Best Wood for Bass Drum!

[2WQ1332]

Hi drummers (:p),

My first post, I been looking around for a long time but just don't have the chance to post. Just hoping you will do me a favour by just answering this question.

What's Best Wood for Bass Drum?

I know - "Why built when you can buy?" The reason I wanna built is because I really get into drums and wanna rock out it. I wanna get something special and last long; just like a custom set.

I just need to know what wood are best for bass drum. I been playing metal lately in studios; jamming; I don't own one yet. I haven't got the chance to try different drum set.
I need a very solid sound; a blasting sound like in the techno.
Any recomended wood accepted.

Thanks,
Raven

[Ironcobra]

go for either maple or mahogany, they are better in the lows, especially if you're playing heavy metal. but make sure u get a good one, there nothing worse then a bass that says clank rather then oomph. most of the choices arent that hard, if your willing to spend the money, and go for something like tama or pearl, none of the sets will let you down

[2WQ1332]

How about Ash? How is the sound like? Never played one before. . .

[harryconway]

Let's go back to your project of "you want to build your own drums". Are you a woodworker? Are you planning to form your own shells? Are you going to buy pre-formed shells?

[2WQ1332]

I have a friend who knows how to make drum, he can help me make one.
He retired from some china drum company. So I guess he should have some good skills.

[harryconway]

This info. off the Pearl web site might start you in the right direction, at least. First link deals with 3 types of wood. http://www.pearldrum.com/masterworks.asp Second and third link are from the Reference Series and Parls use of multi-blend woods. http://www.pearldrum.com/ref-wood.asp http://www.pearldrum.com/reference-rf.asp

[Ironcobra]

if your planning on doing any serious playing, go for the proper set. one screw up and it will sound horrible, plus adding all the hardware perfect, it probably wont work out for you, you should buy a real kit and build one as a secondary kit

[CBPEAVEY]

Mahongany or maple no doubt whatsoever. I've got 5-ply mahogany bass drums and they are beasts.

[Deathmetalconga]

The best wood for a drum might not be wood at all - people make drums out of all sorts of things, including metal, plastics and pure wood, as well as wood composities like traditional ply(wood) drums.

But for standard plywood, I would say mahagony is going to give you the best low end possible. By its nature, it has less definition and midrange than harder woods like maple, ash, birch or oak. But you can make up for that with choosing the right heads and beaters. Then, you'd have a drum with maximum low end resonance AND lots of definition - a truly "fat" sound.

I came across a tutorial on how to make traditional Brazilian instruments and there were instructions on making a surdo (bass drum carried around the neck, played upright while marching). The maker got very thin plywood, cut it to size and showed how to bend it into a cylinder, install reinforcing strips at the seam, how to clamp and glue it, etc. He then got some off-the-shelf hardware and finished it. I wish I could find it now. You could make your own bass drum shell like that for around $50.

[larlev]

if your planning on doing any serious playing, go for the proper set. one screw up and it will sound horrible, plus adding all the hardware perfect, it probably wont work out for you, you should buy a real kit and build one as a secondary kit

Oh really..................give me a break

[larlev]

How about Ash? How is the sound like? Never played one before. . .

Ash sounds good..I have a dominion kit... with that being said, wood choice isn't really important...edges, shell thickness, size, heads, tuning are going to affect sound MUCH more than wood type.

I have said this a thousand times on this forum.....there is way to much emphasis on wood type, look at shell construction first, sizes...etc. To most of our ears there isn't enough noticeable difference to worry over which wood type...

[Drummer Karl]

Yes, of course a Mahagoni/Maple bass drum would sound killer! Man, this kick has to impress.

But why not try another project: Combining a wood with many depths with a wood with many highs, a dark one with a bright one.
Would give you a very balanced sound, wouldn`t it?

Karl