How to get PUNCHY bass?

[maximusppl]

I play on a Mapex Saturn kit....currently I have a EMAD batter and a Powerstroke 3 (with hole) resonant head, with an EQ Pad...its sounds nice and bassy but I want to get more punch out of it....think Chris Adler and his saturn kit...

How do I have to tune the heads to get that same sound???

[martynmc7]

Perhaps more dampening, unless u already have a pillow or something in there. Also i always tune the resonant side of the drum higher than the batter, that should help. If these don't work then you may concider a change of head, perhaps pinstripes for the batter side, i think Chris Adler uses Aquarian heads thought i don't know which.

[cdrums21]

Max my brother,
What I didn't mention to you in the email is what was mentioned above. If your heads are tuned low, front head the same or slightly higher, and you're still getting too much tone, a bit more dampening may help, but with the head combination you mentioned, you should be able to get that kick drum sounding pretty sweet with some minor adjustments.

[Josh is a cult]

both of my heads on my kit are as low as possible but the ressonant is a little higher i use the plastic side of my beaters...and people tell me my bass drum sounds like a cannon...

I also have an aquarian kick pad

[hardrocker74]

It is all about the side of the beater you are using!!

[maximusppl]

My Mapex drum pedal comes with a beater that has 3 sides: wood, felt, and plastic....currently I am using the felt side...should i use the plastic side?

[Afrolicious]

This would definetely increase the attack/punch. It's not very hard to just try all three sides, is it?

[Ekim]

I changed my Iron Cobra beaters from felt to rubber and got a HUGE difference in sound and tone. In fact, too much so and I've switched back. I've come to like more tone from my BDs instead of the attack/punch.

I never tried plastic, but I'd guess that would be even punchier.

[matt986]

Try losing the front head completely if you want a lot of punch and nothing else. A lot of studio album are recorded like this. Also, use the plastic side of the beater, but beware..this will definately cause the head to wear faster....

[Josh is a cult]

i am switching to big wood beaters..hopefully it will give it some extra kick..

[bighaibigdrums]

Put a pillow inside. Thats what Adler does.

[76RogersLondoner]

You could also try EMAD Resonant head.Emad Batter + Emad Resonant = Much Punch!

[Stu_Strib]

Try a small pillow touching both heads. It deadens the ring and gives it more of a thump sound and less of a boom sound.

[PdoubleE]

Yes.. the EMAD Did wonders for me.. It turned my 90's export select bass drum into a Professional sounding Thump. I cover my resonent head on my bass drum 15% with a evens drum pillow.. and it seems to be perfect for me.

[thumper]

I have an 18" bass drum, which gives me less "boom" as it is, but I also use an Aquarian Powerkick 1 (single ply) batter head, a Remo Falaam slam kickpad, a stock Tama (unported) resonant head and a Tama wooden beater with no muffling whatsoever. I get more of a sharper "click" sound with little resonance. If we are playing in a larger venue, I will put on a Evans G2 ported (ebony) resonant head for mic'ing, but it doesn't detract from the nice "punchy" sound that I prefer from my bass drum.

[NaturalRaZ]

I'm curious to know what your definition of punchy is maximusppl. Some drummers definitions vary. Could you explain or give an example?

[Drummer Karl]

Try to cut a hole wich is around 8-10" big. Put a pillow into your bass drum wich fills around 30%-40% of the bass drum. Pay attention that the pillow touches the batter and the resonant head!
then tune your batter head and your reso soooo low pitched that it makes a "brr" sound if you play it. then pitch it up A BIT (so that it doesn`t make this "brrr" sound anymore)
then you should have this punchy sound...

Karl

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

I'm curious to know what your definition of punchy is maximusppl. Some drummers definitions vary. Could you explain or give an example?

he did: "think Chris Adler and his saturn kit..."

[cdawg_2010]

Try losing the front head completely if you want a lot of punch and nothing else. A lot of studio album are recorded like this. Also, use the plastic side of the beater, but beware..this will definately cause the head to wear faster....
you can get a falam slam pad from remo and they go on the bass drum head where you hit it and they will make the head last a lot longer, plus it will give it the extra punchy sound you're looking for

[PdoubleE]

Try to cut a hole wich is around 8-10" big. Put a pillow into your bass drum wich fills around 30%-40% of the bass drum. Pay attention that the pillow touches the batter and the resonant head!
then tune your batter head and your reso soooo low pitched that it makes a "brr" sound if you play it. then pitch it up A BIT (so that it doesn`t make this "brrr" sound anymore)
then you should have this punchy sound...

Karl

You really should not cut a hole over 6 inches.... it starts to sound like cardboard.. Same with putting pillows in it.. Dont over do it.. covering the heads 15% is about as much as you want.. Unless you like that cardboard sound.

[NaturalRaZ]

he did: "think Chris Adler and his saturn kit..."

Ha... thanks dude. Funny I missed that! *stoooooopid*

Well... everything has been said that I could come up with.

[Drummer Karl]

You really should not cut a hole over 6 inches.... it starts to sound like cardboard.. Same with putting pillows in it.. Dont over do it.. covering the heads 15% is about as much as you want.. Unless you like that cardboard sound.

yeah, he can experiment with the pillow...but for this situation I like bigger holes...no cardboard sound, we made a very big hole into the 22" in the music school, sounds VERY punchy. but very pleasing, too!

Karl

[Drummer X]

you could always get an evans retro screen for reso? that provides no resonance...my resonance head got ripped up (stock one) so i removed it completely, and i have blankets in my bass drum and it sounds soooo punchy, i love it....so i think the retro screen would give the same effect...i have evans eq3 for batter right now

[Drum-Head]

Keep in mind that any hole in the kick reso head bigger that 7" is the same as not having any reso head at all...

[fusssion]

Aquarian Super Kick II w/ a Falam Slam pad, .....cut an 8 - 10" hole in the reso side...NO MUFFLING!

It's all you need.......no fuss! :)

[DillingerEscp]

yeah man, crank your reso head... itll make it go POW

[TomasHakkesBrain]

yeah tight reso head all the way & no muffling!..check out this bonzo tuning video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDxoGmyrwDg

[eightill]

Try to cut a hole wich is around 8-10" big. Put a pillow into your bass drum wich fills around 30%-40% of the bass drum. Pay attention that the pillow touches the batter and the resonant head!
then tune your batter head and your reso soooo low pitched that it makes a "brr" sound if you play it. then pitch it up A BIT (so that it doesn`t make this "brrr" sound anymore)
then you should have this punchy sound...

Karl

????????????????? (wow)

[wy yung]

I play on a Mapex Saturn kit....currently I have a EMAD batter and a Powerstroke 3 (with hole) resonant head, with an EQ Pad...its sounds nice and bassy but I want to get more punch out of it....think Chris Adler and his saturn kit...

How do I have to tune the heads to get that same sound???


Over the years I've used many kinds of bass drums, from concert bass drums to rope tuned south American bass drum. One thing I have learned is that the sound I desired was always achieved through tuning. When I have wanted a brighter, punchier tone, I have tuned the drums to a higher pitch. Usually keeping the tension equal on both the batter and resonant heads.

As for the heads, I think that we have a great deal of choice today and even though this is great, it can turn us from the basics. Such as tuning. Were I you I would tune the resonant head first to a higher pitch than what I've been using. Once I have a bright, clear and even tone, I'd then tune the batter in the same way.

Muffling is something that you will need to experiment with. I would begin without muffling and try to get the desired tone from the drum first. If then I needed muffling I'd probably begin with a folded towel against the batter. I may also use a wooden beater. If the folded towel failed, I might use some foam in the bottom of the drum, or perhaps one of those plastic rings made by Remo that hold a circle of foam against the outer ring of the head.

The best method as far as I have been able to tell over the years is experimentation. Just try different tunings until you discover the sound you like. You may also discover different tonalities along the way that you can use at a later time. If you begin to enjoy tuning, you may end up like myself and find yourself adding entire pieces of fabric or naugahyde over the batter head. When I began doing this, I would lay the fabric across the head before putting the hoop on. Then I would cut around the hoop, leaving enough so as to secure it down with the tension rods while making sure the fabric was evenly spread across the head held down by the hoop. This gives you a really nice muffled tone that can work very well in some circumstances. I've used it on a few recordings when people wanted a really warm, natural tone. It's great fun experimenting like this.

[Drummer Karl]

????????????????? (wow)


huuuh? =) what do you mean?

Karl

[Drummer Karl]

Okay, here is my personal update:

Since I wrote my first suggestion about a punchy bass I experimented and was told much. I also got my Basix and tuned it punchy (playing with it in a rock band mostly). So this is also an experience for a Jazz drummer...lol

Heads: Take whatever you want. For the punchy sound you don`t always need Powerstroke or EMAD. I made the experience that a normal muffled single-ply head can sound much more punchy sometimes than a powerstroke for example. So there are no rules! Try some heads out and take what you like most. At the moment I play a Powerstroke 3 as batter head on my Basix. It is tuned very low and it sounds "medium punchy" for smaller gigs and versatile projects.
I also still have this stock single-ply head by Remo UK. It`s the batter head which is most versatile in my opinion and I heard and really felt that it is also the most punchy head. Don`t know, it just amazing. Perfect for bigger and louder gigs.
Honestly I always thought that Powerstroke & Co make the punchiest sound...but I was wrong. With the following things also a single-ply head sounds killer.
As for the reso head I don`t refer any special heads, just a normal single-ply (normal muffled).

The hole: Very important part...so in my last post I said that an 8" or 10" hole would be good...lately I saw and heard that the hole shouldn`t be too big. But in my opinion also not too small. If I cut a hole in my Basix bass drum reso head I`ll do it not so big, maybe 6" or 7". It`s also about the size of the bass drum. For a 20" (like mine) I would dislike a 9" hole for example. For a 22" maybe yes.
Overall you can notice that we can bash each other (especially about the hole topic) the whole day. For me it is a personal thing.

Pillow & Co: Kinda neccesary for me. I always get a long "brrrr" sound when tuning it so low. So a little blanket or a small pillow which touches the heads is good for sound. Gives even more punch. Also about this little topic I made my experiences. Sometimes you just need a simple small pillow...lol I`d fill about 20% of my bass drum...I am honest: 40% are just a bit too much.

Overall I find it amazing how versatile a bass drum is. On the one hand I listen to so many Jazz drummers whose bass drum sound like a note and on the other hand I listen to many funk/rock drummers whose bass drum sounds either like an unreal punch or like a sound what is in between those two.

These are my suggestions and it`s my personal point of view about that topic...

Karl =)

[Skitch]

My Mapex drum pedal comes with a beater that has 3 sides: wood, felt, and plastic....currently I am using the felt side...should i use the plastic side?


Yes, and here is the twenty minimum.


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[eightill]

huuuh? =) what do you mean?

Karl

Well, I'm new to the forum and this will sound bold but... I can't believe they let you even post here Karl. I've read a ton of your posts and you contradict yourself so much and have no clue what your saying. You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk. Reading your posts confuse the crap out of me.

[Drummer Karl]

You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk.

Actually not...and I never want to be one of those people.
And that point with contradicting...well, I`m 15, every day, and I promise, every day I make so many new experiences, the same was with that thread. Don`t wanna use my age as an excuse but what should I do?? Delete my old posts?
lol, read some posts of me a year ago and compare them with some new posts of me. Just in the my gear topic you`ll find many contradicting things (e.g. one year ago I didn`t like one finishes so much but now I compliment those finishes because I love it. Or a year ago personally my favourite Ride cymbal I really loved for Jazz was the AAX Stage Ride, now I go for other things because I find that AAX Stage Ride sound too "sythetic".)

And your sentence "You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk.": I can just take this statement as insulting because particulary those people I don`t like.

er....and why should one ban me because I change my opinions over the months and I make new experiences every minute I play drums?

Karl

[rjvsmb]

Actually not...and I never want to be one of those people.
And that point with contradicting...well, I`m 15, every day, and I promise, every day I make so many new experiences, the same was with that thread. Don`t wanna use my age as an excuse but what should I do?? Delete my old posts?
lol, read some posts of me a year ago and compare them with some new posts of me. Just in the my gear topic you`ll find many contradicting things (e.g. one year ago I didn`t like one finishes so much but now I compliment those finishes because I love it. Or a year ago personally my favourite Ride cymbal I really loved for Jazz was the AAX Stage Ride, now I go for other things because I find that AAX Stage Ride sound too "sythetic".)

And your sentence "You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk.": I can just take this statement as insulting because particulary those people I don`t like.

er....and why should one ban me because I change my opinions over the months and I make new experiences every minute I play drums?

Karl

Karl,

I applaud your very clear and mature way of explaining your self. I beg you to keep that open mind that allows you to take your experiences and build upon your knowledge and opinions.

Opinions should have room to grow or change as we gain more knowledge and experiences in life and in music. The only thing that is constant is change.

Cheers!!

[Drummer Karl]

Karl,

I applaud your very clear and mature way of explaining your self. I beg you to keep that open mind that allows you to take your experiences and build upon your knowledge and opinions.

Opinions should have room to grow or change as we gain more knowledge and experiences in life and in music. The only thing that is constant is change.

Cheers!!

thanks.

Anyway, it really hurts that I look like a person here who just likes to hear his own voice, that I seem arrogant for people here and without "a clue" <--- quote. Because as I said, I don`t like people much who are like this...
I`m always open for other`s opinions and never wanna get insulting. If I did this, I`d automatically throw myself on a very low level. (I learned that previous thing also through the forum). I´d never write something like: "Hey, what´s your problem you *******, I`m the best and you know nothing, ****!" Sorry, was just a hard example. lol

I`m sorry if I seem strange or arrogant through my posts, actually I`m the opposite. or if I seem to contradict myself but I`m nothing but a human who also changes his opinion, especially in this age. Well, and I love this place and post day for day here (just because I wanna learn and talk in a constructive way, not because of my post count!!!) so the people can just read very well when/that I change my opinion.

I have to say that I like critism and also pick it up...IF it is constructive and not destructive.

and I remember this sentence of my father: "If you have friends, you also have comrade-in-arms."
Never fight against them, accept them and their critism. That is my point of view.

Karl

[eightill]

Word, Karl. Mature response indeed. I'm just here to learn more like every one else... but some ppl think something and don't say it... I just say it... so my banter can be harsh sometimes... I really dig ur response though and apologize for being an ass this morning. =)

[wy yung]

We all get out of the wrong side of the bed at one time or another. We're only human.

[Drummer Karl]

Karl,

I applaud your very clear and mature way of explaining your self. I beg you to keep that open mind that allows you to take your experiences and build upon your knowledge and opinions.

Opinions should have room to grow or change as we gain more knowledge and experiences in life and in music. The only thing that is constant is change.

Cheers!!

thanks. =)

Anyway, it really hurts that I look like a person here who just likes to hear his own voice, that I seem arrogant for people here and without "a clue" <--- quote. Because as I said, I don`t like people much who are like this...
I`m always open for other`s opinions and never wanna get insulting. If I did this, I`d automatically throw myself on a very low level. (I learned that previous thing also through the forum). I´d never write something like: "Hey, what´s your problem you *******, I`m the best and you know nothing, ****!" Sorry, was just a hard example. lol

I`m sorry if I seem strange or arrogant through my posts, actually I`m the opposite. or if I seem to contradict myself but I`m nothing but a human who also changes his opinion, especially in this age. Well, and I love this place and post day for day here (just because I wanna learn and talk in a constructive way, not because of my post count!!!) so the people can just read very well when/that I change my opinion.

I have to say that I like critism and also pick it up...IF it is constructive and not destructive.

and I remember this sentence of my father: "If you have friends, you also have comrade-in-arms."
Never fight against them, accept them and their critism. That is my point of view.

Karl

[Drummer Karl]

We all get out of the wrong side of the bed at one time or another. We're only human.


Well...that is right indeed!

No fear...I won`t come to Chicago and stalk you with a pink bunny costume. ;-)
It´s okay.

Karl

[cnw60]

Karl - there's no doubt that you're a prolific poster :-) - I've always taken that as a sign of your enthusiasm for the subject and not as sign of arrogance or anything like that.

And after all - it is a discussion forum.

keep it coming.

[wy yung]

thanks. =)

Anyway, it really hurts that I look like a person here who just likes to hear his own voice, that I seem arrogant for people here and without "a clue"

Karl

Okay, here's my thoughts on the matter at hand: i.e. criticism.

If you want to be a musician you have to get used to it. Remember the line "everyone's a critic" because it is true. I was once on a gig playing percussion with a pop act and in between sets this guy came up to me and complained that I wasn't playing, in his words "Afro Cuban enough!" I had been instructed by the artist not to play conventional latin style percussion. And here I was covering the artist to her satisfaction and then being balled out by some guy who didn't have a gig on that particular Saturday night. I simply said to him "Really?". Collected the cheque and laughed it off.

As we saw here it was only a matter of someone probably not fully awake at the time anyway. He seems a decent sort and so do you. The point is not to let it get to you. You need a thick skin in this business. The sensitive ones don't usually last. At least that's my experience.

[eightill]

Okay, here's my thoughts on the matter at hand: i.e. criticism.

If you want to be a musician you have to get used to it. Remember the line "everyone's a critic" because it is true. I was once on a gig playing percussion with a pop act and in between sets this guy came up to me and complained that I wasn't playing, in his words "Afro Cuban enough!" I had been instructed by the artist not to play conventional latin style percussion. And here I was covering the artist to her satisfaction and then being balled out by some guy who didn't have a gig on that particular Saturday night. I simply said to him "Really?". Collected the cheque and laughed it off.

As we saw here it was only a matter of someone probably not fully awake at the time anyway. He seems a decent sort and so do you. The point is not to let it get to you. You need a thick skin in this business. The sensitive ones don't usually last. At least that's my experience.

Hmmm... I like that story. You're certainly correct about the criticism/sensativity message. My feelings about wack posts hasn't changed... I just realized that I should not say anything at all instead of saying what I did... this is (as you guessed) just a case of being a bit grumpy this morning. My bad... but there's a difference in not knowing something and reading and learning and not knowing something but sharing it anyway, then changing ur mind, then reading something someone else posted and changing your mind again, etc. Like: "Fill your bass 40% with pillows... no no, 10%... no no, 27%". Blind leading blind. It's like when someone asks a question on a forum and someone replies with "Not sure dude... have no clue"... anyway, I'm not trying to be a jerk... I just say what I think inside... unfiltered here.

[wy yung]

I just say what I think inside... unfiltered here.

You say what you mean and you mean what you say. I'll have to buy you a beer one day.


And that, my friends, is how one gets a punchy bass drum sound! ;-)

[eightill]

You say what you mean and you mean what you say. I'll have to buy you a beer one day.


And that, my friends, is how one gets a punchy bass drum sound! ;-)

LOL. Yeah, let's return the thread back to the freakin kick drum. =)

[Deathmetalconga]

LOL. Yeah, let's return the thread back to the freakin kick drum. =)

OK.

I think it's crazy to choke off the sound of the drum by stuffing pillows, blankets and mattresses into it. You might as well be playing a block of wood.

I don't understand why drummers get the brightest, ringiest heads possible, then kill their drum with stuffing to control all the ring. I have a plenty punchy bass drum and I don't put anything into it. I simply have very thick heads (Fiberskyns). This lets the full voice of the drum punch through, but kills ringiness.

www.terrasonus.com

[eightill]

OK.

I think it's crazy to choke off the sound of the drum by stuffing pillows, blankets and mattresses into it. You might as well be playing a block of wood.

I don't understand why drummers get the brightest, ringiest heads possible, then kill their drum with stuffing to control all the ring. I have a plenty punchy bass drum and I don't put anything into it. I simply have very thick heads (Fiberskyns). This lets the full voice of the drum punch through, but kills ringiness.

www.terrasonus.com

I agree... and with that said I have a question. Is it pointless to use your kickdrum's spurs to lift it off the ground to increase resonance and then throw a pillow in it? With a muffling device in your kick, will it sound the same on or off the ground? Just saw a picture of a drummer in a local band a bit ago.

[wy yung]

I agree... and with that said I have a question. Is it pointless to use your kickdrum's spurs to lift it off the ground to increase resonance and then throw a pillow in it? With a muffling device in your kick, will it sound the same on or off the ground? Just saw a picture of a drummer in a local band a bit ago.

I think the drum resonates more when lifted off the floor.

I too agree with not using pillows etc. But one likes to leave options. ;-)

[Deathmetalconga]

I agree... and with that said I have a question. Is it pointless to use your kickdrum's spurs to lift it off the ground to increase resonance and then throw a pillow in it? With a muffling device in your kick, will it sound the same on or off the ground? Just saw a picture of a drummer in a local band a bit ago.

I would just use the spurs to balance the drum and raise it level. I haven't thought of them as a factor in resonance. If you can get away with it, why have spurs or any other type of hardware bolted to the drum at all?

I have a custom-made 18-inch bass drum and I ordered it without spurs. I use a cradle Velcroed to the hoops to keep it level and to minimize the holes and points of contact with the shell.

www.terrasonus.com

[Drummer Karl]

Like: "Fill your bass 40% with pillows... no no, 10%... no no, 27%". Blind leading blind.

Sorry that I talk about this again...but I just wanna mention that my replies are never blind. When I filled my Basix bass drum I just noticed that 40% are too much. I post here not what I guess and believe, I post here my experiences and opinions.

I thought that 40% are good and a few month later I just make the experience that 20% for example are much better.

So, to be a nominal (so, having no own opinion) and to be arrogant is something I can not offer. Definitly not.

Karl

[fourstringdrums]

I think the drum resonates more when lifted off the floor.

I too agree with not using pillows etc. But one likes to leave options. ;-)

I don't know about more resonance, but I think the most important part of getting the bass off the floor is so the beater hits paralell to the head.

I don't use pillows either. I have a hard time getting volume from my right leg so more muffling is a bad idea for me. I usually just use pre-muffled heads like an Evans EQ3 which is what I Have right now. I usually tighten the reso head more than the batter to get a punchy sound, and I want to try using a solid pre-muffled head with a felt strip per side on the edge of the head.

[Miggle]

My friends put pillows inside my old kit and tool like at least 60% space. It just gives off a quick "tod". My current kit (22x18 catalina maple) used to sound very boomy which sounded good at first but soon I was looking for more attack. I just retuned the kit, I don't know how... if I lowred the tension or what but now it sounds more balanced (no pillows, no holes). Exeriment with the tuning first. Just wanted to share my experience.

[X22]

I can tell you're new. Not knowing something but sharing it anyway is the rule of thumb around here.

...and not knowing something but sharing it anyway, then changing ur mind, then reading something someone else posted and changing your mind again...

[eightill]

I can tell you're new. Not knowing something but sharing it anyway is the rule of thumb around here.

What? That is absolutely retarded man. Were you the kid in class that raised your hand to say "I don't know"? Great. This is amazing to me.

[X22]

What don't you understand? I even used your own words. Does this mean you have no idea what you're even talking about? If I type slower or move the words around, will that help?

The... general... rule... of... thumb... is... to... post... when... you... know... nothing...

Thank you for reinforcing my point though.

What? That is absolutely retarded man. Were you the kid in class that raised your hand to say "I don't know"? Great. This is amazing to me.

[jollymosher]

Well, I'm new to the forum and this will sound bold but... I can't believe they let you even post here Karl. I've read a ton of your posts and you contradict yourself so much and have no clue what your saying. You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk. Reading your posts confuse the crap out of me.


I know Karl pretty well from the forums. he is young, but very very bright.

he is also a German, and from what i have noticed he makes you seem illiterate. Be polite to people, More so the old guard like Karl, he has been here a lot longer, and with your mouth he will be here long after you are gone. Start being nicer to people because as of right now, allot of the people that you should befriends with think you are an ignorant harlequin.

[eightill]

What don't you understand? I even used your own words. Does this mean you have no idea what you're even talking about? If I type slower or move the words around, will that help?

The... general... rule... of... thumb... is... to... post... when... you... know... nothing...

Thank you for reinforcing my point though.

??? It's fine to post a question when you don't know something... but sort of pointless to post replies/answers about things when you don't know. Who's getting what confused?

[eightill]

I know Karl pretty well from the forums. he is young, but very very bright.

he is also a German, and from what i have noticed he makes you seem illiterate. Be polite to people, More so the old guard like Karl, he has been here a lot longer, and with your mouth he will be here long after you are gone. Start being nicer to people because as of right now, allot of the people that you should befriends with think you are an ignorant harlequin.

Jollymosher... I'm really not here for the drama... I apologized to Karl early in the post for not keeping my mouth shut when I had something that wasn't polite to say... everything after that I have replied to ppl with comments about it... which I have the right to... being a discussion forum... and you are funny if you think I worry about this before bed or something. I'm just here for the drum talk and to learn... not to find new buddies... and at the same time, not to harass anyone or anger anyone... my original comment was indeed a mistake because it seemed to anger all you dorks... so I'm sorry. Too much drama for me really... if ppl would leave this thread alone now, I wouldn't feel compelled to come back and post and defend myself.

[stickers]

Punchy can be percieved in many ways but one thing it isnt is boomy so some sort of muffling must be used either by syle of the head or use of felt stripes or pillows.

But i do think there's such thing of too much punch where you just choked the kick and when you mic it it just sounds like a drum sample from a cheezy drum machine.. i kid you not but if you are goin for that cheezy pop sound for a song or section of a song (certainly not the whole album, I pray) then its an effect. But in general let the drum be a drum and let it breath. It all depends on what type of sound you want, though. For playing live its no biggie most of the time especially if it miced, if not then yeah don't choke it. Sometimes finding the sound you want can be tough but once you got it, you got it.

I always tend to think of drum sounds from a recording stand point since thats when you r sounds are more critical. Do what works not what looks good. If that means using a hole or even removing the head to get a sound then do it. Have some one hit you kick drum, stand in front of it, move around, analyze the sound. if thats the sound you want then fine if not, try different heads or a different drum.

Right now im sporting the emad and emad reso on my 14x20 kick. Its sounds really good but im I 100% satisfied no. Personally, i think a coated heads would sound better on it since thats the type of heads they put on it back in the day ..the 60s. At this point i'd just rather play then worry about head choice. if i am gonna record i'll pick up another beater and reso head and try different combinations heads and tuning.

[DWfan20005]

Well, I'm new to the forum and this will sound bold but... I can't believe they let you even post here Karl. I've read a ton of your posts and you contradict yourself so much and have no clue what your saying. You seem like one of those ppl who just likes to hear himself talk. Reading your posts confuse the crap out of me.


Well maybe find you confusing dude, have frigging patience. People showed lots patience with your hi-hat set-up problem. I bet smart Karl even contibuted to that topic as well.But seriously act your age not your shoe size.

[eightill]

Well maybe find you confusing dude, have frigging patience. People showed lots patience with your hi-hat set-up problem. I bet smart Karl even contibuted to that topic as well.But seriously act your age not your shoe size.

"But seriously act your age not your shoe size."

LOL. I haven't heard that one since 4th grade. Good one.

[hybridshooter]

For a really punchy sound I would tune medium- tight with a slightly higher reso head. Port the head with a 4-6" hole around the 5 o' clock position, and use a falam slam patch on the batter side. Muffling depends on your drum, but too much and it'll sound completley dead. Then the biggest thing is for when you're playing out or recording have the sound guy turn up the mids in the kick. Get it sounding good to your ears but don't worry about cutting out most of the boom, because at shows the sound guy is really going to have more control then you realize, so talk to them and have them help you in getting it sounding the way you want through eq's. Thats what Lombardo for slayer does, especially on the newest album, and it works GREAT!