Red pad fix with foil

Stevenam81 · #1 01-12-2008, 08:31 PM

Until now, I've had my red drum taped down. It has been responding perfectly with the tape, but I'm getting tired of looking at it. I'm also tired of people asking me what happened to my drums lol. I knew there had to be an internal fix that does the same thing the tape does.

Let me first explain the issue my red drum was having. It's not dead or insensitive. When hitting it lightly it picks up everything, even fast rolls. But you have to hit it way too lightly for it to respond correctly. My other pads respond to soft and hard hits. When doing a string of fast, hard hits, most hits would drop out and not register. I know not everyone will have ...And Justice For All since it is DLC, but it's my favorite song to test with. There is a long intro that will let you hit the drums. Use this song or another song with a long intro to test. Pound away on your red drum starting with slow hits and increase to your max. If you notice hits not being registered you have this same problem.

First I tried the penny mod. Hard hits worked fine but most light hits would not register. I know sometimes on a slower song I get relaxed during some of those basic beats and tend to hit the red pad lightly. I don't want to miss easy hits because of that. So instead of putting anything between the sensor and the pad (other than the original rubber piece) I thought it would be better to put something between the spring and the sensor. I took the two screws out and removed the orange piece. I left the rubber piece under the sensor. I took a piece of foil and folded it over a few times. I made it the same size and shape as a penny. I then placed it on top of the sensor. Then I placed the orange piece back on. The spring has a piece of rubber on the end of it. I just pushed that against the foil. I put the two screws back in and got them tight. I put the head back on and my drums now function just as they did when using the tape...perfect.

Hopefully anyone with this problem will have the same results using the foil.

DeusTrinitas · #2 01-12-2008, 08:52 PM

This is kind of confusing--is the foil between the rubber on the end of the spring and the sensor or between the orange piece and the spring?

Stevenam81 · #3 01-12-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusTrinitas

This is kind of confusing--is the foil between the rubber on the end of the spring and the sensor or between the orange piece and the spring?

Between the rubber on the end of the spring and the sensor. Like I said, the foil goes on top of the sensor. The orange piece goes on top of the foil. The spring with rubber on the end is part of the orange piece. And of course the clear, round rubber piece remains under the sensor. No need to even pick up the sensor. Just take off the orange piece with spring and place the foil under it. This applies a little more pressure to the sensor just like taping the pad down. I was careful to make my foil flat and even. I tried to make it about the same shape and size as a penny.

TheTFacta · #4 01-12-2008, 09:34 PM

This sounds good, but the problem is I'm lazy and my duct tape works just fine.

I'll probably send it back to HMX a couple days before my warrenty is up, but till then I can deal with looking at the duct tape. Gives it an "edge" look, IMO.

But sounds like a good idea if you don't like looking at the tape or another fix to the endless fixes that there are.

Stevenam81 · #5 01-12-2008, 09:57 PM

Yeah, I'm lazy too. That's why it took me a month to decide to mess with it lol.

Keebler · #6 01-12-2008, 10:47 PM

I was the one who created the penny mod and although it improved the drum responsiveness, I wasn't happy with the hollow clacking sound my drums suddenly inherited. So I replaced the penny with a piece of tin foil that I had cut out into the same size and folded over into the same thickness. The result? Same responsiveness, no annoying sound of a penny banging on the plastic innards of the drums.

I endorse this mod.

resident360 · #7 01-13-2008, 12:19 AM

Before I open anything up I want a guide with pictures.

G_tarRoCK3R · #8 01-13-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by resident360

Before I open anything up I want a guide with pictures.

I agree, or a video would be better.

Keebler · #9 01-13-2008, 01:48 AM

... follow the penny mod guide, but substitute foil instead of a penny.

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15020

Stevenam81 · #10 01-13-2008, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keebler

I was the one who created the penny mod and although it improved the drum responsiveness, I wasn't happy with the hollow clacking sound my drums suddenly inherited. So I replaced the penny with a piece of tin foil that I had cut out into the same size and folded over into the same thickness. The result? Same responsiveness, no annoying sound of a penny banging on the plastic innards of the drums.

I endorse this mod.

Awesome. Thanks for the idea man. I remember reading your post a while back. I wanted to try it out but didn't get around to it until now. I had remembered reading something about foil also. As far as the penny, I wasn't happy with the sound either, but I mainly didn't like it because it went from one extreme to the other. For me, light hits would no longer register using just the penny. What I did is different though. At least I think it is. I didn't replace the penny with foil. I left the rubber piece alone. I put the foil on top of the sensor instead of under it. I figured the rubber between the pad and sensor was fine. It works for the other drums. I just wanted the same effect as using the tape. By putting the foil between the spring and the sensor, there is more pressure applied to the sensor. I'm assuming this is what the tape does. I'm just glad I don't have to use the tape anymore.

For anyone wanting pics, it's not really that hard. Plus there are pics of the inside of the drums all over the forum if you look for them. To be honest, all the pics you need are in that link that Keebler posted. Maybe this will help...Check out his link. If you have the same orange piece then you have the same model and you can continue. If yours if different and you have the black piece there is something you can do but my method does not apply to you so I guess stop reading now. So if you have the orange piece, take out the screws. In his second pic you'll see the sensor and the rubber pad. You don't even have to pick up the sensor. Just leave the rubber pad underneath the sensor. Place a penny sized piece of foil on top of the sensor and put the orange piece back on. Tighten the screws, place the drum pad back on and you are finished. I can't make it any more simple than that.