Head Resting

[YamahaDrummerAus]

Hey Guys,

I am just wondering how necessary resting a new head on the drum for 24hrs is. Does it affect the life or tone much?

How many of you guys do it?

Tom

[YamahaDrummerAus]

Cheers! I will tune it now!

Thanks,

Tom

[slingerland755]

I attended a Simon Phillips clinic many years ago and spent a good 30 minutes explaining the benefits of seating a head. He took a new head, cranked it up, pressed down on it, retuned it, etc. Of course the head was tuned beautifully when he finished. Tuning a drum is not one of my strong suits and I'm apt to do it your way, but wanted to share that some of the big guys are still seating their heads.

[jking]

I will be watching this thread with great interest as I know many on this forum recommend the "Drum Tuning Bible" which recommends seating heads. I am interested to see what kind of responses you get.

[rmandelbaum]

I think you both may be right, and again I may be way off base but here goes.

I have not used Remo heads for a while but I think Remo heads still need to be seated, the way they secure the mylar to the aluminum rim causes this. When you stretch it you will hear cracking as it settles in.

I now use predominantly Evans, I slap them on and tune them up, nothing more.

Someone who knows Remo heads well may tell you different and I would say that they are most likely correct.

Lets see who comments on that.

[YamahaDrummerAus]

Hmmm.....

Well I have tuned it up. It sounds quite nice. I have used an Aquarian Hi-Energy Snare head. It has a ring to it, which I can't seem to get rid of through tuning. I have put a little bit of gaffer tape on the head towards the rim, but it doesn't seem to have done much.

[fourstringdrums]

Hmmm.....

Well I have tuned it up. It sounds quite nice. I have used an Aquarian Hi-Energy Snare head. It has a ring to it, which I can't seem to get rid of through tuning. I have put a little bit of gaffer tape on the head towards the rim, but it doesn't seem to have done much.

You're using Aquarian? I read that you're NOT supposed to seat Aquarian heads. Just tune them up and play. Something with how they're made that if you press in the center like you would to seat normally that you could damage the head.

[Steady Freddy]

Neither Evans or Aquarian recommend breaking in heads. It seems to be one of those things that have carried over from another era. Drum tech Jeff Ocheltree states that as long as the head is on the shell and the hoop is in contact with the collar how you do it is totally up to you. He doesn't use a star pattern to tension up the head. Neither dose Roy Burns.

As long as the head is evenly tensioned it doesn't matter how you get it there.

I change heads often. I usually bring the head up to pitch, play it, and then check it the following day. Then it is retensioned if needed, and it usually holds the tuning for several weeks.

YMMV

[rmandelbaum]

Interesting comments on not using the star pattern, I gave up on that years ago.

I snug the head up as evenly as I can by feel when turning the key. I then strike the drum and tune up an down a little slowly until I find the drums sweet spot, I do this with each lug and I am done. Maybe I am lazy but I get noting but compliments from sound guys.

[fourstringdrums]

I still use the star pattern and Bob Gatzen says it's a must because if you don't, the head will get pulled unevenly to one side. The better thing to do is tension with two opposite keys at once.

[da cheese walks]

in regards to heads i just tune em up high, push in a little bit, and then retune....

i dont use the star tuning thing...im just lazy....

just tune it up how i like it and then get a good sound out of it...it works....

[maddrummr]

I still use the star pattern and Bob Gatzen says it's a must because if you don't, the head will get pulled unevenly to one side. The better thing to do is tension with two opposite keys at once.

YES!

If you pull it to one side the head will shift causing the sweet spot where the head should sit to shift where it shouldn't go. Thus creating a sound that you probably don't want.