Dampeners- Worth It?

[svkelleher10]

My set is rather large and has 8 toms (not including bass and snare) and when i play fast chops on any of them, the sound seems to turn into a jumbled and unpleasant mess. I am considering buying dampeners, but will they really make each hit more distinct, or will they just make the drums more quiet altogether?

[maddrummr]

I would check your acoustics. If you are playing in an unfinished basement with concrete walls the sound is going to bounce and sound mushy.

[Class A Drummer]

Dampeners only cost like 5$ for a whole mess of them, might as well spend the money and test em out. I think they are amazing inventions.

[PQleyR]

You could also maybe try tuning them slightly differently.

[fourstringdrums]

What heads do you have on there now? I would experiment with different heads first than resort to muffling.

[brianthedrummer]

Fact: Dampeners (muffling) decrease drum volume. Most of the time, they are only needed for cheap drum sets or to control single ply heads and there notorious undesirable overtones.

Fact: What you hear on your set, is not what others hear. Drums sound different when your behind the kit or if your standing on the other side of the kit.

Fact: Toms will not sound crisp and clear like the snare.

I would just make sure your playing is crisp and clean and on time. Play for someone else and ask, did you hear that clearly?