Roland TD-20S-BK Review
I am impressed to no end with this set and I recommend it for anyone who would like to play more expressive music with the compact, easy to set up style of an electronic set.
I sat down at the TD-20S-BK from Roland and was surprised to find how real it felt! I’ve used many other electronic sets and I was thoroughly impressed that this set felt the same as my acoustic. I was particularly impressed when I began playing dynamics that were recognized. In my experience on other electronic sets, I would play something other than pianissimo or forte and it was somehow lumped into one of those categories. I was thrilled when I realized that I can move around the head of the drum and all of the small details of an acoustic drumset are emulated with amazing precision.
I began to play a little harder and I was pleasantly surprised even further when the pads didn’t cut off half of the notes that I was playing. I’ve been known to play a little harder than most at times and most electronic sets that I’ve played typically would not recognize all of the notes that I was playing. I also used to say that it was a downfall of electronic sets that none of them emulated a rim sound. One of the most expressive styles of playing utilizes the entire set. Arrogantly I began to tap away on the rims of the drums and I was quickly humbled when the rim sound (with a beautiful, rich, and resonating sound) began to pour out of the set and delight my ears. I had never played an electronic drumset with just my hands before and I felt like the late great John Bonham tapping out classic rhythms with the true “feel” (pun intended) of the drums at my fingertips. I felt as if I connected with the instrument in a larger way than I had before.
In conclusion I am impressed to no end with this set and I recommend it for anyone who would like to play more expressive music with the compact, easy to set up style of an electronic set. I feel that this set would be beneficial to Live performers (such as churches), Studio musicians, and it could be implemented well in teaching (of oneself, for single lessons, or for a class).
