- How To Get A Good Bass Drum Sound -

[andy_drummerboy]

What way do you tune your bass drum to archieve that ultra "BASS SOUND"...

List your techniques

[konaboy]

http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id6.html

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

What is the ultra bass sound?

Personally, I am using a PS3 type batter head, no reso, and no muffling on the inside. I use a walnut beater. I place my kit in the best spot in my room- facing out from one corner- which lets my kick just shake the whole room even though it's only a 22". I tune the head up to about medium tension I would guess- it's relative to my snare mainly.

[Maytridy]

I use the Evans coated EMAD for the batter and a Remo Ebony for the reso. Typically I tune the batter medium tension with the reso relatively loose. It gives a great punch. I have a 22", 10-lug, birch (virgin) bass drum.

[Drum-Head]

I second Sleepy, what do you mean by "ultra bass sound"?

[syaoran05]

my good bass drum sound? tight everything [not too tight, maybe around as tight as you would an 8" tom] and pillows inside. OR tight batter, pillows inside, and a reso with a really really big hole leaving around 2-3 inches of head at the circumference - the reso is just there to hold the pillows inside. clicks are welcome.

[Stu_Strib]

My technique is simple. Start with a great bass drum...in my case, a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute 22x18.

Slap an EMAD coated with the bigger muffle ring on there, and an EQ3 coated white reso head with the 5" port. Nothing in the drum..

Tune the beater head slack at each lug, then maybe 1/2 to 1 turn on each lug. The reso head is tuned a couple turns higher..you should be able to discern a specific pitch from the reso head...any looser and it sounds fwappy.

The trick to my setup is coated heads on both ends, because when I run it with clear Emad and black reso, I have to use a small pillow to take out the weird overtones.

Hope that helps...

[andy_drummerboy]

Hi guys,
sorry i mean Maximum bass!.. so to make a more bassier sound!?

[nickg]

for a long time i always had a small hole in the front head with some foam on the inside. and it DID sound very good.

on the new kit i am using the front reso head with NO hole or foam. just one felt strip on the front and back heads, with the front tuned just slightly higher than the back and it kicks major butt!!! basically "bonham" type tuning on the kick.

standard stock reso head on the front and an ATTACK 2 ply on the back.

[cjl71178]

Currently on my 18x22 Ludwig Classic Birch bass drum I have an Aquarian Superkick II on the batter side (with Evans kickpad) and the front stock Ludwig head. No muffling inside the drum, nothing. It sounds like dynamite.

I swear by only two bass drum batter heads:

Aquarian Superkick II
Evans EMAD

[T-1000]

Stu, would an evans emad 2 have the same effect of taking out the weird overtones as the emad coated?

[Salicete]

On a VML-Sonor Designer 18 x 22 BD:

Remo Powerstroke -3 - Tuned just a bit past wrinkled, with a flam pad installed.

Stock Sonor Black Resonant Side, with damping ring and 4 inch port cut into head, with a "Holz" ring in it, tuned the same way as the Powerstroke.

No other muting pads or pillows.

Gives great power, super punch and volume, with very quick decay, and no annoying overtones.

[Skitch]

my good bass drum sound? tight everything [not too tight, maybe around as tight as you would an 8" tom] and pillows inside. OR tight batter, pillows inside, and a reso with a really really big hole leaving around 2-3 inches of head at the circumference - the reso is just there to hold the pillows inside. clicks are welcome.

I used to do this A VERY LONG TIME AGO when it took me forever to comb my hair - LOL! Everyone was always amazed at the punch, by taking away the front head would, the drum would actually produce. I don't know why they were amazed; this was about the time of concert toms being a very big deal!

Mike

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


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

[eightill]

Just read some of the posts from you guys about tuning your batter head just past slack and thought I'd make a comment. For many months I was getting pissed off @ my double bass chops. I could play just great on the floor with my feet so I knew it wasn't my feet. I adjusted the crap out of my DW9000 pedals and tried every configuration with no change. One day I sat down @ this dude's kit and was going off so I examined his configuration and realized the only thing different was the tension of the batter head. I had mine tuned to just past slack because I thought that would give me that sweet, deep punch I was seeking. I tightened my batter and kept my reso just past wrinkle and like that my problem was solved. Felt stupid because it was so simple. SO MY ADVICE TO ROCK DRUMMERS is to try tightening the batter and leave the reso just past wrinkle... works for me. Peace.

[Skitch]

Here check this out on Youtube:

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

I never knew that this tunig technique existed!



Mike

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


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

[Thrash Drummer]

What is a good technique to getting the hole in the resonant head? I heard cutting it with a knife is bad. I've also heard a good way to do it is to get something hot and let it melt through (paintcan lid or bowl). I played a gig last night and I was told that the bad sound came from sound technition having no sound hole to place the mic in. I want to start recording again in about a week or so and I want a good sound with home (amature) recording.

[xcrazzy2xbass]

Lol if you think cutting it by hand is bad... Well i can safely say that duck tape is my best friend. I got the guy at the store to cut three 5" holes cut in the head that go down the right side vertically. he did it for free but looked at me like i was insane. Well after that i folded up some tissue and put about 3 patches of duck tape and tissue on each side. I definitely forgot about being practical, and well my bass sounds kick ass. I get a real punchy sound without wooden beaters, and the head is holding up well. But in terms of what you should do, i've heard of heating up a coffee can till its searing hot, and then pushing it against the head so that you burn a hole right through the head. You can clean up the edge with sand paper. Go with what you want and as far as tuning, i kept the resonant head decently loose, and tightened the batter lugs, about medium way.

PS- Clear heads are good for the resonant side (Remo Emperor, Evans Coated Gmad or w/e it's called) Sorry about the long posts, but, you asked!

[PHIL2007]

Here check this out on Youtube:

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

I never knew that this tunig technique existed!



Mike

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


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw
Makes you wonder where Gatzen found it.

[harryconway]

What is a good technique to getting the hole in the resonant head?

Buy the HOLZ port system. Guitar Center sells 'em. Follow the instructions. There is a knife involved.

[byebyepanda]

Currently on my 18x22 Ludwig Classic Birch bass drum I have an Aquarian Superkick II on the batter side (with Evans kickpad) and the front stock Ludwig head. No muffling inside the drum, nothing. It sounds like dynamite.

I swear by only two bass drum batter heads:

Aquarian Superkick II
Evans EMAD

And soundbytes online to hear of your amazing bass?

[PineyplayParadiddles]

I use an Emad tuned relatively high with the reso slightly lower and an Evan EQ dampening pad inside

[MadJazz]

Yeah I also think that tightening the batter improves playing. Eliminate ring by a piece of foam. Coated reso with hole further reduces ring.

I don't believe in emad. I have it and the drum still rings a bit. Placing pillows inside takes away the purpose of emad (external muffling). In addition, the foam ring doesn't stay fit during playing. The easiest method to get a good kick imo remains two PS3 heads with a small pillow or foam.

[bighaibigdrums]

. OR tight batter, pillows inside, and a reso with a really really big hole leaving around 2-3 inches of head at the circumference - the reso is just there to hold the pillows inside. clicks are welcome.

Exactly how I run mine.