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somethings missing..............BD problems


ss

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I really can't figure it out...I have a 20x14 Classic Maple Ludwig kick and I'm using an Evans EMAD with a 14x14 sheet of egg crate bedding foam which is secured to the bottom, touching both heads. For some reason it seems as if the kick drum is not really loud enough and maybe even a problem with the attack. I guess I'm happy with its tone but when I first kicked on the EMAD I wasnt "exited". I mean exited like when you say to yourself "this is the sound I really want!". However, I love the sound Im getting from my toms and I'm using the factory reso heads with Evans g2 coated. If I have to change bass heads I will but I would like some cheaper advise if possible.

Thanks All!!

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This is a tough one to figure out over the internet.

 

a few ideas:

 

1: Try one of those little circle things that glue to the center of the batter head, where the kick pedal makes contact. Use one that is hard (wood?) to increase volume and attack.

 

2: Similarly, try a different beater head. Hard rubber might work for you, unless you're a "bury the beater into the head" guy..

 

3: If your pedal allows, try different adjustments. Changing the angle of the beater, and/ or changing between a linear type and an accellerator type, will increase volume (I forget which is which.)

 

Last: Is the drum OK? Check your bearing edges. If the drum is old and/or has been out in bad weather or heat a lot, this is possible.

See P Sound's excellent site for more info on this, plus answers to a ton of questions you wouldn't think to ask:

http://www.drumweb.com/profsound.shtml#ref7

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A 20x14 should be plenty loud for most applications. However, you have that eggcrate foam sitting across the entire bottom of the drum, muffling it. And you're adding Evans heads, which are already somewhat dampened....

 

I would try removing the foam, and tuning the drum up and see how it sounds.

I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist.

 

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SS:

I too use a 20" kick drum ... WITH NO HOLE FOR MIC PLACEMENT! (freaks engineers out!)

 

I use the Remo Powerstroke 3 head on the batter side. I also have a Remo Falam Slam patch where the beater(s) strike.

 

Additionally, for that extra punch, I use the red wooden Danmar beaters with the black shafts.

 

The front head is tuned a little more than the back head, but the back head is about a half turn past finger tight. The head is really loose. It gives me the chest impact that I really look for.

 

Hope this helps.

DJ

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So far I messed around with loosening up the reso head and coming up a little on the batter. It did help with volume! I think the next thing I'm going to do is go with the Danbar wood beater and an Evans patch on the batter. Thanks for the replies!
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It's freaky how much low-end you lose by damping either head, but much better to damp just the batter head, and just enough.

 

Let's hear it for intact resonating heads!

 

Also it can be an eye and ear opener to have a friend play and stand back and listen from an audience perspective- bass drums especially sound really , really different when they have space for those low, long wavelength (even 16-32 foot!) soundwaves to do their thing, and a lot of the annoying little noises don't amount to anything except from the perspective of the drum throne.

A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM!

 

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DW makes a bass drum pillow that works well. It touches the bottom of both heads and has very little in the middle. Works great without deadening the whole tone of the drum. Plasic or wooden beaters work very well for increasing the attack portion of the kick sound, combined with Slam Pads. For more bottom end, tune the drum (both heads) just above the loosest they will go. Combine all that, and you should have a new sound. Check out my kit at www.theredroomrocks.com , custom DWs. I use the "woofers", an additional front-mounted slim bass drum with a mic in it, for super sub bass punch.

Sean

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Wow! those things look expensive! I really didn't take time to check on the prices but I'm assuming their in the $3,500 - $4,000 range for the shells. I'll just stick to my faithful Ludys!

BTW, I got my kick sounding tons better from the advise given. Now I'm really thinking about getting a bass patch and the Danbar beater. those additions shouldnt cost that much. It was in a last years thread, but I can't justify to my wife buying a new bass head every month. I believe offramp had some good suggestions but I didnt use them due the fact that I didnt want a sore back from sleeping on the couch!

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