ss Posted February 19, 2004 Share Posted February 19, 2004 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!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Speers Posted February 19, 2004 Share Posted February 19, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted February 19, 2004 Share Posted February 19, 2004 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. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss Posted February 21, 2004 Author Share Posted February 21, 2004 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 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! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss Posted February 21, 2004 Author Share Posted February 21, 2004 Thanks for the good replies! I guess the only thing I need to do is make a desision about pulling that muffling device out and relying on the EMAD's system alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macr0w Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 I agree with coyote. Ditch the muff. http://www.clearspotrecording.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Shannon Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 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 Sean Shannon www.theredroomrocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Speers Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Speers Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Djarrett, SS is on a tight budget, but this might interest you: According to one source, Really loose kick-tuning can benefit from titanium hoops. Pretty ridiculously expensive, but worth a look: http://www.kitanodrums.com/english.htm Kitana actually makes complete sets out of titanium. Hmmmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Yeah, I saw those. Even the ones for toms. Increadible! Incredible price too! DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss Posted February 25, 2004 Author Share Posted February 25, 2004 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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