Trevor Magnusson
2004-07-24 03:42:15 UTC
This has been discussed before, I've Googled the archive. Everyone
seems to think it's all to do with head choice and tuning.
I've just done a morning's research, and I have my own theory.
My Gretsch Renown Maple kick is 20x18. I wanted a 20" diameter and
would have preferred one not so deep (perhaps 16) - but everything
else about the MRs was what I was after, so...
I've absorbed some of the purist vibe of this place, so I was trying
for nothing inside the drum, no port, and felt strips. I was still
using the factory heads - not entirely sure what they were, looked a
bit like Evans EQ4, but the resonant head was the same configuration,
not an EQ resonant model.
After a few trial tunings, I had it sounding good from the throne. I
was set.
Then I tried recording: D112 in front, SM58 behind for beater click.
Soft hits were beatiful. But hard hits - hello "basketball bounce
ping". I soloed each mic - same thing.
There followed a period of experientation with tuning and heads. Lots
of interesting education for me, but the ping persisted. (I
especially bought a really cheap head to melt a hole into. But I
don't think its lack of quality has any impact on subsequent
findings.)
Here's where it got interesting - I had completely damped both heads
(drum on end, resting on a pillow, my arm draped across the top).
When I belted it, that pesky ping was clearly audible.
Then I recalled a review I read a year ago in "Drum!" (I think), and
also some commentary on internally-mounted kick drum mics - both of
which suggested it was the internal cavity, not the heads (or even
shell per se).
So... first a small pillow inside (I woke up Mr Almost-two when I
stole it), not even touching either head - instant joy! I then tried a
small folded-up towel - also did the trick.
When you've got stuff inside a drum, a ported head makes things much
more convenient (ie adjustment), but I still like the no-hole,
felt-only configuration. So I'm considering adhesive velcro.
SO... IF you have no internal pillow-type muffling, AND you're
troubled by basketball-bounce on harder hits, it's quite likely to be
caused by the completely smooth internal cavity. At least it's the
case for my 20x18. Other sizes may behave differently.
Can anyone else confirm this (or beg to differ)?
seems to think it's all to do with head choice and tuning.
I've just done a morning's research, and I have my own theory.
My Gretsch Renown Maple kick is 20x18. I wanted a 20" diameter and
would have preferred one not so deep (perhaps 16) - but everything
else about the MRs was what I was after, so...
I've absorbed some of the purist vibe of this place, so I was trying
for nothing inside the drum, no port, and felt strips. I was still
using the factory heads - not entirely sure what they were, looked a
bit like Evans EQ4, but the resonant head was the same configuration,
not an EQ resonant model.
After a few trial tunings, I had it sounding good from the throne. I
was set.
Then I tried recording: D112 in front, SM58 behind for beater click.
Soft hits were beatiful. But hard hits - hello "basketball bounce
ping". I soloed each mic - same thing.
There followed a period of experientation with tuning and heads. Lots
of interesting education for me, but the ping persisted. (I
especially bought a really cheap head to melt a hole into. But I
don't think its lack of quality has any impact on subsequent
findings.)
Here's where it got interesting - I had completely damped both heads
(drum on end, resting on a pillow, my arm draped across the top).
When I belted it, that pesky ping was clearly audible.
Then I recalled a review I read a year ago in "Drum!" (I think), and
also some commentary on internally-mounted kick drum mics - both of
which suggested it was the internal cavity, not the heads (or even
shell per se).
So... first a small pillow inside (I woke up Mr Almost-two when I
stole it), not even touching either head - instant joy! I then tried a
small folded-up towel - also did the trick.
When you've got stuff inside a drum, a ported head makes things much
more convenient (ie adjustment), but I still like the no-hole,
felt-only configuration. So I'm considering adhesive velcro.
SO... IF you have no internal pillow-type muffling, AND you're
troubled by basketball-bounce on harder hits, it's quite likely to be
caused by the completely smooth internal cavity. At least it's the
case for my 20x18. Other sizes may behave differently.
Can anyone else confirm this (or beg to differ)?