Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #613 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Madcatz
• Model: RB2063380/04/1
• Released on: 2009-02-11
• Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360
• Format: Unknown format
• Dimensions: 3.31" h x 10.55" w x 21.73" l, 4.60 pounds

Manufacturer's Description

Rock Band 2 Triple Cymbal Expansion Kit

The Officially Licensed Rock Band 2 Triple Cymbal Expansion Kit provides the means for you to drum like the pros do with velocity- sensitive Crash, Ride, and Hi-Hat cymbals. With the easy-to-install mounting brackets, you have total control and can setup your drum kit in any configuration you see fit. Once your drum kit has been customized to your standards, you'll be all set to attack your song library with new vigor and achieve the next step in drumming perfection.

Compatible with both Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band games on all platforms!

Cymbals are NOT compatible with The Beatles: Special Value Edition bundle.

Customer Reviews

Adds a nice extra depth to drumming
Alot of people have been asking what exactly is the point in having the cymbals - they don't make a difference to the actual songs themselves (a yellow cymbal hit is the same as a yellow drum-pad hit) but when you actually try them out, there's no going back!

You see, the cymbals add that extra 'feeling' of playing real drums. It;s hard to explain but when using them you really feel like you've stepped up a bit in rocking ability. Although there's no instant difference gameplay-wise, and you will need some getting used to them (you will need Rock Band 2 game & Rock Band 2 drum-kit to utilize them, although you can still play the original Rock Band fine with the Rock Band 2 kit) it adds that depth to realism.

During fills, big rock endings, and freestyle mode you can use them as they're own - hitting the yellow 'hi-hat- cymbal will make a hi-hat sound for example - customizing your experience.

The cymbal kit itself is well built and sports the Rock Band logo each cymbal making it look like is actually an official item (which it is, but is made by Madcatz). The clamps hold pretty well to the plastic cover over the silver metal support poles on your drumkit (there's a small black plastic section on the main bit of the drumkit where you slide the metal poles into) although for me they didn't quite seem tight enough (a bit of tape fixed that). You can move the height and position of them pretty easily as it uses a simple screw to tighten up.

Beware to those on wanting to use more than 3 cymbals - there are only 3 ports on the RB2 kit for cymbals (yellow = hi-hat, blue = ride, green = crash) and the clamps for this set only include single connectors meaning you can only connect up a maximum of 2 cymbals at a time ( the Single Cymbal kit does include a doubled up connector for 2 cymbals on one support post).

Cosmetic improvement only
These cymbals are not a necessary purchase but perhaps would appeal to purists who might like the aesthetic value of the overall appearance of RockBand2 drums.

The odd thing here is that us Europeans never got the RB2 hardware yet these cymbals have been available throught 2009! So I would have to say that although they will only work with RB2 drums (and since there is strictly no such thing in Europe) what I really mean is that they are compatible with the drumkit that has been released with The Beatles: Rockband as of 09/09/09. This dumkit is really the RB2 drums disguised in The Beatles Livery.

The usage of the cymbals is an alternative to what is already there and not an addition. That is to say since the drums already can record a hit on Red, Yellow, Blue and Green all the cymbals do is give you an alternative item to hit to get the same result.

This is what I mean by purists and aesthetic value. Striking the cymbals with the drumsticks feels a bit dull and heavy. The rubber cymbals appear to absorb the hit instead of reflecting it and therefore you do not get a natural "bounce".

Because of this I tend to stick with the drums and ocassionaly hit the cymbals on a Big Rock Ending for instance, which can be fun and at least a different way of finishing a song.

So the cymbals provide variety at a price but nothing extra; just more of the same.

If you have spare cash and would like to make your RB2 drumkit look a little more fuller then it's a decent purchase. Remember: these cymbals will not work with RB1 drums or Guitar hero drums. You can also purchase the cymbals in packets of 1 or 2 cymbals. My review is based on three cymbals.

The cymbals were easy to fit but some care is needed to get it right first time. You can colour your cymbals easily in any of 3 from the following colours: red, yellow, blue and green. Mine are Yellow, blue and green but I have kept the red coloured screw in case I want to change one of the cymbals.

The cymbals are slightly heavy and sit on top of a tubular pole extended upwards from a plastic clip supplied. The cymbals are then secured with one of the coloured screws which fastened without use of any tools. The cymbals are all black, tough plastic which make a dull thud noise on contact. They get their colour from the screws that you use to fasten them with.

I am not surprised that RB2 drums do not have these cymbals as standard because as I said, they are not strictly necessary and some people might not like them.

Adds a lot of fun and diversity
The Mad Catz Triple Cymbal Pack for the Rock Band 2 drumset is a great addition to an already fun game. Trying to figure out by the drum track whether I should be hitting the cymbals or the pads adds a new level of challenge to the drumming experience. Feels more realistic. But for beginners and first timers the drum set might look more intimidating with the cymbals on. Just remember to tell them that in the game it doesn't matter whether you hit, for example, the blue pad or the blue cymbal, it just registers as a blue hit.
Unfortunately one of the pads of the three in my pack resonates/vibrates in a high pitch when hit. It can be annoying and distracting at times but not too much. I'm sure I could fix it with some tinkering.
All in all I recommend this product to avid Rock Band players with a Rock Band 2 drum set. Remember, only the RB2 drum set is supported.
Rock on!