Pintech TC 10" e-cymbal with Ion Kit (Review, Instructions, Video)

[davidshek]

Ok so I got the Pintech 10" TC in the mail from guitarcenter.com.
http://www.hopedrums.com/tc_cymbals.htm

First impression: Damn this thing feels light! Before I opened it up, I thought they might have sent me an empty box. It's muuuuch much lighter than the Roland CY-8.

However, don't take that to mean it's flimsy, because it's not. It's a pretty solid plastic disc, just like the Ion cymbals are. I tried bending it like in that video posted earlier and could not. It has a wedge of what feels like gum or foam rubber on the striking side covering around 1/3 of the disc, also like the Ion cymbals.

So then I reconfigured all my cymbals so my Ions were now blue/green and the Pintech was set up as the hi-hat. I actually mounted the Pintech on one of the stands that came with the Ion (after removing the saddle bit to use on another stand) and used my extra boom arm to mount the 2nd Ion. Here's a few pics:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...10pintech1.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...10pintech2.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...10pintech3.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...10pintech4.jpg

Now how can I say this without using too many expletives...this thing is FREAKING awesome!! It's MUCH quieter than the Ion and even the Roland cymbals and it responded perfectly to everything I could throw at it. Edge hits, bow hits, 16th notes, all spotless. I didn't even have to slam it hard to get sparks on the screen during freeform sections.

The only possible bad thing I could say about this is that the rebound off their foam or rubber or whatever that coating is could be better. It's plenty quiet, but not so great for rebound...I'd rate its rebound right around the same as the RB2 drum pads.

I'll make a vid or two of it this weekend, but for now take my word here: If you're looking for a 3rd/4th/8th (or replacement or whatever) cymbal for your Ion kit, get this! I bought the 10" for only $36.51, and I'm sure the other sizes (14" - $39.20, 16" - $47.20, 18" - $55.20) will work every bit as well as this one does.

01/09/09 EDIT: Because Hope Drums has been so amazing, I have now decided to promote them as the sole source of these cymbals (barring the one exception below). Until Brian tells me otherwise, always assume they are in-stock here, and they DO ship internationally:
http://www.hopedrums.com/tc_cymbals.htm

Hope Drums also has a few special bundles put together especially for Rock Band that include cymbal, mount, clamp, cable...everything you need to attach this thing to your Ion kit and get to rockin'.
http://www.hopedrums.com/RockBand%20Special.htm

WWBW (seems to be one of the best for shipping prices to Canada):
http://www.wwbw.com/Pintech-Trigger-Cymbal-i26385.music

[davidshek]

Ok well, I didn't make an instructional video...but I did do a "photo documentary"! Here we go, looooong post warning!

1. Remove the cymbal by unscrewing the wingnut and removing it along with the felt and the Yellow plastic disc. Once you remove the cymbal, you will see underneath is the Rotation Stopper, also called the "saddle bit" in this thread.

2. Remove this by unscrewing the 3/16" Hex screw with a 3/16" Hex (or "allen") wrench. You'll be left with a bare cymbal stand.

3. Remove the wingnut and 1 cymbal felt and set them aside.

4. Split apart, the whole assembly contains 3 components. From the bottom up, there is a metal washer, the plastic cymbal sleeve, and cymbal felt.

5. Remove all of those and you will once again be left with a bare cymbal stand.

6. Now slide the Rotation Stopper (removed in step #2) onto the stand and tighten the 3/16" Hex screw, making sure the Rotation Stopper is oriented the way you want your cymbal to tilt.

7. Place your Ion cymbal on the Rotation Stopper, and replace the Yellow disc with the Blue one, adding the felt and wingnut. Tighten fully.

8. Now back to the hi-hat stand. Place the metal washer (removed in step #5 from the new stand) on the hi-hat stand.

9. Place the plastic cymbal sleeve (removed in step #5) on top of the metal washer.

10. Then place 1 cymbal felt (removed in step #5) on top of the cymbal sleeve. The tip of the cymbal sleeve should protrude just the slightest bit in the middle of the felt.

11. Place your new Pintech cymbal on the felt, and add the felt and wingnut (set aside in step #3). Tighten fully. Don't bother using the Yellow plastic disc, it will prevent the top felt from conforming to the cymbal properly, which is necessary to keep the cymbal stationary.

12. Plug in the cables for the Blue and Yellow cymbals and voila! You now have 3 fully-functioning cymbals!

BTW if anybody replies to this and quotes it, PLEASE don't quote the whole thing. Just cut out the part you need to reply to

[davidshek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TypIG1-ws88&fmt=18

[davidshek]

The cymbal + mount won't be under $50. It'll probably be closer to $60 or 65, but that's a very small extra price to pay for a better & quieter cymbal, wouldn't you say?

Pintech TC 10" single-zone cymbal pad - $36.51
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pintech-...86-i1138284.gc

Sound Percussion SPC23 Micro Cymbal Arm Clamp - $21.99
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sound-Pe...91-i1413617.gc

Or if you want more flexibility in cymbal placement...

These will clamp onto an existing cymbal arm:
Gibraltar Cymbal Long Boom Attachment Clamp - $24.99
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibralta...35-i1400013.gc

Gibraltar Grabber Cymbal Arm - $27.95
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibralta...02-i1139160.gc

Or this one will clamp onto your Ion drum rack:
Sound Percussion SPC18 Cymbal Boom Clamp - $28.99
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sound-Pe...65-i1415302.gc

With the cymbal and the SPC18 (the most expensive one on the list there) added to my cart on guitarcenter.com, it comes to $65.50 (+$6 shipping).

Unfortunately, every boom arm is going to come with different size felts (no apparently there's no "standard" size), and some of the ones above are too thin to create enough tension on the cymbal itself to keep it from spinning.

Try these:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ack?sku=446112

You can see in post #2 of this thread that these are the felts I used on the Ion stand with the Pintech cymbal. Pictures #15 and 16:
http://www.drowningsun.com/ion/cimg0015.jpg
http://www.drowningsun.com/ion/cimg0016.jpg

Also make sure you're not using the yellow plastic disc that came with the Ion kit. That will prevent the felts from conforming to the shape of the Pintech cymbal.

You will also need a 1/4" mono cable to plug the cymbal into the Ion controller, with a right-angle plug on one end.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--CBIGA11R

Probably 3 feet would be enough, but you might need 6 depending on where you've placed your cymbals.

If you're going to use one of the Ion cymbal rods for your Pintech cymbal, you will also need a cymbal sleeve, as shown in my step #9 above. You can get these here:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...k.-?sku=446044

[Doc_SoCal]

Those Pintechs look like a great deal too.

Nice upgrade but needs more pics.

[davidshek]

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...dshek/ion1.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...dshek/ion2.jpg

[Doc_SoCal]

Damn, that was fast.

[Starfleet_Rambo]

I'm going to break it....

[CJXJ220]

Looks good!

[jgosh]

That is a long thread thanks for putting in the time, I'd read it but.....