The Drummer’s Review team take a look at and compare a selection of practice pads from various manufacturers, featuring the P4 and Quiet Pad from Drumeo; a Button Pad and Knee Pad from Bill Sanders; an ALLN1 by Russ Miller and 6” VRT Combo Pad from ProLogix Percussion; an Evans RealFeel Pad and a ToneAlly Design 5 Deluxe practice system.
Drumeo P4
Features…
- Multi-zone pad designed in conjunction with renowned educator Pat Petrillo,
- 12″ diameter,
- Weighs: 3.1lbs,
- four separate coloured rubber pads to represent different areas of the drum kit,
- main blue area is traditional standard gum rubber to replicate the feel of a snare drum,
- harder neoprene black pad to give the feel of higher tensioned toms,
- softer, quieter grey section ideal for strength building and resembling a looser-tuned floor tom,
- extra hard red surface to mimic the response of cymbals.
RRP: £79.99
Drumeo Quiet Pad
Features…
- Double sided 12” pad,
- full side of fairly hard blue gum rubber,
- softer, quieter black pad on the reverse,
- black side is (roughly) 8db-10db quieter than the blue side,
- black side also features a heavier response to help build strength and stamina.
RRP: $35.00 (plus shipping)
Bill Sanders Button Pad
Features…
- 4″ pad,
- 3mm thick ‘Lifetime’ black rubber playing surface,
- 10 year guarantee,
- non-slip rubber base,
- 4mm solid steel weight beneath the rubber.
RRP: £26.99
Bill Sanders Knee Pod & 7″ Mini Pad
Features…
- 7″ standalone pad,
- Knee pod docking station,
- 3mm thick ‘Lifetime’ black rubber playing surface,
- 10 year guarantee,
- non-slip rubber base.
RRP: £54.99
Prologix ALLN1
Features…
- Designed in collaboration with Russ Miller,
- 14.25” diameter (with a 13″ playing surface),
- weight: 5lbs,
- 0.5” deep, non-marking Poly Tech rim,
- multiple playing surfaces,
- green light resistance rubber blend to give a very natural rebound,
- grey, fabric covered, rubber open cell insert that increases resistance,
- white, thin, textured surface that is designed for practicing brush technique,
- non-slip rubber base (which also works as a separate 12″ pad).
RRP: £105.00
Prologix VRT Combo Pads
Features…
Pad 1:
- 6″ diameter,
- dual-surface pad,
- light resistance, 0.188” gauge, green rubber playing surface,
- thick layer of blackout 0.750” gauge open cell rubber with a fabric top on reverse.
Pad 2:
- 6″ diameter,
- dual surface pad,
- medium resistance, red 0.188” gauge all-natural rubber playing surface,
- black 0.187” open cell rubber on reverse.
RRP: £29.99
Evans RealFeel Pad
Features…
- 12″ single-sided pad,
- 11″ playing surface,
- 5mm thick gum rubber playing surface covered in grey fabric cover,
- rubber non-slip base.
RRP: £35.99
ToneAlly Deluxe 5 Practice System
Features…
- six upright posts which create alleys in which the sticks travel designed to help drummers build muscle memory,
- works with German, French, American grips,
- both matched and traditional,
- soft, thin rubber playing surface,
- height-adjustable ‘wiggle bars’ to help focus on ghost note playing,
- removable rubber pad enabling you to place on a snare drum and play directly onto the head.
RRP: £124.99
Check out how each of the practice pads sound in the video above!
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