RB2 EL/SL Drum Comparison (With Pictures)

[Plaguefox]

Two weeks ago I purchased a Rock Band 2 Wireless Drum set from Circuit City. It was an “SL” set, according to the box.

Yesterday I received another via DeepDiscount several weeks after the initial order that I forgot to cancel. This set is designated “EL”.

I was very surprised to see that Harmonix is apparently still relying on two (or more?) significantly different manufacturing processes—likely by two different plants—for Rock Band 2, especially after the criticism that surrounded the RB1 variations.

The following is a comparison. Some differences are significant, sometimes even affecting gameplay. Some are purely aesthetic. Look below for a link to pictures of these traits.

• Gameplay

o Both sets performed admirably, with very few phantom hits and virtually no missed notes, even during rolls. This is a testament to the general build quality of the new drum heads.
o The EL bass pedal was easier to press down, which made multiple bass kicks in rapid succession easier to manage.
o The SL set would not synchronize with an Xbox 360 Wireless Headset. The EL set had no trouble with this.
o The EL set velocity sensitivity requires very hard drumming for loud hits. The SL, on the other hand, requires incredibly light tapping to trigger soft hits.

• Drum Head Assembly

o The rim of the SL set drum head is white and is set very slightly above the drum surface. The EL set features a grey rim and the drum surface is significantly deeper.
o The internals are considerably different all around. The rubber grommets on the EL set are pointier and covered in a rather unpleasant glue.
o The button assembly on the SL features a loose directional pad, poorly printed ABXY labels, and thin quadrants around the Guide button. The EL directional pad is very firm, the buttons feature a bolder, more consistently shaped typeface, and the Guide quadrant ring is more substantial.
o The secondary ports on the back of the main button assembly feature a different design between the two sets.
o The bottom sticker is nearly identical, and oddly features the same exact FCC ID and IC codes for such differing products. Notably, the MTV Games logo is almost yellow on the EL set and firmly green on the SL set.
o The SL set has holes through which the rubber grommets feed. These are not open on the EL set.

• Stand Assembly

o The SL main stands have clamps that do not close fully; the EL set’s leg clamps close flush with the surrounding black plastic.
o The EL leg connectors (that the pedal mounts to) press flush into the feet. The SL set, even when pushed tightly together, have small gaps at the edges.
o The SL set stand assembly features incredibly thick, grippy rubber soles. The EL, in comparison, features a combination of thinner rubber material and, in some instances, a semi-firm foam.
o The EL set feet feature snap-in connectors, while the SL equivalent connectors just push in and rely on a tight fit.

• Kick Pedal

o The SL variation features countersinks more accurately fitted to their flat screws. The EL set features a much sharper bevel on the design pressed into the metal.
o The same very thick gripping rubber found on the SL set’s feet is found on the kick pedal. The SL even features one more rubber sole than the EL counterpart.
o The EL pedal base sits flush to the ground. The SL, however, sits quite high off the ground due to the thick rubber.
o The SL pedal underside features an extra tab on the orange plastic, as well as slightly more grip on the rubber bumpers.
o The 1/8” TS connectors feature different designs.

All told, it’s really not easy to say “one is definitely better than the other”. The SL set has a far better chance of not moving around due to the super-thick rubber feet, but that also elevates the kick pedal and in some situations can make the far end of it fly up when you’re kicking frenetically. However, the EL set is a given for anyone with a wireless headset (though that might just be a small batch of SL sets with this problem). And then some people genuinely have accuracy issues with certain sets, though both have behaved fine for me.

I was originally going to link each picture example to the related bullet above. But I'm way too tired and it was getting tedious with forum code. So, here's a nice directory listing showing all the pictures. Sorry for all the awful jpeg compression on some of the shots; a fault of my batch processing.

http://gamecast.org/drumcomparison/

In the end, I just wanted to provide some interesting pictures. As well as pose the question: why do you think Harmonix is still manufacturing two noticeably different sets? Perhaps contracts with multiple Chinese manufacturers that haven’t ended yet? Maybe there is a still-present belief that it somehow results in a more consistently acceptable user experience?
_________________

Plaguefox!

[Plaguefox]

Two weeks ago I purchased a Rock Band 2 Wireless Drum set from Circuit City. It was an “SL” set, according to the box.

Yesterday I received another via DeepDiscount several weeks after the initial order that I forgot to cancel. This set is designated “EL”.

I was very surprised to see that Harmonix is apparently still relying on two (or more?) significantly different manufacturing processes—likely by two different plants—for Rock Band 2, especially after the criticism that surrounded the RB1 variations.

The following is a comparison. Some differences are significant, sometimes even affecting gameplay. Some are purely aesthetic. Look below for a link to pictures of these traits.

• Gameplay

o Both sets performed admirably, with very few phantom hits and virtually no missed notes, even during rolls. This is a testament to the general build quality of the new drum heads.
o The EL bass pedal was easier to press down, which made multiple bass kicks in rapid succession easier to manage.
o The SL set would not synchronize with an Xbox 360 Wireless Headset. The EL set had no trouble with this.
o The EL set velocity sensitivity requires very hard drumming for loud hits. The SL, on the other hand, requires incredibly light tapping to trigger soft hits.

• Drum Head Assembly

o The rim of the SL set drum head is white and is set very slightly above the drum surface. The EL set features a grey rim and the drum surface is significantly deeper.
o The internals are considerably different all around. The rubber grommets on the EL set are pointier and covered in a rather unpleasant glue.
o The button assembly on the SL features a loose directional pad, poorly printed ABXY labels, and thin quadrants around the Guide button. The EL directional pad is very firm, the buttons feature a bolder, more consistently shaped typeface, and the Guide quadrant ring is more substantial.
o The secondary ports on the back of the main button assembly feature a different design between the two sets.
o The bottom sticker is nearly identical, and oddly features the same exact FCC ID and IC codes for such differing products. Notably, the MTV Games logo is almost yellow on the EL set and firmly green on the SL set.
o The SL set has holes through which the rubber grommets feed. These are not open on the EL set.

• Stand Assembly

o The SL main stands have clamps that do not close fully; the EL set’s leg clamps close flush with the surrounding black plastic.
o The EL leg connectors (that the pedal mounts to) press flush into the feet. The SL set, even when pushed tightly together, have small gaps at the edges.
o The SL set stand assembly features incredibly thick, grippy rubber soles. The EL, in comparison, features a combination of thinner rubber material and, in some instances, a semi-firm foam.
o The EL set feet feature snap-in connectors, while the SL equivalent connectors just push in and rely on a tight fit.

• Kick Pedal

o The SL variation features countersinks more accurately fitted to their flat screws. The EL set features a much sharper bevel on the design pressed into the metal.
o The same very thick gripping rubber found on the SL set’s feet is found on the kick pedal. The SL even features one more rubber sole than the EL counterpart.
o The EL pedal base sits flush to the ground. The SL, however, sits quite high off the ground due to the thick rubber.
o The SL pedal underside features an extra tab on the orange plastic, as well as slightly more grip on the rubber bumpers.
o The 1/8” TS connectors feature different designs.

All told, it’s really not easy to say “one is definitely better than the other”. The SL set has a far better chance of not moving around due to the super-thick rubber feet, but that also elevates the kick pedal and in some situations can make the far end of it fly up when you’re kicking frenetically. However, the EL set is a given for anyone with a wireless headset (though that might just be a small batch of SL sets with this problem). And then some people genuinely have accuracy issues with certain sets, though both have behaved fine for me.

I was originally going to link each picture example to the related bullet above. But I'm way too tired and it was getting tedious with forum code. So, here's a nice directory listing showing all the pictures. Sorry for all the awful jpeg compression on some of the shots; a fault of my batch processing.

http://gamecast.org/drumcomparison/

In the end, I just wanted to provide some interesting pictures. As well as pose the question: why do you think Harmonix is still manufacturing two noticeably different sets? Perhaps contracts with multiple Chinese manufacturers that haven’t ended yet? Maybe there is a still-present belief that it somehow results in a more consistently acceptable user experience?
_________________

Plaguefox!

[Xusder]

[Xusder]

[Plaguefox]

[Plaguefox]

[Xusder]

[Xusder]

[BriGuy]

Wow, great job with the pictures. Thanks a lot for that breakdown.

I think the reason for the different builds is that they have purchased probably millions of each component and somewhere along the way they re-engineered the product (like what was done several times with the Strat). So instead of wasting the plastic and millions of spent dollars, they went ahead with production of at least two different RB2 drum models. As long as the quality is there (so far), there is no reason to completely drop one model unless it has a major defect. It does make it a little harder for us who want to mod them, but the average consumer will never know about these differences. But for us of course this is vital info.
_________________

[BriGuy]

Wow, great job with the pictures. Thanks a lot for that breakdown.

I think the reason for the different builds is that they have purchased probably millions of each component and somewhere along the way they re-engineered the product (like what was done several times with the Strat). So instead of wasting the plastic and millions of spent dollars, they went ahead with production of at least two different RB2 drum models. As long as the quality is there (so far), there is no reason to completely drop one model unless it has a major defect. It does make it a little harder for us who want to mod them, but the average consumer will never know about these differences. But for us of course this is vital info.
_________________

[Xusder]

[Xusder]

[Plaguefox]

Recent conversation with a friend of mine has me wondering the same thing.

Are there any RB2 drum sets marked QM? I haven't heard anything about that out in the big big Internet.
_________________

Plaguefox!

[Plaguefox]

Recent conversation with a friend of mine has me wondering the same thing.

Are there any RB2 drum sets marked QM? I haven't heard anything about that out in the big big Internet.
_________________

Plaguefox!

[REBELBOY]

Yay I got a SL its FTL it has cross talk with the yellow and blue but I put socks under the heads and thats fixed, but I hate not being able to use ANY headset AT ALL

[REBELBOY]

Yay I got a SL its FTL it has cross talk with the yellow and blue but I put socks under the heads and thats fixed, but I hate not being able to use ANY headset AT ALL

[FinalSunrise]

so, does anyone know which models experience the Y/B crosstalk issues, or is it just a matter of luck, also how about the center thingys bubbling up, cuz those are the two things stopping me from buying this set
_________________

Nevermind my avatar, it's from back when that was impressive lol.

[FinalSunrise]

so, does anyone know which models experience the Y/B crosstalk issues, or is it just a matter of luck, also how about the center thingys bubbling up, cuz those are the two things stopping me from buying this set
_________________

Nevermind my avatar, it's from back when that was impressive lol.

[PhilipinoPride]

[PhilipinoPride]

[Nalk]

[Nalk]

[Megabert]

I'm going to add info about the QM drumsets to this post in another color.

[Megabert]

I'm going to add info about the QM drumsets to this post in another color.

[Llednik]

Im going to pick up a RB2 drumset tomorrow, which seems the best for GAMEPLAY...i dont care for the other stuff.

[Llednik]

Im going to pick up a RB2 drumset tomorrow, which seems the best for GAMEPLAY...i dont care for the other stuff.

[JonyBoyHache]

I have an EL, no crosstalk, but I do have an air bubble on my red pad.
Anyway to fix it or it doesnt affect gameplay? I does affect the velocity a little though.
_________________

Goals:
Beat tour mode ()
Beat RB2 Hard Drum Career ()
Beat RB2 Xpert challenges, excluding vocals ()
Be top 50 360 Hard Drums ()
FC 10 songs ()
Complete all my goals ()
GT: STA JonyBoy

[JonyBoyHache]

I have an EL, no crosstalk, but I do have an air bubble on my red pad.
Anyway to fix it or it doesnt affect gameplay? I does affect the velocity a little though.
_________________

Goals:
Beat tour mode ()
Beat RB2 Hard Drum Career ()
Beat RB2 Xpert challenges, excluding vocals ()
Be top 50 360 Hard Drums ()
FC 10 songs ()
Complete all my goals ()
GT: STA JonyBoy

[mhartman]

I have a SL model but I guess I'm lucky. The power button is loose but the directional pad is tight/firm. The button labels are clear and centered. No issues with crosstalk or anything else. The clamps close just fine.

[mhartman]

I have a SL model but I guess I'm lucky. The power button is loose but the directional pad is tight/firm. The button labels are clear and centered. No issues with crosstalk or anything else. The clamps close just fine.