I would ask the question anyway to those who have some experience behind an edrum kit.

I am debating whether or not to buy ecymbals that are already made, vs. building them myself. What do you think?

I have had no problems thus far with all the drums, and other's experience in this area leads me to believe that I will come out fine with this part of the project. However, cymbals seem to be trickier to get just right, and I would think a double zone ride cymbal might be even more so.

On the other hand, even after playing a fairly nice Roland kit at GC, I was not bowled over by the cymbals. It seemed like there was a bit of a delay between the strike on the surface and the signal coming through. Now I REALLY know what it is like to "play behind the beat".

My main concern is, of course, accurate tracking and, in the case of the dual zone ride, not triggering both of the piezos at the same time. That would just be flat out annoying.

[drummerdan]

I am debating whether or not to buy ecymbals that are already made, vs. building them myself. What do you think?




Jon,

I say, go for it! Build 'em because they ain't cheap to buy from Roland but the stuff is cheap to buy for DIY. Hey, if it ends up being crap, then you're not out much $.

The single trigger cymbal looks very easy to build (mind you, I have not YET built one) and the chokeable triggers are a little tougher but certainly possible. Piezos are cheap and you can get rubber practice cymbals from musicians friend for a good price.

What the heck, give it shot.

[JLee]

Drummerdan

I thought that might be the prevailing sentiment.

I am not really all that concerned about "chokeable" cymbals, but rather how to make the dual zone cymbals in such a way that false triggering does not occur. Of course, this will not be a problem on the single zone cymbals.

Also, I can't stop looking at that avatar, and I don't know why? Kind of eerie, almost.

[drummerdan]

Also, I can't stop looking at that avatar, and I don't know why? Kind of eerie, almost.

It's a little weird, isn't it? I found it somewhere and thought it was a little freaky so there it is!!!

[skaman]

have you seen that thing where the ride is 2 parts. one practice cymbals with it;s own peizo then a buffer pad, the rubber part not the wool, on the post on top of it with it's own piezo to act as the bell. looked good to me as far as dual zone. i say it here.
http://users.pandora.be/philippe.ceuppens3/DIYdrum/index.htm

[JLee]

Might be something to look into. Hard to tell the details from the photos, though, and I don't know what a Metabo buffer has to do with anything, as that is one the links on the page.

[wangchung]

New and willing member to the site. Might be worth you checkin out these I use and find them to be a lot less exspensive than the rolands. www.smartrigger.com
www.kitoys.co.uk

[JLee]

The first choice does look like a good alternative to buying Rolands. However, in my case (and I cannot speak for others) I don't think the concept of a metal cymbal is going to work, as far as noise is concerned. It has the dampening material on it, to be sure, but even so, the total noise it emits is going to be much louder than anything else I am using when playing in head phone mode.

The second link did not work for me.

Welcome to the forum, though. And thanks for the suggestions.

[tcraw1010]

What do the Rolands go for ???




Don't forget to checkout this thread . . http://forum.ghostnote.net/showthread.php?t=8246


TOM

[JLee]

You can probably get Rolands for around $100 or so used.

As far as that link, while I think it is a pretty clever design, I think most people would just settle for a dependable dual zone ride (bell, cymbal body) over a chokeable ride cymbal with just one zone.

After all, how often are you going to be playing "Eye of the Tiger", "Bohemian Rhapsody" or the Eagles "Victim of Love"?

Just kidding on that last part, actually

[tcraw1010]

I dunno . . . You might just want to go with a used or new Roland.

At least you'll KNOW you are getting quality stuff.



TOM

[Silky7483]

I just dropped $50 on a chokeable pintech and realized the choke doesnt work on my alesis. So the next day I took a 59 cent X-Mas Tree Shop plastic plate, an old mouse pad, a piezo, jack, and a hot glue gun, and made a cymbal for a grand total of $5. Works the same as the Pintech and is actually quieter when struck.

You're paying for a name...I say DIY

[JLee]

Actually, the issue comes when addressing dual zone cymbals. As far as a single zone crash or a single zone ride, I have no doubt that I can come up with something that will work just fine, using the Pintech and a piezo.