rubber or mesh heads? (you decide: video of side-by-side)

[primemover]

Hi all...

now that i have my Roland TD-9SX all set up (and am selling my Simmons SD7K), i decided to do a side by side comparison of the responsiveness of the mesh (Roland) vs rubber (Simmons) heads....

here's a video!

indeed, i'm no expert on tensioning heads, but the Roland is OBVIOUSLY much more responsive...!

sure, you pay a pretty penny for that!!! but if you are serious, you might want to consider an upgrade to mesh heads at one point...

- prime

[JohnDiFrancesco]

It will be interesting to see how the new DTX-PAD from Yamaha compares.

I'm betting the replacement for the DTXpress IV will only have one of those for the snare, but I'm hoping the toms will also be upgraded to some version with the new material.

[scorch whammin]

Originally Posted by primemover

Hi all...

now that i have my Roland TD-9SX all set up (and am selling my Simmons SD7K), i decided to do a side by side comparison of the responsiveness of the mesh (Roland) vs rubber (Simmons) heads....

here's a video!

YouTube- MVI_0081.AVI

indeed, i'm no expert on tensioning heads, but the Roland is OBVIOUSLY much more responsive...!

sure, you pay a pretty penny for that!!! but if you are serious, you might want to consider an upgrade to mesh heads at one point...

- prime

Just to be clear/fair to other manufacturer's of rubber pads...there are much better rubber pads out there than the Simmons pads.....but, yes mesh pads are responsive...almost too much so (alot of people don't like the unrealistic bounce they have)......Also another comparison would be to add a real drum/mylar head in the mix...to see how they compare to each other

[xsabers]

Playing on the rubber pads hurts my elbow over time. Hat and ride anyway. Probably need to relax my grip a bit though...

[Russ]

mesh.. better response, less noise, doesn't send vibrations into your arm as heavily as rubber does, it's takes much less soundproofing/soundtreating if you are in a area where neighbors are a concern. i tried to play a yamaha kit(dtexpress) and nearly had the stick bounce back and hit me in the eye. the thud-noise coming off them is just not for me.

[jajo]

My TD-9 kit has a combination of rubber and mesh. I'm OK with either or both.

I've never experienced pain from playing. If I did, I would consult someone to observe my technique, and possibly my doctor to see if there was something physically wrong.

[xsabers]

Originally Posted by jajo

My TD-9 kit has a combination of rubber and mesh. I'm OK with either or both.

I've never experienced pain from playing. If I did, I would consult someone to observe my technique, and possibly my doctor to see if there was something physically wrong.

I get tennis elbow from lifting things incorrectly from time to time. It becomes worse playing on the hard rubber pads. The thing is, it takes a long time to go away completely and little things can make it flare. I have a brace I wear at times. It's more a product of age and....well, mostly age! It hasn't flared up in more than a year but I do limit my time on the Roland rubber pads. Playing on a practice pad doesn't have the same effect likely because I am more prone to use my wrist in that position.

[primemover]

Originally Posted by scorch whammin

Just to be clear/fair to other manufacturer's of rubber pads...there are much better rubber pads out there than the Simmons pads.....but, yes mesh pads are responsive...almost too much so (alot of people don't like the unrealistic bounce they have)......Also another comparison would be to add a real drum/mylar head in the mix...to see how they compare to each other

indeed (re: not all rubber heads are the same)... i was just comparing (in general) mesh vs rubber and yes, having all three (rubber, mesh, acu.) in the video would be relaly good (i just do not have an acustic avail.)

and since i have never played (much) on an acustic, it is tough to really know the diff. between them and mesh...

all good points!

[jajo]

Originally Posted by xsabers

I get tennis elbow from lifting things incorrectly from time to time. It becomes worse playing on the hard rubber pads. The thing is, it takes a long time to go away completely and little things can make it flare. I have a brace I wear at times. It's more a product of age and....well, mostly age! It hasn't flared up in more than a year but I do limit my time on the Roland rubber pads. Playing on a practice pad doesn't have the same effect likely because I am more prone to use my wrist in that position.

Sorry to hear about your situation. I was diagnosed with golfer's elbow in both arms about 5 years ago. Same as tennis elbow, but the inside tendon.

I actually had to quit golfing because of the pain. But, no issues playing drums.

[CharlyG]

It seems to me that the mesh head is tuned to tight in that video. It makes a ping and bounces like a tennis racket. I prefer my yammie rubber. I will be getting a TD120 next week, so I will find out how much the rubber has improved since the 60-65 series. I have heard on the v-drum forum that some folks like the mesh real loose for a more realistic experience. Of course, I have no idea, as I have spent little time on mesh heads.

[primemover]

Originally Posted by CharlyG

It seems to me that the mesh head is tuned to tight in that video. It makes a ping and bounces like a tennis racket. I prefer my yammie rubber. I will be getting a TD120 next week, so I will find out how much the rubber has improved since the 60-65 series. I have heard on the v-drum forum that some folks like the mesh real loose for a more realistic experience. Of course, I have no idea, as I have spent little time on mesh heads.

hey, yup... they make a PING (as per directions in manual and various V-drum threads)... i have never had an acoustic set, so... it is tough for me to really know the GOOD, the BAD or UGLY re: mesh heads too tight or just right...

i did tension my 3 toms differently and tried them side by side... the one as per directions was just a bit too tight, so the one in the video (and all in my kit now) are tensioned a little looser than others on V-drum suggested...

in time may change them...

[topdog63]

The other thing to look at here is you are camparing a Roland product to a Simmons product. In my opinion (and remember it's just my opinion so I don't want to offend anyone) Roland is far superior in quality. I have a TD-6 with all rubber pads and they are super responsive. I did just order a Roland d-120 mesh snare to replace my snare so I will be able to give maybe a little more accurate review of mesh -v- rubber or at least my opinion on that. The only reason for that is so I can have a dual zone snare so i can cross stick.

[primemover]

Originally Posted by topdog63

The other thing to look at here is you are camparing a Roland product to a Simmons product. In my opinion (and remember it's just my opinion so I don't want to offend anyone) Roland is far superior in quality. I have a TD-6 with all rubber pads and they are super responsive. I did just order a Roland d-120 mesh snare to replace my snare so I will be able to give maybe a little more accurate review of mesh -v- rubber or at least my opinion on that. The only reason for that is so I can have a dual zone snare so i can cross stick.

this is a VERY important point!

[CharlyG]

Yes it is! I quickly moved up to the Yammie stuff(price range) for the extra triggering. I am getting the yammie TD120 on wed so pretty excited!

[rmandelbaum]

I have been playing Roland Mesh Drums for years, I have had my TD-20 kit for years.

I simply adjusted the tension on the heads so they feel natural. You can remove the tennis racket feel no problem.

I have been play my TD-20 kit this way since the day I bought it home over 4 years ago. I have had no problems at all.

[topdog63]

^^^^^^^^^^
I'm jealous!!! I want a TD-20!! A friend of mine is selling his td-10 with all mesh heads for $1500 with the amp too but I can't afford it.

[ener]

I have played on the Roland rubber pads and now I am using the roland mesh head pads an a I have a self made E-kit with mesh heads. A huge difference. I will never play on rubber pads again. So a simple choice if you ask me.

[PHROGGE]

I prefer mesh,,,,simply abit less rebound
but more like a real head....

[stephen11365]

I gotta say I don't mind the rubber heads too much. I think they've come a long way since the early rubber. I have a mesh snare. With that said as I upgrade my TD-9 I'll probably by all mesh.

[scorch whammin]

I've played them both (rubber and mesh) and both have their weaknesses. For rubber, if it's not a really good rubber (as in soft/compliant) then the playing surface is hard on your hands; for mesh, it's too much bounce (I currently use mesh). Truth be told, neither feels like an acoustic drum head, which is what I would want ultimately. I am curious about the new silicone head technology that Yamaha is comng out with...I'll probably try one of these pads when they come out in March/April...

[zslane]

Two months ago I bought a Roland TD-4SX which has mesh heads. I have never played drums before and so I have no acoustic drum experience to compare with. But when I was researching which e-kit to buy, I chose the mesh heads because they have adjustable tension. This means that even though they won't feel exactly the same as acoustic skins, I can get much closer via tension adjustment than I can with a solid rubber pad that has only one fixed kind of response to my sticks.

[ScreaminSGs]

I play an acoustic set most of the time. But I love to play on the Roland rubber heads. Their action fits my style and ability. I can't do a press roll on acoustics. I can on rubber. But I don't like electronic hi-hats at all.

[Ruz4life]

I don't like mesh heads at all. They did not feel good to me at all. I love the pads on my yamaha dtxtreme iii. They are rubber and they feel great to me, no problems with pain or anything. As above posters said, you might want to reevaluate your technique if you are getting pain. e.g. loosen up

OP I'm sorry but that video did no do justice to rubber heads at all. You had a super tight tennis racket mesh head vs and not so good set of rubber drums. No offense.