My shelled DTXtreme III kit

[Drumlord]

Recently in another thread, I showed a DIY drum that I made by taking a Yamaha TP120 and mounting it to a 12" drum shell. The response I got was very positive so I decided to go ahead and do a whole kit that way.

It is only a 4 piece kit right now with an extra TP100 on the side. Once I get some more wrap ordered I'm going to add a 2nd 10" rack tom to the kit. I like 4 pieces but prefer 5.

I'm really glad I was able to come up with a way to utilize all the functionality of the Yamaha pads and still have the look of an acoustic-ish kit. I think Yamaha's gear is great!

The only thing I don't like about it right now is that it uses standard Tama/Roland style tom mounts. I would love to have Yamaha style mounts (like the ones on an RHP pad) but I cannot find any anywhere. Does anyone know of a company that sells just the mounts? I need three.

Here's a couple of pictures.

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_1.jpg

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_2.jpg

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_3.jpg

[TAKnipe]

Hi Kurt, Awesome looking kit, I love those mounts also. It is a hard find and I will keep an eye out for you and pick them up if I see them. Thanks for posting, Tom

[Pink Led Rush]

That looks amazing! Looks like those pads fit in the shells pretty nicely. So since you don't have yammie mounts you can't use the hexrack correct? What rack is that by the way?

[Drumlord]

Thanks, Tom, I would really appreciate that!

The rack is a Titan rack I picked up on Ebay a couple of years ago. Basically a Gibraltar with crappy t-clamps. I replaced them with DW t-clamps which are really heavy duty and unclasp quickly. Makes for a faster tear-down (I disassemble my rack for transport).

Thanks for the feedback!

[Pink Led Rush]

Thanks, Tom, I would really appreciate that!

The rack is a Titan rack I picked up on Ebay a couple of years ago. Basically a Gibraltar with crappy t-clamps. I replaced them with DW t-clamps which are really heavy duty and unclasp quickly. Makes for a faster tear-down (I disassemble my rack for transport).

Thanks for the feedback!

Yeah, that rack seems a little more compact. Looks like the perfect ekit to gig with. All the advantage of e's with sort of the look of a's.

[WildWes]

A sweet looking kit DL. Very nice and compact for gigging. WW

[Hellfire]

Recently in another thread, I showed a DIY drum that I made by taking a Yamaha TP120 and mounting it to a 12" drum shell. The response I got was very positive so I decided to go ahead and do a whole kit that way.

It is only a 4 piece kit right now with an extra TP100 on the side. Once I get some more wrap ordered I'm going to add a 2nd 10" rack tom to the kit. I like 4 pieces but prefer 5.

I'm really glad I was able to come up with a way to utilize all the functionality of the Yamaha pads and still have the look of an acoustic-ish kit. I think Yamaha's gear is great!

The only thing I don't like about it right now is that it uses standard Tama/Roland style tom mounts. I would love to have Yamaha style mounts (like the ones on an RHP pad) but I cannot find any anywhere. Does anyone know of a company that sells just the mounts? I need three.

Here's a couple of pictures.

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_1.jpg

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_2.jpg

http://www.drumlord.info/images/yamaha_kit_3.jpg
In my eye's you win best DIY kit for the month!:) Is that your band name on the bass. I cracked a smile when I saw that because are band has an original song called "Liquid Courage" and it goes over quite well.

[Scorch Whammin]

I believe Yamaha may still make a Yess mount kit (p/n RK TT) that you can buy....they came out with this kit so owners of older non yess mount drum kits could retrofit their kit. There was one of these kits on ebay recently...but when I went to find it, I couldn't ..so auction must have ended on it... however, there was 1 tom mount (which you'll need with the kit)...I've attached link below for this...:)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-tom-drum-mount_W0QQitemZ260532722625QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca8f5dbc1#ht_500wt_1182

Regarding the yess mount kit...you might want to try and contact Jim Haler directly at Yamaha on availability.....also one store comes to mind...Atlanta Pro Percussion (770) 436-3786...they might have something like this...they generally carry alot of odds and ends parts...:)

[dauzman]

Kurt,
This is a very innovative DIY set... Looks real pro and good use of parts... Good thinking on a way to make a standard Yamaha kit one of a kind.... Great job !!!!

[CharlyG]

Very cool!

[ChromeBoy]

Very cool.
Drumlord, can you tell me how deep into the shell the TP series pads extend? I have some Hart Pro toms that I've been trying to sell for a while (just posted them again at vdrums.com) without much interest. They look like they'd work as shells for Yamaha pads like yours. I've never owned a Yamaha kit but have played the pads several times and really like the feel of them.
My concern is that the toms use Pearl mounts which extend into the shell. Not sure there's enough clearance for them if I dropped a TP120 inside.
Does anyone know if the TP series pads play nicely with a TD-20?

[Scorch Whammin]

Does anyone know if the TP series pads play nicely with a TD-20?

Not sure about that pad...I know the RHP pads do!...my suggestion would be to go to your local GC and try it out on one the roland kits there..:)

[ChromeBoy]

No GC near me but there is a family owned music store about 30 minutes from me that apparently now carries both Yamaha and Roland products. I'll have to check it out. The staff is useless though in terms of e-drum knowledge. Can't imagine they'd complain about some "mix-n-match" testing... although I may get some strange looks when I pull a pad off of the display model and stroll across the store with it.
Maybe I should just look for a Yammy module that supports the use of the TP pads on the tom and snare inputs and build another kit. Anyone know what the least expensive model is that would work (new or used)?

[Drumlord]

First, thanks for all the nice comments and helpful information!

To answer ChromeBoy's question, the rubber part of a TP pad is maybe 1/2" thick. The mounting post on a Hart drum should easily clear the bottom of the TP.

The TP120 and 100 both work well with my TD-20, although you don't get all three zones. The rims trigger fine, though. Much better than my DIY "Roland-like" pads work with my DTXtreme III.

[Pink Led Rush]

No GC near me but there is a family owned music store about 30 minutes from me that apparently now carries both Yamaha and Roland products. I'll have to check it out. The staff is useless though in terms of e-drum knowledge. Can't imagine they'd complain about some "mix-n-match" testing... although I may get some strange looks when I pull a pad off of the display model and stroll across the store with it.
Maybe I should just look for a Yammy module that supports the use of the TP pads on the tom and snare inputs and build another kit. Anyone know what the least expensive model is that would work (new or used)?

In my opinion the yammie module is better anyway. At least you can get 3 zones out of the pads that way.

I think I would ask before tampering with stuff though.

[ChromeBoy]

Thanks for the info Drumlord. Sounds like the pads would fit without any trouble. The toms use the same DW style snare lugs you're using, so I think they'd match up nicely. If my toms don't sell I'm gonna have to scout around for a used Yamaha module.

[Drumlord]

In my opinion the yammie module is better anyway.

I tend to agree, but I love my TD-20, too. If I could have my way I would have my DTXtreme III and TD-20 mate and have the perfect module. I use the sampling on the Yamaha too much live and, although I have an SPD-S, I don't want to haul around an extra piece of gear to gigs if I don't have too. I use the stacking/alt function of the III to run the lights on stage; a function Roland doesn't have. I like the 3 zones, too, but prefer the feel of mesh heads. I don't like how the III only allows you to have the sound come out of the L/R OR the direct outs. Roland's output assigns are better, IMO. But, Yammie lets you assign the slider on the module that controls a sound. And, I miss the smooth cymbal rolls you can make on a TD-20.

I don't like to say the DTX is better than the TD-20, but I will say it is better for me.

[Scorch Whammin]

I tend to agree, but I love my TD-20, too. If I could have my way I would have my DTXtreme III and TD-20 mate and have the perfect module.

Yeah I agree..both modules are great and both have their strengths and weaknesses....and I wouldn't mind having both....however that said, I do like the yammies drum & cymbal sounds a little better (and some of its features also)..but rolands definitely do swell nicely on cymbal rolls!:) and PS is pretty cool!...regarding cymbal swells on the yammie...I have had good success with changing the trigger/gain settings for the cymbals and then using the bow to swell on...this works quite well for me and is actually quite realistic..:)