BAFO Electronic Drum Set, $149 + shipping at *cough* TigerDirect

[JeffSpicoli]

Don't get me wrong, I've been screwed by TigerDirect as much as the next guy. But I have been looking for a drum set for my son to start learning on and found the BAFO Electronic Drum Set at TigerDirect for $149 + shipping (~ $15 for me).

The next best price I could find online was $199. The set got a decent review in the current MaximumPC mag, especially for someone just wanting to learn.

 

[Crank]

Based on the description (I know, take it with a grain of salt) it definitely sounds like a good kit for a beginner. The only thing that concerns me is that there is no hi-hat pedal. It won't matter in the very early stages of learning, but it might mean that he'll outgrow the kit faster than he would if it did have a pedal.

You will need a throne (that's what we cool drummers call the stool we sit on ), and you can pick up a decent quality bicycle seat style one at any guitar center for about $25 or so, if memory serves. Their house brand is called Sound Percussion - I use one of their seats, and it's fine.

Last piece of advice - if your son really takes to drumming, it might be worth it to get him to take marching band at school - it's free, and he'll get instruction in rudimentary playing that most garage band drummers don't know.

Hope you guys enjoy the set....and good luck with Tiger Direct!

 

[whizbang]

Thanks for the advice, Crank. My son is just turning 6, so he has a while till marching band. I figured I'd get him started and see if he takes to it before starting lessons. The set includes some instructional videos and learning games. I'm sure it isn't much, but enough to get him going. He has a friend his age who is taking lessons and he thought that was very cool.

 

[whizbang]

Got mine in the mail yesterday. It's definitely good for learning. Well designed, easy to setup (although the manual reeks of AYBABTU) and it works well. BTW, from the BAFO website:

Additional percussion pad and pedals for Hi-Hat and Kick Drum

This kit is the basic setup, but you can buy 2 extra treadles and an extra pad to go to the advanced setup so you don't have to outgrow it, it can be upgraded.

I say this is a better way to start than using a phone book (my wife disagrees). Only complaint is that the instructional videos that came with it are short and remind me of an episode of Waynes World.

Was it worth $150? I guess that depends if my kids (or I) stick with it a really learn to play. It is well constructed, though, not a POS.

 

[helpme]

Hmmm,

Bafo claims that I could hook it up to my Japanese ps2 and use it with Drummania... I wonder if that is really true.

 

[relaxandreflect]

Originally posted by: helpme
Hmmm,

Bafo claims that I could hook it up to my Japanese ps2 and use it with Drummania... I wonder if that is really true.

that would be great!!! does anyone know if this thing will hook up to a stereo receiver, or is it usb only? also, are the pads pretty secure and where do you order additional parts?

 

[helpme]

I thought that it was usb only. I e-mailed them about the ps2 compatablility but have not gotten a response yet

 

[whizbang]

Originally posted by: relaxandreflect

Originally posted by: helpme Hmmm, Bafo claims that I could hook it up to my Japanese ps2 and use it with Drummania... I wonder if that is really true.

that would be great!!! does anyone know if this thing will hook up to a stereo receiver, or is it usb only? also, are the pads pretty secure and where do you order additional parts?

The device requires a sound card and installs as a game controller device on the PC, so I doubt you could connect it to a stereo receiver without going through your PC. I'm no PS2 expert, but I thought PS2s utilized USB. I have some USB hubs that I recall were really intended for connection to PS2.

The whole device is very well constructed and easy to assemble, although the manual is poorly translated. I have not been able to find where to buy the extra pad and 2 pedals to upgrade. Couldn't even find them on the BAFO website.

 

[helpme]

Yeah, the ps2 has a usb port. The idea behind the Drum mania game for ps2 is that you use a Yamaha DTXpress midi controller with your choice of pads, and use their midi to usb converter to plug it into the ps2.

 

[FotoMatt]

Looks like a fun way to learn the drums. Thanks!

 

[ouzome]

The pads are probably piezo trigger based, you can use any drum pad or drum trigger on the market. Years ago I used a cheap guitar-switch pedal as the hi hat pedal for an electronic drum kit. You can also buy a piezo trigger at Radio shack and roll your own. No pun intended.

 

[relaxandreflect]

Originally posted by: ouzome
The pads are probably piezo trigger based, you can use any drum pad or drum trigger on the market. Years ago I used a cheap guitar-switch pedal as the hi hat pedal for an electronic drum kit. You can also buy a piezo trigger at Radio shack and roll your own. No pun intended.

any links on sites or any literature on how to assemble this?

 

[dejacky]

How is the sensitivity of the pads? or is it pretty crappy since it's a basic beginner kit? How would you compare it to the Yamaha dtxpress II?

-dejacky

 

[wantonsoup]

Originally posted by: dejacky
How is the sensitivity of the pads? or is it pretty crappy since it's a basic beginner kit? How would you compare it to the Yamaha dtxpress II?

-dejacky

rofl.

This thing is a toy. DTX II is a $1,000 setup for real studio use (granted, DTX is still somewhat of a beginner's setup, but still). Comparing the two is like asking how that R/C car compares to your new Civic.

 

[fafura]

Anybody tried to upgrade this kit with additional pedal or/and pad either made by Bafo or any other company?

 

[Slickone]

Update:

Surprised why no one updated this thread to mention the $50 BAFO MIR tigerdirect showed (expired 9/19), making it $100 + shipping.

Also I believe the Pacific Digital set is the same one, for $99 (says might be refurb), and not from tigerdirect:
http://www.1pdc.com/shop/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=96
http://www.pacificdigital.com/products/usbdrumset.asp#

I wonder how much it would be to buy the high hat pedal. Anyone found it?

BTW, people said this thing is pretty bad, but I guess for $99+ it's better than playing on your desk/buckets/boxes/pillows/legs.

reviews:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0
http://homepage.mac.com/techedgeezine/072303drumxtreme_review1.htm