Ion reveals $299.99 price for premium Rock Band drums
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jul 11th 2008 at 6:55PM }
While $300 may sound steep (soon, you could get a whole 'nother Xbox 360 for that price), Ion sounds like they've gone to great lengths to make sure serious virtual drummers get their money's worth. According to the site, the four high-durability, quiet, velocity-sensitive pads can be mounted and rearranged in any position and even outfitted with "professional drum brains" from Alesis. Add in a metal-reinforced kick pedal (with velcro and spikes to prevent slippage) and two packaged, mountable cymbals (with the option to add a third) and you've got what's unquestionably the Rolls Royce of drum controllers.
The web site also has a short video and some detailed photos of the set, so check it out and figure out for yourself whether it's worth dropping three Benjamins.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
NukeAssault @ Jul 11th 2008 7:01PM
I think i speak for the community when i say... Holy Shit.
Vol @ Jul 11th 2008 7:02PM
GOD ****. Why not real drums???
klepto88 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:35PM
Look at it. That is a real electronic drum kit.
GreyFox @ Jul 11th 2008 7:58PM
I'm pretty sure they've said it's also a electronic drum kit or can be used for one in the future.
eldee @ Jul 11th 2008 10:55PM
I'd be interested to see how ANYBODY can use this as a real drum kit without a hat pedal..
NoHitHair @ Jul 12th 2008 12:04AM
Yes. For fuck's sake, where is the hat pedal?
giantenemycrab @ Jul 11th 2008 7:03PM
Whoa.. Awesome!
syrik zero @ Jul 11th 2008 7:04PM
That is damn awesome! But there is no way I would ever buy them.... Especially since I already own perfectly working drums now
Sora267 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:05PM
$300 for MIDI drums + Rock Band drums in one? Holy shit.
syrik zero @ Jul 11th 2008 7:41PM
Where did you see that they work as Midi drums also?
MarkHawk @ Jul 11th 2008 8:12PM
In the article and site.
"According to the site, the four high-durability, quiet, velocity-sensitive pads can be mounted and rearranged in any position and even outfitted with "professional drum brains" from Alesis."
Demaar @ Jul 12th 2008 1:56AM
Keep in mind that these "drum brains" are an additional cost that could potentially double the price of the kit. There's also the third cymbal that has to be factored in too. In the end it doesn't work out to THAT great a deal.
Reckon I'll just get the standard RB2 drums and the cymbal add ons depending on the price. Then save my pennies for a better real kit.
mike_p @ Jul 12th 2008 4:04AM
What I was thinking was if it's supposed to transform into an electronic drum kit... where is the pedal for the high-hat?
You must to have a separate pedal for the high-hats! (can other drummers back me up!?)
eNrique @ Jul 11th 2008 7:27PM
i'd better buy another wii, or another 5 games.
killerpickle @ Jul 11th 2008 7:10PM
Very nice. Even though I already have Roland drums I would probably buy this for 300 dollars.
vectorelement @ Jul 11th 2008 7:08PM
Mmmm, drum brains...
343 Guilty Fart @ Jul 11th 2008 7:09PM
Hell the fuck NO!
Wiinterfang @ Jul 11th 2008 7:09PM
That's some good Effing quality.
Rick @ Jul 11th 2008 8:34PM
ANYONE WHO PAYS $300 FOR FAKE DRUMS IS A DIPSHIT.
Slayer @ Jul 11th 2008 8:56PM
The same thing could be said about buying video game consoles too. It all comes down to a matter of preference.
Rick @ Jul 11th 2008 9:01PM
Bullshit. You can pay $250-$500 for a console. Or you can buy a pair of pretend drums for $300. Most people aren't going to have the money to buy both. If you're buying both to play a pretend rockstar game, then you're a douchebag with money. Yeah, that's right, you're a douchebag. Have fun with those pretend drums as you rock out in your living room.
Congratulations, you are an epic fail.
Slayer @ Jul 11th 2008 9:29PM
So if I buy a pretend war game and shoot people does that make me a douche bag too? All games are pretend dumbass. If other people wan't to pay 300 for this, so fucking what. Why do you even care? Let me guess, you must be one of those elitist who talk shit about guitar hero and rock band because it's not the real thing right?
And please don't assume I "pretend rock out." I have a real drum kit and guitar as well. Dipshit.
Rick @ Jul 11th 2008 9:36PM
Haha, someone is a little sensitive about their lame rock game, yes? Truthfully, I don't give a damn what games you play. Go ahead and pay your $300 for some plastic drums to clutter up your living room with your 'real' instruments. Yeah, you're cool.
menuka @ Jul 11th 2008 9:44PM
its not fake...its a real electronic drum kit that is considerably cheaper than regular electronic drum kits...
Slayer @ Jul 11th 2008 9:45PM
Where exactly does it say I'm going to purchase the rock band drums. When did I even say I own rock band? Go on, find it for me. I simply stated that it all comes down to preference and you resorted to insults and bitching about the price. So who's the sensitive one again?
NewJohnny @ Jul 12th 2008 3:16PM
I have weekly rock band parties with 6-10 people over. Tell me $300 isn't worth it.
Kizzle @ Jul 12th 2008 3:25AM
Add Rick to the idiot list. These are not "fake drums," dumbass. They are real drums that work with a game.
Rick @ Jul 12th 2008 3:28AM
Fake drums, dude. Fake. Have fun hittin' that plastic.
Slayer @ Jul 12th 2008 3:45AM
Are you retarded? That the best you can come up with? Seriously, your so full of shit it's hilarious. All you've done so far make assumptions, bitch, and complain. Just do everyone a favor and just stop posting.
wes @ Jul 12th 2008 2:07PM
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-TD20S-VPro-Electronic-Drum-Set?sku=447842 ?
I guess those are fake drums too be you're definition...
ZenGaijin @ Jul 11th 2008 7:11PM
NO FUCKING WAY!
I need to buy a PS3 and for over half the price I can have a drum set that only works with one game.
Sora267 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:17PM
It also works as a set of MIDI drums.
ZenGaijin @ Jul 11th 2008 7:20PM
Still isn't worth it.
I'd just buy a normal drum set at that price.
Nick8708 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:43PM
When you say normal, you mean acoustic drums or electronic drums? If you mean acoustic $300 doesn't seem to go very far quality-wise. If you can prove me wrong please direct me to where I could find them!
Mr.ESC @ Jul 11th 2008 9:44PM
So technically it can play music alone? or it could if I buy something else for it?
If it could play music and at the same time be compatible with GH4 and you really,really want it sure why not but what do I care this stuff isn't going to be avalible here anyways.
JangoGod @ Jul 12th 2008 2:16AM
I got my full set of Pearl drums for $250.
It was a "Like new" set and looked new for the most part (Had an upgraded snare and came with a sabian cymbal and stand)
So this drum set LOOKS cool, but for $300? Thats an Xbox 360 right there! (If the $50 price cut is real)
Jeff Smith @ Jul 11th 2008 7:13PM
Preordered ! Thanks Joystiq!
F1 @ Jul 11th 2008 7:12PM
I think one of the colors is teal...
jayeffaar @ Jul 11th 2008 7:13PM
Sadly, the pre-order page doesn't seem to know there are gamers outside of the USA who might be interested in this kit.
I understand they may not be able to ship outside the USA (or may not want to), but a note to that effect would have been nice (instead of "enter a zip, pick a state, we don't need a country --- can't fit your address in there? too bad...)
T H @ Jul 11th 2008 7:15PM
I believe the original Rock Band premium set was $170 ($169.99), not $180...
syrik zero @ Jul 11th 2008 7:20PM
I got it the day it came out for $180.
T H @ Jul 11th 2008 7:22PM
Really? I bought mine at BestBuy for $169.99... first day also.
syrik zero @ Jul 11th 2008 7:42PM
I could have been ripped off.... =P It wasn't a big retail store or anything. It was the ONLY store that had any in stock.
Grant @ Jul 12th 2008 12:35PM
salesperson pocketed your $10. lol
or you're including tax.
Jim Halpert DM @ Jul 11th 2008 7:19PM
Don't complain...that's actually a great price for something like that.
Juno @ Jul 11th 2008 7:22PM
Just a word to the wise, don't get this as a midi kit.. sure it's a nice bonus you can hook up a moduel and use it for more than JUST rock band. But that's a lowgrade kit that would frustrate any acoustic drummer.
However, if you love the drums on rockband and want to get into real drummer, go for it! A great step in bridging the gaming / creative gap!
Juno @ Jul 11th 2008 7:25PM
keep in mind a drum brain costs any where from 500 - 3000
Darren Tilley @ Jul 12th 2008 1:43AM
The link the article points to a site that carries a drum module for $350, and if you already have a midi device, there is a drum interface for $130. http://www.alesis.com/triggerio
Still pretty expensive, and people need to be well aware of the additional cost associated with turning this kit into a fully functioning electronic drum kit, but it's not quite $500 on the lower limit.
Jim Halpert DM @ Jul 11th 2008 7:33PM
Would be cool if they made the notes meant to be played by the cymbals round...just as a guide.
NATO_Duke @ Jul 11th 2008 7:36PM
Holy shit. Will anyone seriously buy that around here? C'mon, that is a huge investment for a game to me. No way in hell.