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JLee
08-26-2005, 02:25 PM
Well, I now have the 8",10", 12" toms, snare, kick trigger w/double pedal, hi hat, hi hat pedal hooked up and fully functional.

A lot of the responses I received on the subject of triggering were dead on - many of the difficulties I was experiencing were fixed with just a slight adjustment of the bridge or setting. Still not perfect, but very playable.

While the cymbals are not hooked up yet, and they remain just plastic Pintech practice cymbals (and a little on the loud side compared to what I expected), I can already tell that this setup will be a blast to practice on. Also, the mesh heads ARE much quieter than practice pads - by a long shot. Last night, my girlfriend recorded me playing full force on the set from just outside the door, and it is quiet to the extent that she can go watch TV in the living room and not have it be a factor.

That wedge shaped Alesis cymbal trigger I got on Ebay a while back does appear to be an issue though, as it really does not emit much of a sound and still does "choke" itself, regardless of the settings. I guess I can't rule out the possiblity that it is just worn out. Since a dual zone hi hat cymbal is not really necessary, I suppose I can just go pick up another small Pintech and rig that with a cymbal holder or Xhat.

All in all I am pretty happy with it.

spindrummer82
08-26-2005, 04:15 PM
Pics

drummerdan
08-26-2005, 05:56 PM
Pics

Ditto.

Doesn't it feel good to get that kit built? After all that work, it's still exciting to crawl behind the kit and go at it. I love it.

JLee
08-26-2005, 06:11 PM
Ditto.

Doesn't it feel good to get that kit built? After all that work, it's still exciting to crawl behind the kit and go at it. I love it.

I have to second that emotion. In retrospect, I would have also liked to add the electronic kick drum, as Drummerdan did, but space in this room is at quite a premium, so the kick trigger was the more prudent choice.

Last night was really the first time I got behind the set to actually play, and yes, it is quite the rewarding experience. Still have adjustments to make, and have to consider what to do with the hi hat problem, but really a blast overall!!

Only downside - Now I have no excuse whatsoever for not practicing. Actually, I did not have an excuse before this, as I am one of the fortunate who can literally keep his drum set down the hall from his office at work and can play on an night when there is not an event in the building. But now, I REALLY don't have an excuse. And it is nice to come home to practice.

I originally was just going to buy a practice pad set, but decided to give this a shot, and am very glad I did.

The whole thing is also quite the confidence booster as well. Unlike most on this forum, I have never really considered myself particularly "handy". Previous household projects I had conquered relied more on physical strength and labor (installing my own automatic sprinkler system in the front and backyards, by myself, and with only hand tools - I guess I am also an idiot). I still am not handy, per se, but I really do feel a sense of accomplishment.

Now, as the madness takes further hold, I can't wait to come up with another project to become frustrated with - probably going to be either another shot at stave shells (I am the unwitting inventor of the revolutionary oval shaped stave shell on which no head or rim could ever fit), or the attempt at creating ply shell molds.

JLee
08-27-2005, 12:39 AM
Pics

I went ahead and took some tonight. Sorry, I didn't really bother to "frame" the shots per se (nor do I have the artistic aptitude to do so anyway), but these should give a pretty accurate perspective.

I appreciate the interest.

Jon Lee

drummerdan
09-26-2005, 11:44 AM
Jon,

They look good. I like the color a lot. It's a great sense of accomplishment to do what you have done. This drum building is not EASY, but very rewarding. Especially when it works!!!

Great job!!

JLee
09-26-2005, 04:42 PM
Drummerdan

Thanks very much.

Actually, a couple of the photos on your blog helped during the process.

drummerdan
09-27-2005, 11:40 PM
Actually, a couple of the photos on your blog helped during the process.

I'm glad they did. That's why it's there. Great work!!