The best Roland modules on the used market for electronic drummers

 

The Best Used Roland Drum Modules for E-Drummers

When it comes to electronic drum gear, Roland is a name that stands above the rest. Known for their durability, realistic sound engines, and player-focused design, Roland's drum modules are widely used in both home studios and professional stages. They're extremely accurate triggering also makes them the perfect e-drum controller for software like EZ Drummer 3 or Superior Drummer 3! But if you're not looking to drop $2,500 on the latest TD-50X, there’s good news: the used market is full of fantastic, road-tested Roland modules that still deliver the goods in 2025.

Here’s a rundown of some of the best used Roland drum modules worth hunting down, whether you’re building a hybrid kit, upgrading from a basic brain, or seeking studio triggers on a budget.

🥇 Roland TD-17
Best All-Around Value

• Used Price: $450–$650
• Why It’s Great: The TD-17 is often called a “baby TD-50” for a reason. It has many of the same sound modeling features and a highly playable feel without the flagship price tag. Bluetooth audio streaming, advanced coaching tools, and deep editing capabilities make it a fantastic all-purpose module for practice, recording, and live use.
• Ideal For: Intermediate to advanced players, hybrid drummers, and home studios.

🥈 Roland TD-30
Best for Advanced Users on a Budget

• Used Price: $700–$1,000
• Why It’s Great: The TD-30 was Roland’s flagship module before the TD-50 series. It has expressive sound modeling, dozens of inputs, and deep parameter control. While it lacks the newer Prismatic Sound Modeling tech, it's still a powerhouse.
• Ideal For: Pro drummers, recording engineers, and tech heads who want deep customization.

🥉 Roland TD-11
Best Budget Entry to Mid-Level Module

• Used Price: $250–$400
• Why It’s Great: The TD-11 punches above its weight with Roland's SuperNATURAL sound engine. It has enough editing power and inputs to make it useful for practice kits, small gigs, or triggering samples in a hybrid setup.
• Ideal For: Beginners and intermediate players, or anyone needing a dependable backup module.

🧠 Honorable Mention: Roland TM-2
Best Compact Trigger Module

• Used Price: $150–$250
• Why It’s Great: The TM-2 is a two-input trigger module built for hybrid drumming. You can load your own samples via SD card and trigger them with any pad or acoustic trigger. It’s small, simple, and super effective.
• Ideal For: Acoustic drummers adding electronics, live performers, or minimal rigs.

🏆 Legacy Gem: Roland TD-20
Still a Studio Favorite

• Used Price: $500–$800
• Why It’s Great: The TD-20 was revolutionary in the 2000s and still holds up for many producers today. Its interface is a bit dated, but the sound quality and connectivity (MIDI, audio outs, V-Link) make it useful in many scenarios.
• Ideal For: Vintage gear lovers, e-kit enthusiasts, and studios with a rack of old gear.

🔍 What to Check When Buying Used

• Firmware: Make sure it's updated or you can update it yourself. Some older modules gained new features through updates.
• Inputs & Outputs: Check that all jacks work—especially the USB, MIDI and trigger inputs.
• Pad Compatibility: Verify your existing or planned pads are compatible (especially if you're mixing brands).
• Save Functions: Test saving kits or loading samples if applicable.

Coated vs Clear Drum Heads - A definitive guide

 

Coated vs. Clear Drum Heads: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

When it comes to dialing in your drum sound, one of the most important choices you’ll make is between coated and clear drum heads. While it might seem like a subtle difference, the choice between these two types of heads can have a significant impact on your tone, feel, and even your playing style.

Whether you’re a beginner just learning your kit or a seasoned player refining your sound, understanding this distinction is key.

What Are Coated Drum Heads?

Coated drum heads have a thin, textured layer (usually white) sprayed onto the surface. This coating slightly dampens the sound and adds a rougher texture compared to clear heads.

• Sound Characteristics: Warm tone, more focused attack, shorter sustain, slightly reduced overtones.
• Best For: Jazz, blues, classic rock, snare drums, and studio use.
• Feel: Slight friction for better articulation—especially with brushes.

Recommended Coated Heads:

• Remo Coated Ambassador – Classic choice with warm, open tone.
• Evans G2 Coated – Great durability with warm attack.
• Aquarian Texture Coated – Smooth feel, especially for jazz and brush work.

What Are Clear Drum Heads?

Clear drum heads are made from transparent Mylar and have no surface coating. They offer a brighter, more open sound compared to coated heads.

• Sound Characteristics: Bright tone, more resonance and sustain, pronounced attack, enhanced overtones.
• Best For: Rock, pop, metal, funk, toms, kick drums, and live performance.
• Feel: Smooth and responsive with more bounce.

Recommended Clear Heads:

• Remo Clear Pinstripe – Excellent for fat, punchy tom sounds.
• Evans G2 Clear – Bright and durable for all-around use.
• Aquarian Super-2 Clear – Balanced attack with controlled overtones.

Coated vs. Clear: Quick Comparison

Feature	Coated Heads	Clear Heads
Tone	Warm, controlled	Bright, open
Sustain	Shorter	Longer
Overtones	More dampened	More pronounced
Best Use	Snare, studio, jazz	Toms, kick, live shows
Brush Play	Excellent	Poor

So Which Should You Choose?

There’s no right or wrong answer—just what fits your style and sound. Many drummers mix and match: coated heads on the snare for warmth and articulation, and clear heads on the toms and kick for more power and sustain.

If you’re chasing that vintage, fat snare sound with minimal ring, start with coated. Want your toms to sing and your kick to punch through the mix? Clear heads are your best friend.

Final Thoughts

Your drum heads are like the strings on a guitar or the reed in a saxophone—critical to your tone. Swapping out heads can transform your entire kit, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Try both coated and clear heads and see how your sound—and your playing—responds.

Got a favorite drum head setup? Drop it in the comments below!

How to get free loops for making music

 

Creating music with Loopcloud is an accessible and inspiring process, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned producer. Loopcloud is a cloud-based sample library and music creation platform that integrates seamlessly with most digital audio workstations (DAWs). It offers millions of royalty-free samples, loops, and one-shots, all of which can be auditioned and edited before importing them into your project. The strength of Loopcloud lies in its ability to let you search for sounds by key, tempo, genre, and instrument, making it easy to find exactly what fits your track.

To get started, download and install the Loopcloud desktop app and connect it to your DAW using the provided Loopcloud plugin. This plugin allows real-time syncing, so you can preview how loops will sound with your project’s tempo and key before committing. Once connected, start by browsing the extensive Loopcloud library. You can drag and drop loops directly into the timeline, or use the internal editor to slice, rearrange, pitch-shift, or add effects before exporting them.

Loopcloud also features built-in tools for music creation beyond just samples. The Loopcloud DRUM and Loopcloud PLAY plugins allow you to design drum kits and instruments from the vast sample database. You can program beats, melodies, and basslines using MIDI, and then process them with effects like delay, reverb, and filtering—all without needing third-party plugins.

Ultimately, Loopcloud streamlines the creative process by giving you powerful tools to organize, manipulate, and audition sounds on the fly. Whether you're sketching out a new idea or adding the final layers to a mix, it encourages experimentation while keeping your workflow efficient and musical.

Get a free 14 day trial here!