Rock Band standalone drum kit now shipping in US and Canada

If you've been hankering after some Rock Band but hesitant to buy the full bundle because you've already got a couple Guitar Hero controllers lying around, or you've just beaten your existing drum kit to pieces, you're in luck -- Harmonix is now shipping the Rock Band Drum Kit to stores in the US and Canada, just a little bit later then we'd heard. The kit will retail for $80, which isn't all that bad -- especially considering the myriad alternate uses for the triggers once you get bored of playing "Maps" over and over again. Expect it to pop up soon in US stores, with a 2-8 week delay before it hits Canadian shelves.

[Via Joystiq]

[robwariii @ Feb 21st 2008 4:24PM]

amazon already had these. i ordered mine yesterday and it shipped out today

[RyanTV @ Feb 21st 2008 8:42PM]

I saw them on the floor at best buy about an hour ago too.

[KangMin @ Feb 21st 2008 4:32PM]

Now they we can buy blackmarket copies of 'Drum Hero'
w00t!

[MARSHAK @ Feb 21st 2008 9:30PM]

drummers often play an 'unsung hero' role in the band. you need them but drummers talents arent as well recognized as it appears easier than thrashing a guitar.

[phanbouy @ Feb 21st 2008 4:32PM]

that's cool that Dire Straits are licensing their drum technology

[Jack @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:52AM]

just need flashing headbands now

[Wayne @ Feb 21st 2008 4:36PM]

Saw the drums at Best Buy on Tuesday night.

It's too bad they don't come with the game.

[Boynamedsue @ Feb 21st 2008 4:38PM]

i bought rock band for my girlfriend to play. I like the rock band guitar much more than the GH guitar, but i can't sing worth shit and my poor white genes have left me with no rhythm. So i have a giant as video game controller i never use.

the girlfriend is getting pretty good at it, watching people play it on expert makes me think it may be a skill that could carry over easily to the actual instrument.

[MnM333 @ Feb 21st 2008 4:39PM]

Canada already has this.

EBGames in Rideau at Ottawa had a few in stock this afternoon.

[N30tid3 @ Feb 21st 2008 4:42PM]

I got mine at Fry's in Austin last Friday. Well worth it!

[jimmy @ Feb 21st 2008 4:44PM]

fantastic, now can a brother get a wireless xbox360 guitar already?! whats taking so long?

[LegendZ28 @ Feb 21st 2008 6:09PM]

Agreed.

[phanbouy @ Feb 21st 2008 4:45PM]

Drum Kit - now featuring 4 snare drums and like a whammy pedal or something

[beanspants @ Feb 21st 2008 4:55PM]

anybody know if you can make it where the drums make drum-ish sounds when you hit them rather than the generic sound of stick hitting plastic? because i saw a guy playing with these in Frys the other day, and in the minute i watched him, that sound got really old.

[Loban @ Feb 21st 2008 5:02PM]

You can't make them sound like real drums, but you can quiet down the "stick hitting plastic" sound by buying some felt pads. They're available at a lot of different online stores. A good one is: http://www.drumshhh.com/

I bought these and they were great, but eventually got rid of them because they all but eliminate the bounce of the stick off the pad which makes fast drumming really hard if you don't have that rebound. The felt pads not only dull the sound, but also the feel (bounce), and it just didn't feel right to me.

[Josh L @ Feb 21st 2008 6:03PM]

If you can hear the sticks hitting the pads, you don't have the volume high enough.

[Andy Anonymous @ Feb 21st 2008 7:22PM]

@Loban:

Instead of felt, try gum rubber pads, which you can also find sold around the net. Not only do they deaden the impact sounds, they also add bounce, so they can actually make some difficult rolls easier to pull off.

[Loban @ Feb 21st 2008 4:57PM]

Ah man, come on, I need another freaking guitar. I never bought GH2 or GH3 and I refuse to use a GH guitar anyway. Just release the standalone Rock Band guitars already please!!!

[Michael @ Feb 21st 2008 4:59PM]

I'm waiting for the guitar too. I've got the whole set, but my bro is a few hours away, and he doesn't want to buy the whole set just for the guitar. I'm around 5000 rank on drums on the PS3.

[Mike K. @ Feb 21st 2008 5:03PM]

Are the Canadian drums Neil Peart-approved?

[Ray @ Feb 21st 2008 6:35PM]

If that was the case, there would be a dozen more drums and a gong with the set.

[David @ Feb 21st 2008 5:09PM]

I work at Best Buy and we have had these for about a week or a week an d a half now. Nothing new.

[JD @ Feb 21st 2008 5:20PM]

Wal-Mart had them Tuesday. I almost bought one for those drum battles at home, but then decided not to, since I haven't had much time to play at all recently anyhow :/

[Pip @ Feb 21st 2008 5:29PM]

I bought mine from Best Buy two weeks ago.

[Jason @ Feb 21st 2008 5:31PM]

Sam's club had em two weeks ago...

[motorer @ Feb 21st 2008 6:23PM]

my local wal-mart has had these for almost a week now.

[Steve @ Feb 21st 2008 6:35PM]

Well, this is a life saver. You don't feel like much of an expert when you're playing with holes in your drums.

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[Ghoti @ Feb 21st 2008 6:49PM]

Like others, I saw this in the store two weeks ago. Still awesome news!

[Nick Foslund @ Feb 21st 2008 7:24PM]

I work at a Best Buy and I have seen them for 2 weeks.

[Ollie @ Feb 21st 2008 7:59PM]

Sorry to be the grammar/spelling nazi a-hole here but read this sentence again. If you can't find anything wrong with it, drown yourself.

"Harmonix is now shipping the Rock Band Drum Kit to stores in the US and Canada, just a little bit later then we'd heard"

[Zack @ Feb 21st 2008 8:25PM]

Everyone see those little tabby thingys at the top of the yellow and blue drums. I do believe rock band will be planning on adding on for an expansion pack or rock band two. That means there may very well be 6 DRUMS instead of just 4.

Anyone know anything more about this expansion?

[Elequin @ Feb 21st 2008 9:26PM]

You pull those little tabs out to hold your drumsticks.

[Randall @ Feb 21st 2008 9:29PM]

those tabs are for holding the drumsticks.

[jtowski666 @ Feb 21st 2008 8:42PM]

Had this at my wal-mart since the end of January.

[Ryan @ Feb 21st 2008 9:15PM]

EB Games Canada had these today in store.

[oly va ha @ Feb 21st 2008 10:40PM]

at the fry's i work at in roseville theyve been sitting on the floor for like 4 or 5 days...no one seems to notice them though

[Shiver @ Feb 22nd 2008 6:45PM]

Come on EA. European release very soon please. Thank you!

[JohnZ22 @ Mar 2nd 2008 1:02PM]

That's cool - we needed this. One tip - put this mod on - http://www.DrumPads4RockBand.com

[Pooka @ Jun 18th 2008 1:56PM]

Way to be behind the curve on this one! They were available early last week in stores.

Great "news" guys.