Unix new bearing edge

[Unix]

This is something I wanted to tty for quite a while.

It's a huge roundover inside a 45 deg. outside. It represente best of both world, 3 angles set witch are 30 deg on top, 45 deg in the middle and a 60 deg in the bottom. It has the quality of the 30 deg and 60 deg, it look good and it's a lot smother inside the shell.

The result is a blend of good attack with plenty of warmness or body. And it look a lot better then the standard strait angle.

[tbmills]

great idea! im glad someones trying something new with this part of the drum. maybe its just me but the bearing edge on 20+ ply shells look ridiculous. i think something like this would look and probably sound alot better.

EDIT: i wouldnt be surprised to see this become the new standard in bearing edges.

[Ozzy Biz]

I'll say it again frank... Patent it before Pearl steals yet another idea!

[Unix]

I'll say it again frank... Patent it before Pearl steals yet another idea!

You can't patent a bearing edge, I asked my lawyer. And if someone copy it, well so be it, it will be a proof that my work worth something.

[stasz]

You can't patent a bearing edge, I asked my lawyer.

That's a shame. I don't know too much about the science of bearing edges but I can tell you that this edge cut looks totally gorgeous and the design makes sense to me. And I don't know about you but I've seen patents on some ridiculous things that anyone could think of, so I don't get why you can't patent an original idea like this bearing edge design which is obviously researched and has taken time to design.

[FunkyJazzer]

it will be a proof that my work worth something.

You don't need proof mate. Everyone here and beyond knows you make beautiful art that's worth more than you give it credit for.

And those bearing edges look epic by the way.

Lloyd.

[trkdrmr]

"Il semble magnifique ! Fait mon eau de yeux…."

..I hope I said that right. I am studying French on rosetta stone while I am deployed.

[frank0072]

That looks really awsome Frank. How do you make those edges; is there a specific machine that does it for you, and is it something only drum builders have, or is it something that woodworkers in general can do?

I have an 8" pvc pipe that is destined to become my 8" racktom, and the only part which I am not certain about is how to give it bearing edges... any tips?

[tracer]

Have any sound/YouTube clips?

[sacco]

I can't believe I missed this thread, which I discovered only thanks to Big Philly's post on this other Unix snare http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58335.

Well, once again I am really really impressed by Unix craftmanship! François always tries new directions, and the execution is so incredibly good!

Will some day Unix drums be available also in Europe?

[Pavlos]

Bonjour Francois. These bearing edges do look really cool. Like Sacco I just discovered this thread.

Just curious, do you ever send examples of your drums to be sold in any music shops in Montreal, or is everything custom order? If yes, which stores? I'd love to hear some in person next time I visit.

And which is it for you, Habs or Sens? (I see you're kind of in the middle.)

[timmdrum]

I don't really get how the shape of the inside cut is supposed to change the sound of the drum. From the edge's apex inwards, the head is flat across to the other side. The position of the apex with the shell's thickness will change the pitch of the drum [increasing or decreasing the heads vibrational circumference] and the shape of the outer cut will add/subtract shell resonance [by how much of the head is touching wood]. But I don't see how the shape of the inside cut matters.

[Aeolian]

Yep. I admire fastidious craftsmanship as much as the next guy. And attention to detail will often show up in many places in something like a drum.

But, it's important to remember the term bearing edge. It is the relationship of the head to how it bears against the shell that affects the vibration of the head. Anything downstream of that is strictly cosmetic, however lovely it may be.

Now in a very thick shell like some of the 2"+ solids and staves people make, there can be an effect from reflection off the surface of the edge as it goes substantially into the interior of the drum. In the case of interior reflections, I love curves. In fact, I've be really interested in a thick shell builder coming up with an ellipsoidal shape to the entire inside, and how that sounds with the sound waves more evenly dispersed within the drum.

[Big_Philly]

I'm doing a paper on this for a course on intellectual property (IP) in product development. This is a very interesting little thing - it seeps right through the net of both patents as registered designs as it almost qualifies for both of these, but not quite. There's no risk-free way of protecting this design via IP rights as there's a lot of grey area in IP. Best thing to do is market it agressively through forums - like Unix has done here - to make sure that people know about it and know that Unix was the first one to do this kind of bearing edge.

[konaboy]

You make some absolutely beautiful kits and that edge looks great!!

[Drum-Head]

"Il semble magnifique ! Fait mon eau de yeux…."

..I hope I said that right. I am studying French on rosetta stone while I am deployed.


You said "He seems magnificent! Make my water of eyes..." lol! : )

Those shells alone are beautiful, really.