Electronic Drum Repair - Piezo Disc

Not getting a smooth drum roll? Missing hits on a snare pad? The problem is the connection to the piezo disc inside. Here is what to buy and how to fix. This is a much more lasting fix than tape or solder. No need to buy a new pad when doing this fix! I perform this on an Alesis snare, but all brands have same basic principle of repair.
per viewer request, the info on the specific piezo discs I bought are:
1) Amazon: "Goedrum Pack of 5 Prewired 35mm Piezo Disc and Double Sided Adhesive Foam Circle" (I cannot put a link from Amazon as I am not an "Amazon Associate")
2) Brand: Goedrum
Voltage: 30 Volts
Amperage: 300 Amps
Controls Type: Touch
Signal Format: Analog
3) Amazon Search Words: "Geodrum pack of 5 prewired 35 mm". That will take you to the product, and the price is $16.79 as of 10/12/23.
Hopefully this product will remain available for many years. I have still not had to replace the one I did for this video 1.5 years ago. If not available, look for similar product.
Thanks!
Paul

[@TheLocalRockstar]

Commenting to say that I had two triggers with problems. Used the recommended sensors, replaced them both, and they're both working good as new. So can confirm this does indeed work and was much cheaper than trying to replace a full pad! Thanks

[@ingsalinasipn]

Thanks a lot , I was about to buy a new one, I have the same model and I bought the size that you mentioned but mine was I guess 5mm smaller,, but it worked with a 35mm, the brand you show seems that the wire is less thicker than mine. I just wanted to say thanks you save me 200 bucks

[@paulkeller9552]

Glad it worked out!!

[@Bevin_Krennan]

I've had to replace piezos in my Alesis DM10 so many times that I bought a drum-key drill bit. Just ordered a bunch of the recommended piezos from this vid, and can't wait to do an overhaul that's actually going to last longer than a few weeks. Thanks!!!

[@paulkeller9552]

Wow! A drum key drill bit! You've obviously had to repair even more than I did. it certainly gets annoying. Good luck. I have had no problems and it's been about a year. Wish you the same.

[@nemoinslumber]

This is video is EXACTLY what I needed to find. Thank you!!

[@paulkeller9552]

Glad it was helpful! The thicker wires/connections of the piezo discs bought online work so much better. I still have not had any problems since replacing. Jam on!

[@brussalis]

Nice informative vid ... thank you. I have two Alesis Strike Pro SE kits (one in studio and one at home) and on the studio kit the 10" tom has failed and at home the 14" snare has failed. Alesis utterly useless here in the UK and to say they are slow to respond to my warranty claim is an understatement. Both kits are under 8 mths old. Once ( IF?) I get some joy and the when full 12mths warranty runs out I know I will be on my own to try and fix this stuff going forward so I do appreciate the time you've taken to put this together and show how its done. I know each drum unit will differ slightly but the principle remains the same. Thanks again 👍

[@paulkeller9552]

Sorry you’ve had to go through this on both of your kits! It is certainly frustrating when you finally open it up and see how thin in the wiring is and realize it was just a matter of time. The good news is that at least there is a fix, and the result is something that’s much better than the original. Good luck!

[@nohandslucas]

An amaizing video, i just bought a second hand edrum and i noticed that the snare was kind of missing sensitivity. I will try this. Thank you so much!

[@DIRTKNAPFX]

Thank you for the easy to understand video. just ordered new Piezo for my Alessis Crimson 2

[@dimitri_]

Very usefull video. Thanks Paul !

[@paulkeller9552]

Glad it was helpful!

[@The_Tronic_Drummer]

Did the same thing to my Simmons SD 1250 snare but I soldered the joints where the wires were twisted together and used heat-shrink tubing to cover the wire connections.

[@paulkeller9552]

The heat shrink tubing sounds like another good option. Drop a note after about six months and let us know if it is still working for you. It’s been a little over two years from the time I made this video it is still working good. Hope yours does the same.

[@JodyRushMusic]

Thank you! I’ve been fighting with Alesis about the cheap wiring they used on the snares. The kick drums are the way. My kick has been intermittent and I finally took it apart and saw the same wiring. Ridiculous!

[@paulkeller9552]

Yes, the wiring is so thin that is ridiculous and destined to have problems. I did send them an email two years ago, but have not heard back, and I’m not really expecting to. Good luck with your swapping out of wires if you choose to do so.

[@JodyRushMusic]

@@paulkeller9552 I have done that and also ordered piezo pieces for the snare. Everything is now In working condition. Ridiculous that we have to fight and then DIY.

[@stevekeller608]

Very informative vid. Thanks for posting!

[@paulkeller9552]

Glad it was helpful!

[@orlandokaiba2719]

Can you show how to repair the piezo in the drum pedal? 🙏🙏🙏

[@paulmackie2237]

Yeah the bass drum seems trickier - was hoping to find out more as well

[@swainscheps]

@@paulmackie2237I replaced the piezo piece in my Simmons drum tower (it would fire, but you’d have to absolutely mash the foot pedal to get sound) So far I’ve tested it and no dice. I undid the foam, located the broken piezo, took it out, replaced it with ones I got from amazon, and I’m not getting a signal of any kind.) - maybe it will work once I assemble everything back together but I’m not hopeful…assuming all piezos aren’t made the same. (What’s maddening is I’m still under warranty from Simmons but their claim process is so impossible and shitty I just gave up. )

[@jordanr8484]

I might’ve missed it, but can you put the link in for those piezos? Great video, appreciate you!

[@paulkeller9552]

I put all the info on the specific piezo discs I bought on Amazon in the video description, including the exact search words to use on Amazon. Amazon will not allow me to use a link as I am not an "Amazon Associate". You should have no problem finding it on Amazon with the info I put in the description. I'm at 1.5 years and still no problems. Hope they work well for you too!

[@mfsmfs63]

The bottom piezo is for the rim sensor.

[@danielross868]

Good Video. Where did you source the replacement Piezo. They look good quality with thicker wires, unlike some on Ebay which have thinner wires... Thks

[@paulkeller9552]

I got mine on Amazon: "Goedrum Pack of 5 Prewired 35mm Piezo Disc and Double Sided Adhesive Foam Circle". $16.79 currently. The wires are very thick. 7 months since putting these in a no problems since then. You would think that thick wires would have been initially installed on product, but no such luck. I would avoid thin replacement wires as they too will only last a fairly short time.

[@REEF78SS]

hi, I had the same problem and I had to buy a new piezo but when I hit the snare in the unit the snare rim also lights up, do you know what could have happened?

[@paulkartsyart4415]

That sounds like a wiring problem. The piezo disc at the bottom controls the snare rim, and the piezo disc at the top controls the snare. I believe you will need to find where the two wires have been connected together and separate them. If other people have ideas on this, then please give your input too. Good luck!

[@markwhitaker3162]

What size piezo sensor did he replace

[@paulkeller9552]

I looked at my original Amazon order and it shows as 35 mm. Hope that helps and the replacement works well for you!

[@88popica]

hi. have the same kit, and have the same problem. after changing the piezo trigger, is the responsibility stay the same? i mean if i hit the snare lighter , it will make a light sound?

[@paulkeller9552]

Yes! The responsiveness is the same as the original parts. I'm going on 8 months now with the replaced piezo disc working fine. Happy drumming to you!

[@thejoosisloos]

Any updates on how long this lasted? Thanks!

[@paulkeller9552]

I had to do again a few days later. Likely due to the scouts that were out (up to a kilometer away) during the initial vacuuming, and the newborns that were born afterwards as they very small. After cutting open the vacuum bag a few days later there were about a thousand dead ones in there, and now a week later there are just a few occasionally flying in/out, not the constant stream of them as before. The tunnels under the ground must be more extensive than I thought, and I look forward to digging it all up in the winter. Other tips: 1) Best time to position the vacuum is in evening when not active. 2). Turn the vacuum to the on position but not plugged in, then can turn on from a safe distance away by plugging in the extension cord, 3) Handy to put a rope around the vacuum to be able to pull it back from 20 ft away in case any stragglers are left buzzing around. 4) May need to repeat in a few days as the queen may still be laying eggs. 5) if you want to get the queen by digging force then make sure to be covered head to toe. I’m content at this point using this method for ground nests as in the past I used the highly toxic foam spray which I know can’t be good for us and the environment. Thanks! Good luck!

[@thejoosisloos]

@@paulkeller9552 hey Paul thanks for the reply, what kind of scouts play drums? 😂 Sorry this was in reply to your electric drum repair video. Just wondering if the repair held and for how long?

[@ABeautifulHeartBeat]

​@@thejoosisloos3 months and counting

[@laparmusik7854]

Im curious, how piezo can broken?

[@paulkeller9552]

The VERY thin going wires going into the piezo disc breaks right outside the disc. The replacement discs have a thick wire going into them which can tolerate the hits.

[@drmoze]

nice video. btw, its pronounced pee-ay-zoe, not pee-zoe.

[@ABeautifulHeartBeat]

Haha other side 🤣