New kick head, patch or no patch?

[BruceW]

What's the consensus? Do you folks put a patch for where the beater hits on a new kick drum batter head, wait till you've used it a while to extend its life, or wait till its gonna break if you don't.

I've usually kept a patch in the gig bag, "just in case", but figured I'd see what y'all do. Putting a new head on next week.

 

[xopherhills]

I put a patch on before I play even think about playing it.

 

[Out of Round]

I dont want to form a dent and I find the Falam patch a little too thick. I starting making my own by cutting a small circle from an old used Ambassador head. I currently have one cut from a Suede Ambassador head on a clear PS3.

 

[PorkPieGuy]

Falam patch and wood beater. The Emad comes with a thin patch, but I still stick the falam patch over it.

 

[Cmdr. Ross]

Always a patch. What kind & how thick is up to you. With the cost of heads that big these days, I wouldn't think of using one without it.

 

[Bo Eder]

Always a patch. What kind & how thick is up to you. With the cost of heads that big these days, I wouldn't think of using one without it.

I concur. At $70+ for a 26” head these days, the “sound artist” in me now takes a backseat.

 

[BruceW]

Very cool... I was thinking much the same, but thought it worth the time to see what other did.
Thanks

 

[Square]

Evans eq patch… always.

 

[DutchDrummersDreams]

Evans EQ patch for me too when using harder beaters.


At the moment my vintage Gretsch has an Emad without one as I play it with a bomber beater.

 

[cbphoto]

I put one on before I play a single note.

With wood beathers, sometimes it's not enough. The Remo Falam patch with Kevlar is stronger than the Evans plastic patch.

 

[Z]

No Patch

 

[Tamaefx]

No patch and felt beater, if I was to use plastic beaters, I would put a patch. That’s true that skins are really expensive those days, I may consider an EQ patch.

 

[dcrigger]

No patches for me - virtually ever. Hard beater, felt beater... either way... no patches.

 

[Bo Eder]

Very cool... I was thinking much the same, but thought it worth the time to see what other did.
Thanks

Not a bad question. In the old days when bass drum heads were under $30 I’d play without a patch because I liked that sound. Then covid happened and everything is expensive now I have to make it last

 

[Winston_Wolf]

I always put an Evans EQ patch or Aquarian Super Patch on every bass drum head. Those thinner, lighter patches don't change the sound of the head but now I don't have to worry about denting a bass drum head.

 

[Supraman5x14]

I always put an Evans EQ patch or Aquarian Super Patch on every bass drum head. Those thinner, lighter patches don't change the sound of the head but now I don't have to worry about denting a bass drum head.

Always a patch. And the thinner the better. They flex with the head. I recently experimented with a small circle cut out of a plastic milk jug and covered with three straps of Gorilla Gaffer Tape. Seems to work well with an old PS4 head that's on its way out. Gorilla Tape is awesome!

 

[ineedaclutch]

Aquarian Super Thin Kick Pad or the thin, clear Evans. Always. I’ve had the same thing happen as the pic@cbphoto posted at a gig, and the patch held everything together until the end of the show. Since then I’ve kept laminating sheets in my gig bag.