Depts for E-Drums
Somehow it became a trend to buy every consumer good on installments. Even in the E-drums scene, itbecame absolutely normal to spend money you don’t have for a big expensive e-drum kit. It is not only a common phenomenon in the USA, over the last 15 years it appeared to be normal in Europe too. Thisbehavior might be understandable for important goods like a washing machine if the current one is broken. But is it necessary for a luxurious god as a high end E-drum kit on instalments?
It is of course easy to find some self-persuading reason to own the most advanced e-drum kit. Such as: “I need a proper kit for recording!” “The beginner kits look like Tupperware” or “The advanced kits are more dynamic.” But As everyone knows, the Flagship models ofmanufacture like Roland or Yamaha cost a few 1000 bugs. Most musicians simply do not have this amount of money. As the industry still needs to make profit, they figured out a way to make expensive stuff affordable for everyone. Buy now, pay within the next 2 years! The appearance of a nice kit like the TD-30 creates a short circuit in your head and you signs the contract.
From this moment on you need to make sure to provide a specific amount of money every month, no matter what happens. Your child is getting sick, don’t care, pay me back! Your car broke down, don’ care either, pay!
Is it worth it to play the best kit on the market and feel bad when checking the bank statement? I don’t think so.
- Don’t forget, no matter how good an e-drum kit is, for most people it is still a compromise, a tool to practice or record demos. Ask yourself, why should you need the most expensive kit on the market for practicing? People practice with an HD-1 and can still be better drummers than the rest.
- Why not starting off with a smaller or a used drum kit? Roland kits, forexample, last forever. Old kits like the TD-3 are as sensitive and dynamic as new ones like the TD-11. They are not loosing their value anymore if treated properly. They are as much fun to play as a new kit.
For the people who think they need to buy expensive stuff on instalments:
Don’t do it! Save some money, start with a second hand kit and either upgrade or sell it as soon as you saved more money. As you might noticed, my e-drum kit is not the newest one. I still have a TD-9 and pads with different finishes. But that doesn’t mean I do not enjoy my kit. Every part of it is second hand. It provides the same features as the TD-15, except of the USB plug.
Most of the Roland pads are even now still for sale. For example: All parts on a TD-11 are the same parts as on TD-3, except of the kick pad and the module itself.
This is of course only an opinion and I don’t want to persuade anyone. Fell free to do what you want. You can see this text as a part of my lifestyle, something I want to share with other people. That doesn’t mean everyone has to agree.
