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How to Convert an Acoustic to an Electric Drum Set

The sound of a drum set depends on many factors, such as the type of wood used. Electronic drums, however, have no sound of their own. Drum heads and cymbals are used as a way to trigger sounds that are generated by an electronic drum synthesizer module. This enables a drummer to completely change the sound of his entire drum kit by simply pressing a button on the drum module.

Things You'll Need

  • Electronic drum module
  • Audio cables with 1/4-inch male mono plug on each end
  • Piezo transducers
  • Piece of foam
  • 1/4-inch mono phone jacks
  • 1-inch by 2-inch wood
  • Black electrical tape
  • Double-sided tape
  • Hookup wire
  • Tape measure
  • Drill
  • Handsaw
  • Wood screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • Nut driver (to remove drum heads)
  • Soldering pencil or gun
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the head from the snare drum.

    • 2

      Measure the diameter inside the drum and cut a piece of 1-inch by 2-inch lumber to fit inside the drum.

    • 3

      Use a pair of pliers and a screwdriver to break open the case of a piezo transducer. Remove the piezo disc, which has two wires connected to it.

    • 4

      Cut a piece of double-sided tape and use it to secure the piezo disc to the center of the 1-inch by 2-inch lumber.

    • 5

      Cut about a 1-inch square of foam and attach it to the top of the piezo with a piece of double-sided tape. The foam will be between the piezo and the drum head and will help prevent damage to the delicate piezo disc.

    • 6

      Use wood screws to mount the board inside the drum. Mount the board so that the top of the foam will come in contact with the drum head when the drum head is replaced.

    • 7

      Drill a hole in the side of the drum and mount a 1/4-inch mono phone jack. Solder each of the two wires coming from the piezo to the two terminals on the jack (one wire to one terminal and the other wire to the remaining terminal). If the leads on the piezo are not long enough, solder pieces of hookup wire to extend them. Use black electrical tape to wrap these joints.

    • 8

      Replace the drum head.

    • 9

      Plug a 1/4-inch mono audio cable into the drum jack and the other end into an electronic drum module̵7;s ̶0;snare̶1; trigger input. When you hit the drum head, the piezo will send a trigger signal to produce whatever sound the drum module is set to.


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