Re-seating a Kick Drum Head?

jimmyz · 20th June 2009

Hi guys,

I recently bought a single ply batter-side head for my Kick drum (to replace a damaged Remo Pinstripe) & am struggling a bit with it. Trouble is, it has no interior dampening ring so its way to lively...

I was wondering whether I could take it off, put a felt strip between it and the hoop (ala Bonham) ad then re-fit the head? This might be a crazy idea (not sure if it would ever seat correctly again after that?) but I wondered if it would indeed be possible to do so to try and dampen the head some.

Or, any good methods of dampening down a single ply kick batter side head???

Thanks!

J

biggator6 · 20th June 2009

It can obviously be done - as you mentioned, Bonham did it (as did just about every drummer before 1970). Finding the felt strips can be tricky, as not a lot of places carry them anymore - may be easier to try a different head.

chrisso · 20th June 2009

Once a head is seated you must seat it in the same position if you remove it and reinstall it.
So the tip is to make a mark on the head somewhere that corresponds to a certain spot on the shell (or mark both head and shell).
I find felt strips a little inflexible myself - all or nothing.
Pillows, whether for seeping on or drum specific (DW and Evans make them) are perfect.
You can move them back and forward to get just the right amount of damping, or even add more than one pad or pillow.

dodgeaspen · 20th June 2009

A good guy to learn tuning from is Bob Gatzen (I think that's how it's spelled) Go to YouTube and type in drum tuning and he should be one of the first videos on the right.

AudioWonderland · 20th June 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyz

Hi guys,

I recently bought a single ply batter-side head for my Kick drum (to replace a damaged Remo Pinstripe) & am struggling a bit with it. Trouble is, it has no interior dampening ring so its way to lively...

I was wondering whether I could take it off, put a felt strip between it and the hoop (ala Bonham) ad then re-fit the head? This might be a crazy idea (not sure if it would ever seat correctly again after that?) but I wondered if it would indeed be possible to do so to try and dampen the head some.

Or, any good methods of dampening down a single ply kick batter side head???

Thanks!

J

Easily done and is in fact not that uncommon even today. You will probably have to find a fabric store to get a good heavy felt and cut the strips yourself.

As an alternative, you could look into the Evans EQ pad as an example. IT accomplishes the same goal, is adjustable and doesn't put anything between the head and the bearing edge if that type of thing is important to you.

biggator6 · 21st June 2009

No idea where to get them (check the website) but Slug makes drum felts
Felt Products

jimmyz · 22nd June 2009

Fantastic, thanks for the replies guys.

I tried using a blanket up against the res head and it worked great. I find it not as sweet as the internal muffling ring - its more difficult to get the lowest tuning without distortion on the head. But when the drum is back in the placing position (after tuning) with the blanket pushed up against, it sounds pretty decent.

It is a little strange, however, as the head doesn't seem to go down as low without distorting/flopping out as one with an internal dampening ring. Makes it a bit more of a guess to when the head is gonna sound good with a blanket against.

Also stuck some moon gel gaffer-tapped to the head. Worked pretty well.

Again, thanks for the replies!

J

dudeitsree · 24th June 2009

The pillow was what I was gonna suggest. With the floppy sound I sometimes brought the tension rods near where the pillow was at the bottom lower than the top ones to lower the over all pitch of the drum and that would keep the other parts of the head from flapping from wrinkles. Also, I think I could order some felt strips for anyone who wants them.... I work for a drum shop in Dallas probably not too expensive... PM if you want some info.

**toolskid** · 26th June 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgeaspen

A good guy to learn tuning from is Bob Gatzen (I think that's how it's spelled) Go to YouTube and type in drum tuning and he should be one of the first videos on the right.

AWESOME video!!

20th June 2009	#1
jimmyz Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 185 Thread Starter	Re-seating a Kick Drum Head? Hi guys, I recently bought a single ply batter-side head for my Kick drum (to replace a damaged Remo Pinstripe) & am struggling a bit with it. Trouble is, it has no interior dampening ring so its way to lively... I was wondering whether I could take it off, put a felt strip between it and the hoop (ala Bonham) ad then re-fit the head? This might be a crazy idea (not sure if it would ever seat correctly again after that?) but I wondered if it would indeed be possible to do so to try and dampen the head some. Or, any good methods of dampening down a single ply kick batter side head??? Thanks! J

20th June 2009	#3
chrisso Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 15,355	Once a head is seated you must seat it in the same position if you remove it and reinstall it. So the tip is to make a mark on the head somewhere that corresponds to a certain spot on the shell (or mark both head and shell). I find felt strips a little inflexible myself - all or nothing. Pillows, whether for seeping on or drum specific (DW and Evans make them) are perfect. You can move them back and forward to get just the right amount of damping, or even add more than one pad or pillow. __________________ Chris Whitten

20th June 2009	#4
dodgeaspen Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Covington Ohio Posts: 221	A good guy to learn tuning from is Bob Gatzen (I think that's how it's spelled) Go to YouTube and type in drum tuning and he should be one of the first videos on the right. __________________ Conceptions Of Fate is now on Facebook http://www.myspace.com/conceptionsoffate It's easy to stand out in a crowd when the level of competence is so low!

24th June 2009	#8
dudeitsree Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 268	Felt Strips The pillow was what I was gonna suggest. With the floppy sound I sometimes brought the tension rods near where the pillow was at the bottom lower than the top ones to lower the over all pitch of the drum and that would keep the other parts of the head from flapping from wrinkles. Also, I think I could order some felt strips for anyone who wants them.... I work for a drum shop in Dallas probably not too expensive... PM if you want some info.

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20th June 2009	#2
biggator6 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,785	It can obviously be done - as you mentioned, Bonham did it (as did just about every drummer before 1970). Finding the felt strips can be tricky, as not a lot of places carry them anymore - may be easier to try a different head.

21st June 2009	#6
biggator6 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,785	No idea where to get them (check the website) but Slug makes drum felts Felt Products

22nd June 2009	#7
jimmyz Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 185 Thread Starter	Fantastic, thanks for the replies guys. I tried using a blanket up against the res head and it worked great. I find it not as sweet as the internal muffling ring - its more difficult to get the lowest tuning without distortion on the head. But when the drum is back in the placing position (after tuning) with the blanket pushed up against, it sounds pretty decent. It is a little strange, however, as the head doesn't seem to go down as low without distorting/flopping out as one with an internal dampening ring. Makes it a bit more of a guess to when the head is gonna sound good with a blanket against. Also stuck some moon gel gaffer-tapped to the head. Worked pretty well. Again, thanks for the replies! J

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