I’d been wanting one of these since they first came out years ago. But it was expensive — $50 at the time — and I balked at the price.
I should’ve bought one back then, when it cost less.
Today the same pad retails for around $80. Accounting for inflation and everything else, I suppose that’s just the way of the world. But when I had an opportunity to buy a slightly used pad for $50, I decided to pull the lever. It arrived today.
It’s a really nice pad.
Built out of hardwood laminates and a steel rim, Tom’s Pad is essentially a souped-up version of the Remo tunable pad. It even. Uses a Remo pad head, which can be easily replaced. But we’re talking seriously souped-up.
The pad takes an 8” head and it is so stoutly built that it should see me out. Using flathead screws for tuning means your stick won’t hit one accidentally (they use a 4mm Allen key, available at any hardware store). The recycled particle foam rubber underneath the head is firmer than the old open-cell foam rubber used by Remo, and the feel is satisfying. It’s also louder than the Remo pad, so be mindful of where you play it. Finally, this pad can be played on a tabletop, but without rubber on the bottom, it will work best on a cymbal stand with an 8mm thread.
It’s a keeper.
And it’s available at https://www.volkweinsmusic.com/products/toms-pad-by-volkweins-percussion
