Simmons or Alesis?

[khessmd]

I am looking to get an entry level electronic drum kit. I am considering either the Simmons SD9K or the Alesis DM10 Studio Drum Kit.

I have done some research and have read quite a few complaints about Simmons drum pads breaking shortly after buying the kit and sometimes taking months to get replacements from the company.

I have not read anything negative about the Alesis kit.

I just wanted to get opinions here before I picked up the Alesis.

Thanks!

[itchie]

play them both and you will know

[DLDante]

Alesis is better quality than Simmons in all aspects. That's not to say that Alesis is the best, but it's certainly better than Simmons. If those are the only two kits on your radar, go with Alesis.

[pastor_bob]

+1 on Alesis.

[Northern Redneck]

To be completely honest, neither.

[2slow]

I would suggest looking at used yamaha and roland !

[Zeta]

I would suggest looking at used yamaha and roland !

+1. Roland is incredible.

if not, Alesis is better than Simmons.

[inthpktplayer]

Depends on your budget. IMHO, a good entry level e-kit at a reasonable price is the Roland TD-4K2-S. New those can be had for about $1,000. Seen them used for between $550 and $750.

Matter of fact, I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on one so everyone in my household will stop giving me the evil look when I say I'm going down to the basement to practice.

[PerryGoRound]

Out of the 2 I would suggest Alesis.

Simmons is G.C.'s house brand now and quality has since gone down the toilet.

I'm with 2slow. Try to find a used Yamaha or Roland. I use Roland an have no regrets. Some of my pads (as well as the module) are from the original setup when I bought it new in 1997.

[buck6233]

I am looking to get an entry level electronic drum kit. I am considering either the Simmons SD9K or the Alesis DM10 Studio Drum Kit.

I have done some research and have read quite a few complaints about Simmons drum pads breaking shortly after buying the kit and sometimes taking months to get replacements from the company.

I have not read anything negative about the Alesis kit.

I just wanted to get opinions here before I picked up the Alesis.

Thanks!

Simmons 'HAD' a recall, and I had to get 2 pads replaced on my set of Simmons 7's! It was a tiny bit of an inconvenience, but Simmons replaced my kickpad and a tompad, no questions asked, and I think I had them in about 2 1/2 weeks! they claim to have fixed the problem, and since then, I've purchased a new set of Simmons 9's, I play them out regularly and have had no problems with them at all, and I love 'em!!! RockOn! *Buck*

[Russ]

The dm10 has usb connectivity for easy computer access. This is a very good feature to have, allows access to sample programs which expand it's capabilities - and it's one of the only modules to feature it, much less feature it in this price range. The sounds were all recorded unprocessed using real drums and real cymbals - things of that nature. Hard to beat imo. The kit itself isn't bad, but i'd much rather use the Alesis dm10 module for my a/e setup than my Roland td-7, there's just more things you can do with it and it's easy to expand. I mean 12 inputs and 10 of them being dual zone, plus another 10 if you link up the trigger i/o to it makes it very versatile.

[armyoflarry]

The dm10 has usb connectivity for easy computer access. This is a very good feature to have, allows access to sample programs which expand it's capabilities - and it's one of the only modules to feature it, much less feature it in this price range. The sounds were all recorded unprocessed using real drums and real cymbals - things of that nature. Hard to beat imo. The kit itself isn't bad, but i'd much rather use the Alesis dm10 module for my a/e setup than my Roland td-7, there's just more things you can do with it and it's easy to expand. I mean 12 inputs and 10 of them being dual zone, plus another 10 if you link up the trigger i/o to it makes it very versatile.

Actually, all drum brains have usb connectivity if they have midi out. M-audio makes an adapter for midi to usb for only 10 bucks. Works for me.

khessmd, I have to agree with others here and say you'd be better off getting a used Yamaha or Roland kit. Alesis and Simmons are overpriced toy drums imo.

[Digital]

I would agree with most people here. I've never played on a Simmons, but I've tried the DM10 and I found it disapointing, even when factoring the cost of the kit. A used Roland will run circles around it.

[Russ]

Actually, all drum brains have usb connectivity if they have midi out. M-audio makes an adapter for midi to usb for only 10 bucks. Works for me.

khessmd, I have to agree with others here and say you'd be better off getting a used Yamaha or Roland kit. Alesis and Simmons are overpriced toy drums imo.

It's nice to use less hardware though, and go direct from one device into the computer. I mean yeah of course there's other ways to do it, but then you also need special cables in addition to converters, what a hassle.

[s_tic_k]

Look at Pintech, theyre good quality and have roland mesh heads and a great module, ive said this since i got mine, the last two weeks ive been using it and its amazing.
There are heaps of good drummers that have said only great things about them

thats what you get for 1200
this for 1400



They sell extra toms and cymbals really cheap (100 bucks)... so if you got the egig (my model) it has an extra input for a extra tom or cymbal

[Drumbledore]

I'm using older Alesis gear...two DM5 kits (the earliest models) with Roland kick pads, snare pads and a Roland Octopad on the larger set, which I run both the snare pad, hi-hat and hi-hat pedal into. I replaced the stock Alesis DM5 cymnals with the Alesis Surge cymbals, which in turn gives me a beter feel with hi-hat and ride cymbal patterns. I also had to add two Alesis I/O units to these kits in order to 'dual-trigger' the Surge Cymbals. I use these kits mainly for convenience of teaching, but I have gigged a couple of times with an acoustic/electric hybrid using parts of the kit with an acoustic kick, snare and hi-hat. I haven't had a chance to fully try out an Alesis DM10 as yet, but from what I read and seen about the Simmons....seriously, the old days of Simmons electronic drums are long gone....the only Simmons I would ever contemplate getting (if I could ever afford the astronomical cost) would be the Simmons SDX....there's only 200 odd of those kits ever in existence

[Northern Redneck]

Id love to get ny hand on a set of 80's Simmons. I love the sounds on 5150 and Hysteria. Also those big old white six sided pads just look cool!

[Drumbledore]

NR, there's a guy from Germany on YouTube who actually has a museum dedicated to all manner of old Simmons kits. Check him out. Easy to search him, just type the two words Simmons and museum.

[Ricardo]

Id love to get ny hand on a set of 80's Simmons. I love the sounds on 5150 and Hysteria. Also those big old white six sided pads just look cool!

LOL ! That was my first e-kit !
The female connectors on the pads were notorious for multiple triggers when they sparked...........sucked ! Like a machine gun...........

My second e-kit was a Yamaha............worlds better.

I sold the original Simmons kit to a studio; the last time I was there, one of the tom pads was being used as a mouse pad for the digital Mackie board !

[SpatzST]

If you go Alesis, dont get the mylar pads (the ones that are supposed to emulate real drum heads). They dent, are loud, and will crosstalk and fail to trigger a lot.

I'd go with the DM6 if anything. $399, 5 piece, 2 crash/ride, hi hat.

Otherwise a Yamaha DTX500

[archi77]

I recently bought a Simmons SD5K - I am a very new drummer, live in an apartment, have only taking three lessons so far, and don't have $1000 to drop on a kit to "see if I like it" or not. For $300, plus a $30 ebay kick pedal, I've got a set I can practice my basics, see if I have ay rythm, see if I have the desire to continue on. When I purchase a house (in progress, hence not having the extra cash to drop right now), I can expand to a better kit, but for the price, I can't complain at all. And frankly, it's a fun kit to play around on.

As for quality, yes, I'm sure everything out there is better - but for $300, it beats the upside down pots I was playing on, and didn't require me to put other aspects of my life on hold to pay for it.

It's all a compromise. Play them all and decide for yourself, unless someone else is willing to write you a blank check for that "better" kit.

[justadude]

SpatzST is right, if you haven't bought an electric set the DM6 is a great start to get the feel for electric, i bought one and was impressed with the durablity and more the price, since then i'm going to upgrade, if you're committed to going electric dont even mess around with entry level sets, they leave sooo much to be desired, it was a great start for me considering i'd only played acoustic and never electric, it's like buying a cheap car, if you dont have much money and NEED to play they work, otherwise save up a little and get something nicer

[ahdowns]

I have a friend, who just got a DM6 from Amazon for $ 350. as soon as we put it together, we'll see how it does. Another friend has a Pintech and loves it. I played it and it is nice. I like the mesh heads on the Pintech.

[Pearldrummer]

I tried the Alesis DM8 and was not impressed. The brain of the Alesis drums are nice, but the pads were disappointing to the feel and bounce and the rack kinda poorly made. To be honest, I didn't even try the Simmons due to the negative reviews, which I take always very serious. I did my research and found myself to be better off with a used Yamaha or Roland. Then a few weeks ago, I walked into a Yamaha DTXpress Special IV for $400 and couldn't be happier. I know I made the right choice. I would suggest you do the research also, before you make up your mind about investing in a Simmons or Alesis.

[Jimbo]

SpatzST is right, if you haven't bought an electric set the DM6 is a great start to get the feel for electric, i bought one and was impressed with the durablity and more the price, since then i'm going to upgrade, if you're committed to going electric dont even mess around with entry level sets, they leave sooo much to be desired, it was a great start for me considering i'd only played acoustic and never electric, it's like buying a cheap car, if you dont have much money and NEED to play they work, otherwise save up a little and get something nicer

Wooo! my first post!

i just wanted to agree with justadude, I asked a few people what to get and constantly got the usual "get the second hand roland or yam" reply, while I agree with that, my budget was 100 quid (UK pounds), mainly cos my parents were buying and I didnt want them to spend any more on me incase it was a passing fad. So second hand rolands and yams were out, and went down an alesis DM6 clone on ebay second hand for 100 quid.

For me it was a kit for 100 quid or not learn at all. So I am totally pleased I made the choice, and I dont look back at all with even the slightest bit of regret, for me that was the right choice.

I have only been playing since october (2011) when i first picked up a set of drum sticks, so a totally new drummer with lots to learn, but since then i have replaced the drum module/brain with a trigger IO, plugged into an old laptop running addictive drums, I have also swapped the hi hat for a roland CY-5 and the old hi hat is now a china/splash and swapped the hi hat pedal for a roland FD-8.

So for me its a kind of project kit I upgrade bits on it as and when i can afford stuff, all bought second hand, and to be honest, thats kinda fun doing that. If you are interested, the first youtube video I did was with the DM6 pads through a trigger IO the change in kit dynamics was huge, i think the link to my channel should be in the signature, its the first video I did at the bottom.

Happy drumming all!