Factory tuning on DW drums...

[druid]

I have read and seen in videos where DW basically does a 'factory tuning" of their drums before you receive them. I noticed with my own kit it came fairly tuned and set in decent ranges. One thing I noticed was the tuning itself was somewhat lower than what I used to tune at. The idea they try to accomplish is to get the drum in the range of the shell note for maximum resonance. The drums really do sing. Interestingly enough I have done my own tuning with the drums and am beginning to like a slightly lower range and have noticed it helps my hands to not play on a drum with such a tight response.( because it is literally more work) Has anyone else who plays DW experimented with this at all?

[Les Ismore]

Once you mess with their 'factory tuning', you can no longer claim to have the DW sound. Just another drumset.

[rmandelbaum]

DW drums have a very wide tuning range. I prefer to find the drum's sweet spot and go with that.

Oh and the DW sound is in any tuning range ;-)

[Skitch]

Originally Posted by druid

I have read and seen in videos where DW basically does a 'factory tuning" of their drums before you receive them. I noticed with my own kit it came fairly tuned and set in decent ranges. One thing I noticed was the tuning itself was somewhat lower than what I used to tune at. The idea they try to accomplish is to get the drum in the range of the shell note for maximum resonance. The drums really do sing. Interestingly enough I have done my own tuning with the drums and am beginning to like a slightly lower range and have noticed it helps my hands to not play on a drum with such a tight response.( because it is literally more work) Has anyone else who plays DW experimented with this at all?

I have found that my DWs have a wide tuning range but I prefer to have them higher in pitch than how they came from the factory. I also have a set with five toms and I have to find the good interavals between them, as I also have to find an area where my 8" tom sounds good but doesn't cause a sympathetic vibration with the snare drum.


Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[KarlCrafton]

Originally Posted by Les Ismore

Once you mess with their 'factory tuning', you can no longer claim to have the DW sound. Just another drumset.

Of course you're joking.


I hope.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Les Ismore

Once you mess with their 'factory tuning', you can no longer claim to have the DW sound. Just another drumset.

When my set needs new skins I just throw the kit away & buy new drums. All DW players do that.

[cornelius]

Sometimes I crank mine way up - way up. The skins are like a tabletop, then when they're as tight as they'll go, I go even higher...

My DWs sound really great at higher tunings, lower tunings, different heads...

[Les Ismore]

Oh and the DW sound is in any tuning range ;-)


Once you mess with DW factory tuning settings, you can then only claim at best, a "Pacific' (PDP) sound.

[KarlCrafton]

Originally Posted by Les Ismore

Oh and the DW sound is in any tuning range ;-)


Once you mess with DW factory tuning settings, you can then only claim at best, a "Pacific' (PDP) sound.

Yeah, but, OH MY GOD!! what happens if the drums shift in the box on it's way to you, and a lug goes out?!?

Does it still count as a factory tuning?

It's hard to believe that even a company as awesome as DW has that many drum tuning EXPERTS, AND have them on full time staff!

They must have to go to DW drum tuning school in order to work there and be so awesome!

Wow!

DW's workers are the BEST!!

No doubt about it, and don't try to convince me otherwise!!

Man, what about all those poor saps that buy kits that come shipped to drums shops without the heads already on the drum?!

I feel sorry for them. Those people are getting screwed bad!

Drum shop guys can't possibly tune drums right, or as perfectly as DW!!

[joeybeats]

Drum Workshop, like Gretsch, has very restrictive language concerning the tuning of their drums within their Percussion End User License Agremeent (PULA). Be sure to read it before you screw around with the tuning. Joey

[KarlCrafton]

Yeah, I heard that too.

Goes to show you really have to read the fine print before you invest in a companies product.

Man, you wouldn't want to be awakened some late night by a knock on your door by "them".....

Sir, we're from the Bureau of Unauthorised Tuning and Tentioning Service.

We've heard that you've been attempting to adjust the tuning on your drums....

Please come with us.


;-)

[joeybeats]

Exactly! Here is the pertinent portion from the License Grants parpagraph of the Drum Workshop PULA:

License Grants
2.1 ....
2.2 You agree that Drum Workshop may audit your use of the Authorized Percussion System for compliance with these terms at any time, upon reasonable notice. In the event that such audit reveals any use or unauthorized tuning of the Authorized Percussion System by you, other than in full compliance with the terms of this Agreement, you shall reimburse Drum Workshop for all reasonable expenses related to such audit in addition to any other liabilities you may incur as a result of such non-compliance.

So, not only may you violate the terms of the PULA, thereby voiding the warranty, but moreover, you can actually be held financially responsible for some pretty hefty costs. As I said, be careful before you tune those drums. Joey

[GRUNTERSDAD]

You are right about the Gretsch End User Agreement. When I bought my Renowns at the ridiculus price of 650.00 the guy told me had changed the heads, so I just figured they were no longer True Gretschs with that "Great Gretsch Sound," so I just ripped the badges off with a pair of pliers.

[joeybeats]

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

You are right about the Gretsch End User Agreement. When I bought my Renowns at the ridiculus price of 650.00 the guy told me had changed the heads, so I just figured they were no longer True Gretschs with that "Great Gretsch Sound," so I just ripped the badges off with a pair of pliers.

I think that will work, Gruntersdad. Of course, it will depend on the actual date your drums were manufactured. Gretsch started implanting their shells with ID micro-chips in the early 2007 models, so as to be able to determine authentic Gretsch equipment. Apparently, there were too many drummers doing exactly what you've done ... ripping off the badges to avoid being detected if and when audited. I guess Gretsch is quite serious about their PULA. Joey

*Edit - By the way, check out the Sonor PULA if you get a chance. You won't believe how restrictive it is.

[furbeedog@gmail.com]

Yeah, I went and visited the DW factory this summer, and apparently their new thing is going to be building drums with special lugs that have the same powder on them that fire alarms do, so if you touch them, you will have luminescent powder on your hands and DW PULA agents can shine a special black light on your hand to see if you have tampered with the lugs and/or tuning.

[6and21]

Oh man, I better keep watch over my back. Changing the heads on DW's sounds worse than removing that tag off a pillow.

[KarlCrafton]

Originally Posted by furbeedog@gmail.com

Yeah, I went and visited the DW factory this summer, and apparently their new thing is going to be building drums with special lugs that have the same powder on them that fire alarms do, so if you touch them, you will have luminescent powder on your hands and DW PULA agents can shine a special black light on your hand to see if you have tampered with the lugs and/or tuning.

Here come the BUTTS (Bureau of Unauthorized Tuning and Tentioning)!!!

You do NOT want them around your area!


They aren't gentle.

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

You are right about the Gretsch End User Agreement. When I bought my Renowns at the ridiculus price of 650.00 the guy told me had changed the heads, so I just figured they were no longer True Gretschs with that "Great Gretsch Sound," so I just ripped the badges off with a pair of pliers.

Now you know why I sold my New Classics.

[amortec500]

Hi everybody.
I'm still not sur what is the best snare between a
-Dw edge 6X14
-Craviotto maple shell (unlimited series) 6.5X14
I play rock, punk, pop, metal, different style.
What's the best sound?
J-C

[RogerLudwig]

Originally Posted by joeybeats

Exactly! Here is the pertinent portion from the License Grants parpagraph of the Drum Workshop PULA:

License Grants
2.1 ....
2.2 You agree that Drum Workshop may audit your use of the Authorized Percussion System for compliance with these terms at any time, upon reasonable notice. In the event that such audit reveals any use or unauthorized tuning of the Authorized Percussion System by you, other than in full compliance with the terms of this Agreement, you shall reimburse Drum Workshop for all reasonable expenses related to such audit in addition to any other liabilities you may incur as a result of such non-compliance.

So, not only may you violate the terms of the PULA, thereby voiding the warranty, but moreover, you can actually be held financially responsible for some pretty hefty costs. As I said, be careful before you tune those drums. Joey

I don't get it, tthe DW Website has this answer under FAQ's

"Tuning Your DW Drums:
At DW, we tune both heads to the same pitch. We recommend using single ply heads to achieve the maximum resonance. To begin, place the drum on a carpeted floor or on a towel over a table. Start with the bottom head making sure it is seated evenly with the tension rods finger tight. As you tap lightly on the head at each tension rod (about an inch in from the counterhoop), slowly tighten them. It works well if you start at a specific T-rod then move across the drum to the opposite one - then move two over - then across - and so on. Bring the tone up a little each time you go around the drum. To eliminate some overtones place your finger lightly on the center of the drumhead as you tap. Go to every other tension rod to fine-tune it, from one to the next. In the end, the pitch should be the same at each rod. What pitch that will be is up to you. The drum will hum once the shell's fundamental pitch is found with a sound similar to tuning a guitar by playing harmonic notes. When you're satisfied with that, flip the drum over and do the same on the top head. Be patient and don't be afraid to experiment. You can always try again. For a great pitch-bend, tune the bottom head down just a little. For the bass drum, tune the heads as loosely as possible - just enough to eliminate any wrinkles. Use the same tuning pattern above to achieve an equal pitch at each tension rod."

[Skitch]

Originally Posted by 6and21

Oh man, I better keep watch over my back. Changing the heads on DW's sounds worse than removing that tag off a pillow.

Yeah, they will send Irwin Fletcher after you.




Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
http://www.patentcoachmike.com
http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[drumr0]

When my first set of DW's went out of tune, I had to send them back to the factory to have them re-tuned. They were so far out of tune that the factory couldn't get them back in tune, they even tried some Aquarian heads, so they sent me a new kit!

Check my signature post #21 for the real story.