Jump to content
Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

Number of Lugs?


Bubba

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 4
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Probably the biggest difference is how a it affects the tuning process.

 

If you have more lugs, then there are more contact points with which to fine tune the drumhead. The most popular number of lugs these days is going to be 10 lugs on a 14" snare drum. Obviously if you use a small diameter drum, you will probably have less lugs. You're not going to find 10 lugs on a 12" snare drum because you just don't need it. Toms typically have less lugs because of the sound that is produced from them versus a snare. The average number of lugs on a 14" tom is going to 10 on a pro quality kit, 8 lugs on a entry level kit.

 

There are a lot of other factors that influence the sound of a drum, so don't let the number of lugs hang you up too much.

 

 

 

------------------

Bart Elliott

http://bartelliott.com

Drummer Cafe - community drum & percussion forum
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well said Bart!

 

The number of lugs can make a difference in tuning a drum. I have a prototype Slingerland snare from 1980 that is a 12 lug snare. It is the best snare I have ever heard because the tuning is so acurate.

 

One of the hardest drums to tune is an old Gretsch 13" tom. It had 5 lugs. This made for one node of the head as an odd-ball in tension adjustment. It was very hard to get the ripples out of the head, but once you did get the drum tuned! ... SWEET! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

Hope all this helps.

DJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, my Gretsch kit has a 5 lug 12 inch tom.

If I'm not tuning it up for jazz, it's a challenge at times.

 

Another factor that has been introduced regarding tuning is the thinner threads on the tension rods ... like what DW uses. This allows minute changes to be made by only slight turns. It also keeps the tension rods from loosening up on their own, just from normal playing.

 

 

 

------------------

Bart Elliott

http://bartelliott.com

Drummer Cafe - community drum & percussion forum
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...