Anyone using Visions for steady gigging?

[Jonah Hex]

If so - what kit are you using, what's your experience been like...

[Akahito]

I gig with my kit more or less actively. I have a 2nd gen VSX with 900-series stands. I've had only positive experiences, and most other people who have borrowed the kit on a gig have also commented on their good feel. My only complaint is that the earlier 900-series stands' tube inserts (the black plastic things inside the tube clamps) tend to crack and break. I've broken one, and that pipe no longer tightens, but it's my china stand which I have set up as low as it goes anyway and the memory lock keeps it from spinning so I haven't gotten around to replacing it.

Overall the drums have good projection in a live situation, and the kick drum is a cannon. They tune well and hold their tune rather nicely. The 12" tom which gets played the most does loosen a tuning bolt every now and then. The stands, floor tom legs and bass drum spurs are still like a clockwork. I did swap the tom hoops for SuperHoops pretty much right away because I was tired with tuning on 1,6mm hoops - it was never accurate enough.

The pedal hasn't seen much use as I've borrowed to my guitarist, since I use an Eliminator as my main pedal. I've had it with me on gigs as a spare, and the few times I've had to use it, it's been pretty good. It's not as adjustable as an Elim, but definitely a nice pedal for the money. The footboard is big enough for my foot, and the solid base makes it really stable. The hi-hat stand I've been most satisfied with, it's really fast and responsive which I think is because it's in fact a direct drive.

[Jonah Hex]

I gig with my kit more or less actively. I have a 2nd gen VSX with 900-series stands. I've had only positive experiences, and most other people who have borrowed the kit on a gig have also commented on their good feel. My only complaint is that the earlier 900-series stands' tube inserts (the black plastic things inside the tube clamps) tend to crack and break. I've broken one, and that pipe no longer tightens, but it's my china stand which I have set up as low as it goes anyway and the memory lock keeps it from spinning so I haven't gotten around to replacing it.

Overall the drums have good projection in a live situation, and the kick drum is a cannon. They tune well and hold their tune rather nicely. The 12" tom which gets played the most does loosen a tuning bolt every now and then. The stands, floor tom legs and bass drum spurs are still like a clockwork. I did swap the tom hoops for SuperHoops pretty much right away because I was tired with tuning on 1,6mm hoops - it was never accurate enough.

The pedal hasn't seen much use as I've borrowed to my guitarist, since I use an Eliminator as my main pedal. I've had it with me on gigs as a spare, and the few times I've had to use it, it's been pretty good. It's not as adjustable as an Elim, but definitely a nice pedal for the money. The footboard is big enough for my foot, and the solid base makes it really stable. The hi-hat stand I've been most satisfied with, it's really fast and responsive which I think is because it's in fact a direct drive.

Thanks for the feedback - I'm looking at a VBA for this - just the shell pack tho - I have a bunch of 900 series stands already (and experienced the cracked insert issue already)...I'll use my H2000, Demons, and RH2000 for pedals...

I'm more looking at it because I need a kit for the sole purpose of gigs where I need to set up and tear down quickly - short sets of less than an hour on multi-band bills...original stuff. The thought of subjecting my Saturns to that sort of torment make me cringe...I could use my Sessions for it I suppose but those are in a practice space for the cover band and it's a pain in the *** to have to set them up/tear them down for every rehearsal with each band + shows....

[Akahito]

Well for that purpose the Visions are great and the VBA don't have the thicker ft/bd shells anymore, so they're not as heavy either. The floor tom legs don't come with memory locks, so you might want to get some for them, maybe colour-code them for clarity.

[Jonah Hex]

Well for that purpose the Visions are great and the VBA don't have the thicker ft/bd shells anymore, so they're not as heavy either. The floor tom legs don't come with memory locks, so you might want to get some for them, maybe colour-code them for clarity.

Memory locks are easy enough and necessary - I find it odd that Pearl would exclude something so simple - fortunately they're none to expensive ...and I mark EVERYTHING when it comes to setup/teardown - even with the Saturns at GFY gigs, there's tape everywhere...

[JCBills]

My buddy gigs on a Forum, so I'm sure a Vision would be more than fine.

I haven't played out with my VBL, so I can't comment there.

Guitar Center has a 5 piece Export in all black for like $320 bucks I might buy as a second kit. That would probably be ideal as a quick setup kit.

[Jonah Hex]

I just don't want to use a lacqured kit for these kinda gigs...if I have very little time to set up /tear down I don't want to fret killing a finish....

[JCBills]

I'd buy an Export for things like that I guess. I wouldn't want to rush setting up my kit at all.

Or just get a VB or VBX, a step or two down from the VBL in price.

[Jonah Hex]

I'd buy an Export for things like that I guess. I wouldn't want to rush setting up my kit at all.

Or just get a VB or VBX, a step or two down from the VBL in price.

Decided on the VBA...can get it in the config I want for this band and it's reasonable and the wrap choices are pretty sexy for being a wrap....

[JCBills]

Decided on the VBA...can get it in the config I want for this band and it's reasonable and the wrap choices are pretty sexy for being a wrap....

Yeah the Artisan is nice, good price and they have some killer wraps.

[Mr.BoJangles]

I have a first gen 2006(?) VBX in the now discontinued Black Fade - purchased just as they came out. It plays out great with Coated G2s over Clear G1s.

[Sparks]

I'm currently gigging a 20/10/12/14 Orange Zest VBX with Emperors on all the batters. Can't recommend these drums highly enough, the kick is immense!

[Jonah Hex]

Thanks for the input guys much appreciated....I'm actually going with a VBA, 22, 10, 12, 14, 16 in either the Black Pinstripe or the Ruby Eucalyptus fade...no need for an 8" tom in this band - tho I might add a 20" kick later on...would be my first double kick kit...but gotta see how far this band gets...

@Sparks are you using clear or coated emps? Still using stock resonant?

[realgone]

i´m using a 24-12-16-18 vbx with a 14X6,5 ultracast, and i´ve played about 10 gigs with this setup.
no complaints whatsoever. hardware works fine, got a few loosened lugs now and again, but mainly
because my tuning is ridiculously low to begin with...

[Jonah Hex]

I'll be making some slight modifications - removing the tom bracket, changing out the ISS mounts for Optimounts....I'm just getting the shell pack as I'll be using my existing 900 series and 2000 series hardware...no rack on this setup...