I need a Practice pad: Suggestions?

Hello fellow HODers.
I recently decided its time for a new practice pad, here in my home away from home (Montreal). Back home I used a very basic pad from Remo (I think). It was round and came with a small stand. It was mad of solid rubber and had a relief ring of about 3mm around it. No other special features.
While I don't really need the newest most elaborate pad, I would appreciate some of your suggestions as to what to buy. Post pictures/model names or even links and maybe include personal experiences with the particular pad. Am I looking at a realistic price range of something like 40-60 Dollars?
Take care everyone,

-Suspiria

For drumset drummer pads the real feel is pretty good. Something like This would work great. It has 2 surfaces on the one side. The black one is a real dense dead material for building them chops [img]graemlins/smarty.gif[/img]

Another plus is that you can play a rudiment on both materials and learn how to break it down easier then work on it hand by hand. Your local music store should have some real feels. If they don't they need to.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 13, 2005 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Kurt R ]</font>

That is a good one.

I've owned several Real Feel pads over the years (different sizes for different locations) and I love them. I know Vinnie likes 'em too!

I like Moongel. ( www.rtom.com )
They let YOU / ME do the work, no rebound.
Do a week intensively of singles / doubles / paradiddles -maybe in a pyramid of pain (Virgil Donati workout idea) 2 hrs+ a day on such a pad and you'll be flying on your snare/kit a week later.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 14, 2005 06:14 AM: Message edited by: Jeppe Morgenthaler ]</font>

For me without any doubt this one : http://www.rtom.com/snarepad.html

The Sabian one is meant to be good too, but I have no direct experience of it. Here's a reference to Jim Chapin using one at a clinic, and MF seems to have them at about $30 right now.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 14, 2005 07:26 AM: Message edited by: moosetication ]</font>

Moongels are great too, BUT, you can't practice intricate doubles with them, or multiple bounce stickings. I LOVE the moongels... really, i would get a real-feel pad AND a moongel one. I play on both, the moongel first, then switch to the real-feel to work the intricate fingering stuff. You can fly after working on the moongel... then if you went to a real-feel after, you could refine that speed and, oh man, yeah... rippin' [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

Theres great variety here, thanks. I was actually considering Moongel at one point. I see how lack of rebound can be beneficial at times. Maybe the purchase of two pads really is the way to go. I'll be checking out the various links in a while. Thanks for the suggestions!

I wanna get a new pad too (still got that old "Zorro hat").
I went to the drumshop to get a RealFeel, but they don't keep it anymore. They sell the Vic Firth ones instead:
http://www.vicfirth.com/products/pads_mutes.html

Apparently the RealFeel rubber patent has expired and it can be copied. Vic Firth now does same thing for ~10$ cheaper.

I don't want a pad which is harder or easier to play than a snare, just quiet and as close as possible to a snare drum feel. What's the best?

Interesting fact about the patent of the moongel pads there Tombo. While I see what you mean when asking for a pad that has similar feel to snair, a moongel pad can be great in other ways. Prime example:
I am currentyl really focusing on building up strength in my left hand. I tend to lead with this hand now, when practicing rudiments or other snare exercises. Normally I would start right. Although I haden't even thought of it yet, moongel is something that would help me build those left handed muscles faster - atleast I would assume so. Of course, I would get a "normal" pad too. Practicing solely on moongel probably isn't the way to go.

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Originally posted by Suspiria:
Hello fellow HODers.
I recently decided its time for a new practice pad, here in my home away from home (Montreal). Back home I used a very basic pad from Remo (I think). It was round and came with a small stand. It was mad of solid rubber and had a relief ring of about 3mm around it. No other special features.
While I don't really need the newest most elaborate pad, I would appreciate some of your suggestions as to what to buy. Post pictures/model names or even links and maybe include personal experiences with the particular pad. Am I looking at a realistic price range of something like 40-60 Dollars?
Take care everyone,

-Suspiria

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Check out RealFeel or the moongel snare pad.

I also recommend getting a real feel and a moongel. I have the smaller sizes of both, they're great for taking around and such. I also saw a clinic by Ian Froman the other day and he said he uses a moongel pad.

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Originally posted by hanayalator:
I also recommend getting a real feel and a moongel. I have the smaller sizes of both, they're great for taking around and such. I also saw a clinic by Ian Froman the other day and he said he uses a moongel pad.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I also have a drum-off, xymox and a laptop pad

Is the black hard side of the twin RealFeel useful?
Talked to people who don't like it and never use it. I know it's for chops building, but is that good or the Moongel would be a lot better for this purpose?

Got a question about the Xymox pads. I saw one today with ball bearings in the bottom of it - which gave it a snare sound! I thought this unique feature was pretty cool and a good alternative to the dull tapping sound of other pads. The feel was surprisingly good too. Does anyone have experience with these pads?

The thing about the black side of the real feel is that it doesn't let you 'cheat', the attack is so short and sharp, that you really hear when you are lagging on certain parts of your strokes... i.e. you double strokes aren't even, etc...

Still the black side, however, feels weird.

So, the purchase has been made. I decided to get a RealFeel pad. On its reverse is a side for brushes too. It came down to this one and the Xymox with the snare sound. This really seemed like a great pad too, but I wanted to stick with has proven to be useful for others in the past. Thanks to all the people that gave their input.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 15, 2005 07:03 PM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

From what I read on your post, you've finally got to visit one of Montreal's Drum Shops !!! Hope it was a good experience !

Now, you can start practicing , at least with the pad !

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Originally posted by Groovissimo:
From what I read on your post, you've finally got to visit one of Montreal's Drum Shops !!! Hope it was a good experience !
Now, you can start practicing , at least with the pad !

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Haha, very true! Check your PM some time later this evening.

my moongel pad: a soft pillow from my couch.

my RealFeel pad: top of the steering wheel in my car while waiting at a red light.

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Originally posted by DrummerDav:
my moongel pad: a soft pillow from my couch.
my RealFeel pad: top of the steering wheel in my car while waiting at a red light.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, that would have been another alternative. I'm not too sure about the steering wheel though...You must be a real threat behind the wheel

[img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 16, 2005 04:18 PM: Message edited by: Suspiria ]</font>

Suspiria,

that's why I mentioned that i only do that at a red light...i know there's kids out there reading these posts! [img]wink.gif[/img]

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Originally posted by DrummerDav:
Suspiria,
that's why I mentioned that i only do that at a red light...i know there's kids out there reading these posts! [img]wink.gif[/img]

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hah, that's ok then. I would be sure to avoid the streets when you're in town if you'd be doing that all the time [img]smile.gif[/img]