German digital drum manufacturer Gewa has recently announced the launch of their G3 series kit, which incorporates the drum sounds and playability of its higher-end G9 and G5 kits into a more affordable package. Below, we dissect the announcement, looking at what makes the Gewa G3 special and how it compares to its rivals at a similar price range.
What is the Gewa G3?
The Gewa G3 electronic drum kit brings the sounds and playability of the higher-end G5 and G9 kits to a lower price point. It does this by limiting the number of Trigger Inputs and audio outputs, as well as dropping the acoustic-style aesthetic of the drum shells of the G9 and G5 Pro, adopting “traditional” eDrum pads instead.
When does the Gewa G3 launch and what’s the price?
The G3 will become available in stores from mid-November 2022. A price has been provided in Euros only, coming in at €1,899.
How does the Gewa G3 compare to the G5 and G9?
The G3 uses an identical sound engine to the G5 and G9 modules and promises to deliver the same playability as the two higher-end kits. That means the kit features the same 40 drum kit presets, made up of 901 different sounds based on up to 1,000 real sound samples per instrument.
To achieve a lower cost, the module is cut down in a couple of key ways. Compared to the G5 module, the number of trigger inputs is cut down from 12 to 11, and the 4x direct outputs are dropped, leaving a 2x 1/4“ stereo TRS output only. Meanwhile, the G9 features 14 trigger inputs, adds a SPDIF 48 kHz out, and doubles the direct-outs to 8.
How many trigger inputs does the Gewa G3 have?
The G3 module features 11 trigger inputs, meaning there’s only room for one additional instrument beyond what you get in the package. This puts it in a similar ballpark to the Roland TD-17, but less than more expensive alternatives like the TD-27 module.
What are the main features of the Gewa G3?
The G3 kit comes with the following drum and cymbal pads:
- 3x 10″ Tom Pads
- 12″ Snare Pad
- 10″ Kick Pad
- GEWA Studio Rack
- 18″ Ride cymbal pad (3 zones)
- 14″ Crash cymbal pad (3 zones)
- 14″ Hi-Hat cymbal pad (3 zones) incl. controller
- Hi-Hat stand
There are a few features that set this kit apart from its rivals.
First, the large cymbal pads, measuring 14 to 18 inches, which are larger than the 12-13 inches of the pads found on the comparably priced Roland TD-17KVX. Gewa say their cymbal pads are based on the dimensions and weight of the pro-level Paiste 2002 cymbal line, but unlike their acoustic counterparts, feature a unique pattern on the top which some may like but others may find too “futuristic”.
Another unique feature is that the Hi-Hat has three zones and a chokable edge. These are the only Hi-Hats with a playable bell area, which feels especially useful as something that I typically make use of when playing my acoustic kit.
Finally, a Hi-Hat stand is included in the package, which is often not the case with eDrums. Remember though that you’ll need to buy your own bass drum pedal separately if you don’t already have one.
Does the G3 use sampled drum sounds?
Yes, the G3 sounds are identical to those used on Gewa’s flagship G9 module, using up to 1,000 samples per instrument which were recorded at the renowned Funkhaus Studios in Berlin.
How does the Gewa G3 compare to other kits at a similar price?
The G3 is unique at this price point when it comes to the trigger inputs, which all use individual sockets instead of a cable snake. This is a good feature for flexibility with your set-up, repairability and expandability. If you lose a cable or one breaks, you can simply replace that cable alone, instead of having to replace the entire cable snake.
When it comes to setting up and expanding your kit, it means you have more choices where you place each instrument, as you’re not tied to a restrictive cable snake where often cables are at different lengths determined by the designer.
And expandability is simple, as you can just buy another pad with a cable, connect it to one of the two aux inputs, and place it where you want.
What are some alternative electronic drum kits to the Gewa G3?
The launch price of €1,899 puts the kit in a similar ballpark as the following kits:
- Roland TD-17KVX
- Yamaha DTX6K3-X
- ATV EXS 5
- EFnote 3
The post Gewa G3: preview and first impressions first appeared on eDrumHub.
