By David Gedge
ELECTRIC DRUM BATTLE
Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition Drum Kit
Orange Crush Acoustic 30
Different Drummer
Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition Drum Kit
Alesis and Roland are battling things out
on the electronic drum turf. Alesis’ new
Strike Pro Special Edition 11-piece elec-
tronic drum kit with full-sized 20” kick, lat-
est-generation heads, and an updated Strike
Pro Module is the company’s latest volley in
the electric drum wars. The full-sized kick
gives drummers an unprecedented degree
of response and impact, and it redefines the
playing experience and realism for electron-
ic drums.
The original Alesis Strike drums were
46 illinoisentertainer.com january 2020
offered an all-new drum and cymbal design.
Now, the new Strike Pro Special Edition
builds on that legacy, most notably with its
full-sized 20-inch kick drum. It’s designed to
look and feels like an acoustic drum. When
drummers sit behind the Strike Pro Special
Edition with its full-size kick, the playing
and visual feel is fundamentally identical to
an acoustic set, according to the company.
There is none of that “electronic kit adjust-
ment” period that players often experience.
Strike Pro Special Edition’s kick is solid and
responds and feels like an acoustic bass
drum. It’s ground-breaking.
The Strike Pro Special Edition utilizes
all-new latest-generation mesh heads, dual-
zone for the snare, and all the toms. Their
response is faster, more natural, and easier-
playing than previous models.
The 3-zone Strike Pro Special Edition 16”
ride cymbal, 14” crash, and 14” movable hi-
hat feel realistic: They are covered with a
thick rubber that creates the perfect blend of
feel, control, bounce, and volume. The cym-
bals offer a large bell area for enhanced
playability. The cymbals are quieter than tra-
ditional e-cymbals, perfect for late-night
practice sessions when sounds need to be
minimized. The new hi-hat, in particular,
sets a new e-standard for fast response,
solidity, and its fantastic ability to convey a
deft, subtle touch.
Strike Pro Special Edition‘s lugs are
attached directly to the shell, exactly like
those in acoustic drums. The direct adjust-
ment offered by these lugs is yet another
way in which the Strike Pro Special Edition
is superior to other e-kits. Strike Pro Special
Edition premium Hybrid Birchwood shell
snare and toms come in in standard acoustic
drum sizes (8-10-12-14”), so drummers
instantly like an acoustic set when they sit
behind it. Alesis recognizes that aesthetics
also play a role in the overall satisfaction
and positive attitude with which a musician
approaches their instrument. To that end,
the Strike Pro Special Edition uses black
hardware and gold tension rods, along with
a brand-new visually-distinctive mesh head
design.
The playability and character of this kit
utilize an expansive sound library with over
136 custom kits made from over 1800 instru-
ments and 45,000 samples. The module has
on-board sampling capability, 16GB external
card storage, and USB/MIDI connectivity,
which you can use in conjunction with your
favorite music production software as well
as the powerful new Strike Software Editor.
With this editor, players can assemble their
custom samples into multiple velocity lay-
ers and round-robin instruments, piece
together the perfect drum kit, and then
transfer it onto the module via USB. Every
feature and control is easy to keep track of,
thanks to the Strike Pro Module’s 4.3-inch
color LED screen, which displays all the
player’s settings and choices at a glance. It
adds up to unprecedented flexibility and
programmability, combined with total mas-
tery of the kit’s status.
“The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition
elevates the expectation of e-drum kits to a
new higher standard,” said John Emrich,
Director of Drum Development for Alesis.
“The days of saying, ‘Well, it plays pretty
well for an e-kit’ are over for good. Now
drummers will say, ‘Man! I love playing this
kit!’” The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition is
available now. U.S. pricing is $2,499.00.