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Are you looking for a great sounding electronic drum kit that you can pack up quickly and carrying to a practice session or a gig all by yourself? If so, then you’ve come to the right place, because the Roland TD-4KP (P = Portable) fits the bill.
If you just need a small e-kit for a tight space, you’ve found the right one in the TD-4KP as well. This set has a tiny footprint compared to most others in the market.
In the review, I’ll take a look with you at this sometimes overlooked offering from Roland. I think you’ll see that, just because it’s small, doesn’t mean it’s lacking in quality.
In a hurry? If you want to come back later for the full review and just check the availability and pricing of the Roland TD-4KP now at Amazon, click the link below.
You can skip to a certain section by clicking a link in the box below. Otherwise, just keep on reading.
What Does the TD-4KP Look Like?
If you look just at the drum heads and cymbals in the picture above, you’ll see that it looks like a standard electronic drum kit.
But if you look at the rack that those pieces are attached to, you’ll see something quite different from the norm.
It’s not your average frame. Not only does it take up less space than most, its bars and posts are arranged in a different configuration than the standard. This is what enables you to set it up and take it down so quickly.
It’s also what lets you store it easily and fit it into the optional carrying case that you can sling over your shoulder. When folded up, you can fit it into virtually any vehicle. With a little ingenuity, you might even be able to tote it on a bike or motorcycle.
What Does the TD-4KP Sound Like?
You can hear the Roland V-Drums (found on all their kits) and the cymbals in the videos below.
This first video emphasizes the portability of the set. You might want to watch it twice. It moves really quickly.
This second video is a general overview of the TD-4KP. One time through it should do.
What Pieces Do You Get in the TD-4KP Drum Kit?
The TD-4KP is a standard 5-piece set that gives you a snare, 3 toms, and kick drum (pad). The drum pads measure 7.5 inches across. Note that the kit does not include the kick pedal.
You get a hi-hat, crash cymbal, and ride cymbal. Both cymbals have a 10 inch diameter. The crash cymbal is chokeable.
Roland offers an accessory package aimed at beginning drummers. It has a kick pedal, a pair of drumsticks, and a throne (seat). If this were my first set of electronic drums, I would almost certainly get this package right away too.
It has all the pieces “missing” from the basic kit itself. An experienced drummer likely already has a kick pedal that he prefers. He certainly has a pair of drumsticks, and he very probably has a throne that will last virtually forever.
But if this is your first kit, you probably don’t have any of these items. That’s why Roland put this package together for you. I’m a little surprised you don’t see this same grouping offered by more other manufacturers. (You can get a similar package from some resellers.)
You can fit most of the accessories into the optional carry case mentioned above, since it has detachable pouches for things like the hi-hat and kick pedals. It also has pockets for beaters, drumsticks, and whatever else you need to take along.
Another option is upgrading the snare drum to a PDX-6 or PDX-8 mesh pad so you can play rimshots and cross stick. Mesh heads are normally considered better quality and more realistic (compared to an acoustic set).
The TD-4 sound module has 25 kits built in. It has 125 instruments. You can see more demos by Michael Schack related specifically to this module here.
The module lets you tune and muffle the kick drum, snare drum, and the toms using the buttons and dial right on the front panel.
Inside are coaching functions as well as quick record and play. All are easy to use, even for the beginner.
When you fold all the foldable pieces together the overall dimensions of the set are less than 28 by 20 by 12 inches. It all weighs less than 28 pounds. Most people will people to lift it on their own without the assistance of a second person.
What’s the Verdict on the Roland TD-4KP?
As I mentioned at the top, if you need a small, quality kit, the TD-4KP could be just the set you’re looking for.
You could get a more expensive kit, but it’s going to take a lot more space. So when space and portability are important, go with this TD-4KP.
Check the pricing and availability of the Roland TD-4KP at Amazon today.
If you’re looking for other Roland options for beginners, check this review of the Roland TD-1K.
Or if you want an ever better Roland electronic drum set, read this overview article for more choices.
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