What's wrong with rubber pads?

NOTE: This thread is NOT intended to be a troll (really).

In the e-drumming community, I get the distinct impression that the vast majority of players want (eventually) to play on real heads---not rubber pads. I'm curious to hear some opinions from folks here about this. Part of the reason I ask is because I'm about to buy an Alesis kit (actually waiting on PayPal to give me my money from a recent eBay sale...grrr....) and I've been waffling over heads versus rubber pads.

Now hear me out for a second: I'm a professionally-trained percussionist. I have a degree from the Juilliard School and was lucky enough to study with some awesome teachers. I've also been an (American-style) drum corps nut and rudimental drummer for my whole life.

I've probably spent more time throughout my life playing on rubber practice pads than playing on real drums. The reason is simple: if you're going to develop great technique, you have to---there's no way you can put in the thousands of hours of practice on a real drum without losing your hearing by age 16, LOL.

As a result, I'm completely comfortable on rubber. I can literally do anything I can do a real acoustic drum on a rubber pad. In fact, there are things I can do on a rubber pad that I can't do on a real head. The reason is because rubber (at least on a good rubber practice pad like a RealFeel pad) has *more* rebound/bounce than a real head.

And here's the weird thing I've noticed: I've heard many kit players say they actually don't want the pads to be bouncy. This baffles me. In my opinion, it's impossible to have "too much bounce." If you have good technique, rebound is your best friend---not your enemy. If you think a head has too much rebound, you probably don't know how to control your sticks. (Not trying to offend anyone, just stating it simply.)

So---back to heads-vs-pads: no good drummer should be in any way limited by rubber pads. You should be able to play anything on rubber you can play on a head---and with equal or less effort. So why do so many e-drummers want real heads?

If the reason is cosmetic, I understand completely!  I'm sensitive to how some people (including myself) want to look like they're playing "real" drums. In fact, I've struggled with this myself. But...if we're playing electronic drums, then what's wrong with them *looking* electronic? (Isn't that a bit like riding a bicycle disguised as a motorcycle, with a fake engine and fake exhaust pipes?)

Finally, we come down to the issue of sensitivity---and I have no experience or knowledge of this at all. If it's really true (at least with Alesis kits) that the real-head kits are more sensitive than the rubber pads, then that *completely* explains why everyone wants the real heads. But from reading hundreds of posts by people, I can't say I've ever heard anyone complain about the sensitivity of the rubber pads.

I've also owned electronic hand percussion instruments (like the Roland Handsonic), and I know that sensitivity with those rubber-padded instruments is nothing short of spectacular. (So there seems to be no inherent reason why rubber can't be as sensitive as a real head.)

So in conclusion, please know that my purpose in this post isn't to suggest I"m a "better drummer" than anyone else and can play on rubber as well as real heads. Not at all---I'm only trying to understand the phenomena of e-drummers always gravitating toward real heads.  Partly out of curiousity, but also to help inform a big decision for me---which kit to go with?

I've been more-or-less set on getting the DM10 Studio kit...and I've spent hours studying all the methods for changing to mesh heads. But in the past day or two, I've been thinking, "Hmm...if I got the DM7X kit (rubber pads), I'd still be able to play just as well, and I wouldn't have to bother with all the head-changing stuff.

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!
Scott

It really just come down to preference. I too don't have a problem with rubber pads. As a matter of fact, that's what I'm using right now. Yes, it sounds strange, coming from the person that did the mesh conversation video. With that stated, some rubber pads are better than others. Right now I like the Simmons SD kit pads. They are a little softer than my Roland PD-9. The truth is, wanting an electronic drum kit to look (and feel) like acoustic drums is mostly ascetics.

Something eles to consider. Being a professionally-trained percussionist is not the norm for many of us (edrummers). Once you stated that you were professionally-trained, I knew right off the bat you wouldn't have an issue with rubber pads. You have played for thousands of hours on two different surfaces. There for, you just learned (over time) to adjust without thinking about it. No different than a guitarist that plays both acoustic and electric guitar.

Go with what feels best to you.

Your are right when you stated about being bouncy. As a matter of fact, many first edrummers (who came from acoustic drums) can not stand the bouncy-ness of a mesh head bass drum trigger. I've always told them, if you learn to control that bounce, you will be able to do things that you can't on an acoustic kit. Unfortunately too many are set in their ways and don't want to learn a new surface.

On a side note: Awesome topic! Thanks Hellfire---and interesting to hear you're playing rubber pads. I really don't mean to sound like I'm busting on people who might not have great technique---but I can slice and dice effortlessly on rubber.  And you're right about aesthetics---I mean, I hate how I keep asking myself "Would I look like a total DWEEB if I showed up to a gig with an all-rubber kit?" LOL (But then I keep reminding myself that if anyone thought I looked like a dweeb, hopefully I'd shut 'em up fast when they heard me play! LOL)

Right now, I'm really thinking a DM7X kit would work just as well for me as a DM10. My only real concern at this point is reliability and durability. That's my single biggest question. If the reliability of the DM7X is literally equal to the DM10 kits, then my decision is made---I'll go for the DM7X and save some $$$.

I'd LOVE to actually play on an Alesis rubber pad before buying a DM7X just to see how it feels...but alas, there's not an Alesis kit in a showroom anywhere within 200 miles of my location.  So all I can do is wonder how the Alesis rubber feels compared with, say, one of these:



If the Alesis rubber is even close to the practice pad above, then I'd be 100% happy. 

Scott