New to drumming, is the HD-1 REALLY that bad?

Hey guys,

Our music group at our church is really needing a drummer right now, and Ive sort stepped up to the plate to try and fill in. Im not a drummer.....yet.

I need a kit that is small, easy to move around, quiet, still sounds good, and good for a beginner.

Now from what Ive heard/read about the HD-1 kit, is that the "pedals" dont have a good sim feel to them. If this kit were to be my "main" kit and its my first, then I wouldnt even have compared them to real pedals. So does it really matter? Just curious.

Ive had my eye on the Yamaha set too, but theres just something about the simplicity, size, portability, and COST of the V-drums HD-1 that intrigues me. The video demo on their site made it look pretty straight forward.

Comments and opinions welcome.

Thanks!

It's not that the pedals don't accurately simulate real pedals, it's that the feel of the pedals is just simply not very good. It's as close to objectively "bad" as something like this can be, IMO. That said, If you're new to drumming, I can see where you'd get a lot of mileage out of this thing. I looked at it seriously as a practice instrument, but for me the feet were a deal-breaker. I've got too much going on to be able to live with iffy-feet.

Here's what I think: At first, the pedals are not going to be a problem for you. You don't have enough technique to know the difference. Down the line, a year or two, if you're practicing on other instruments at all you'll find you can execute figures on a real pedal that you can't execute on those HD stompers. A quick toe-heel double, for example, is a technique I can play in my sleep. I couldn't execute it at all on the HD drums. If you're not practicing on other kits at all, then the pedals on HD will simply hold you back from developing better foot technique. I don't think you'll find that you can play stuff on HD that you can't play on real pedals. Instead, I think you'll find you'll only be able to play things that are possible on HD, regardless of what kit you're on. That is say, I don't think you'll become an expert HD-1 player, I think you'll just have bad foot technique.

So, you got a choice to make... the samples are a little cheese-o and not expandable at all, and the pedals are really not good, but the pads are nice, the all-in-oneness, and the microscopic footprint are great, and the price is definitely right.

If it was my money, I would hold out. I think you might be happier in the long run with a slightly more expensive unit. Look for a used td-6 or something. Slightly more bread, way more instrument, and expandable to meet your future needs.

/w

Yeah, the pedals just plain suck. Thats all there is to it. I would save up another $200 or $300 and get a better kit.

Well, instead of saving up more money, would the Yamaha DTXPlorer kit be a better option? What are the opinions on that kit for a beginner, with tight space, and low cash?

Also, if you aren't going to be the only one playing the kit, others will definitely notice the difference.

Well, instead of saving up more money, would the Yamaha DTXPlorer kit be a better option? What are the opinions on that kit for a beginner, with tight space, and low cash?

Haven't played it, but if it's got real pedals, it's probably a step up (oh, MAN, I'm funny).

/w

Since Yamaha lowered the price on the DTExplorer its actually less than the HD-1 ( from us ). Also if you are over 6 feet tall you might have a hard time playing the HD-1. Its kind of cramped quarters.

A Yamaha DTXplorer would be a step up from the HD1, but I'd pony up and try to get a Roland TD3.

Yes its funny since the HD-1 came out TD-3 kit sales have gone up.

I just helped a friend / new drummer pick out an ekit - we compared the HD-1 to the DTXplorer and the Yammie was way better. He intially liked the simple look and feel of the HD-1, but I - with the salesman - talked him into the Yammie, which, as mentioned, is cheaper.

My friend now has the kit home and really likes it.

My problem with the HD-1 pedals is not just the feel - which really does suck - but the fact that you can't adjust the width. I felt cramped trying to play it.