8" tom sounds dead... suggestions?

[Mark]

Hi:

This is my first post in a while... I'd like to ask for some technical
help.

I have an 8" Taye ProX tom that sounds pretty good when it's off the
bass drum. It has a RIMS type suspension mount. But when I mount it
on the bass drum, it loses all of its resonance.

I've tried a few different types of tuning. I've tried to bend the
RIMS mount to hopefully put less tension on the drum. The thing that
is weird is that the drum sounds fine off the bass, but then
completely dead when mounted on it.

Any suggestions?

M

[Keith Runfola]

Post by Mark
This is my first post in a while... I'd like to ask for some technical
help.
I have an 8" Taye ProX tom that sounds pretty good when it's off the
bass drum. It has a RIMS type suspension mount. But when I mount it
on the bass drum, it loses all of its resonance.
I've tried a few different types of tuning. I've tried to bend the
RIMS mount to hopefully put less tension on the drum. The thing that
is weird is that the drum sounds fine off the bass, but then
completely dead when mounted on it.
Any suggestions?
M

This will sound odd perhaps, but if you are sitting behind the kit
when you hit the 8", try leaning forward so that your ears are a
little closer to the drum. I've found that even very small differences
in the listening position can affect the sound profoundly. In other
words, it might not be as bad as you think.


Keith Runfola
www.JazzDrummer.com
www.GreenOakArts.com

[Frisco]

Post by Keith Runfola

Post by Mark
This is my first post in a while... I'd like to ask for some technical
help.
I have an 8" Taye ProX tom that sounds pretty good when it's off the
bass drum. It has a RIMS type suspension mount.  But when I mount it
on the bass drum, it loses all of its resonance.
I've tried a few different types of tuning. I've tried to bend the
RIMS mount to hopefully put less tension on the drum. The thing that
is weird is that the drum sounds fine off the bass, but then
completely dead when mounted on it.
Any suggestions?
M

This will sound odd perhaps, but if you are sitting behind the kit
when you hit the 8", try leaning forward so that your ears are a
little closer to the drum. I've found that even very small differences
in the listening position can affect the sound profoundly. In other
words, it might not be as bad as you think.
Keith Runfolawww.JazzDrummer.comwww.GreenOakArts.com

Agreed. That, plus try changing the amount of space between the
bottom of the tom and the top of the kick. If the tom doesn't have
any air underneath it to resonate, it'll deaden the sound. Try
turning it away from the kick or raising it up in the air a little
more. I had this same problem with my mounted toms, 10" + 12" on a
stand to the left of the kick. When I moved it further from the kick
to the left, the 12" tom would sing. When it was hanging right over
the kick with only 1-2" of space underneath it would sound deader than
dead.

Good luck!

Paul

[-MIKE-]

...try changing the amount of space between the
bottom of the tom and the top of the kick. If the tom doesn't have
any air underneath it to resonate, it'll deaden the sound. Try
turning it away from the kick or raising it up in the air a little
more. I had this same problem with my mounted toms, 10" + 12" on a
stand to the left of the kick. When I moved it further from the kick
to the left, the 12" tom would sing. When it was hanging right over
the kick with only 1-2" of space underneath it would sound deader than
dead.
Good luck!
Paul

Hmmm, I'm skeptical.
Perhaps there is another variable in that equation which is the real
culprit.

In any case, I have two 8's that don't get used.
If and when you can get any sustain out of them, it will only be heard
if close mic'd.

Otherwise, all the audience hears is, "bap!"
Better off putting wires on the bottom and making it a popcorn snare. :-)

[Frisco]

Post by -MIKE-

...try changing the amount of space between the
bottom of the tom and the top of the kick.  If the tom doesn't have
any air underneath it to resonate, it'll deaden the sound.  Try
turning it away from the kick or raising it up in the air a little
more.  I had this same problem with my mounted toms, 10" + 12" on a
stand to the left of the kick.  When I moved it further from the kick
to the left, the 12" tom would sing.  When it was hanging right over
the kick with only 1-2" of space underneath it would sound deader than
dead.
Good luck!
Paul

Hmmm, I'm skeptical.
Perhaps there is another variable in that equation which is the real
culprit.
In any case, I have two 8's that don't get used.
If and when you can get any sustain out of them, it will only be heard
if close mic'd.
Otherwise, all the audience hears is, "bap!"
Better off putting wires on the bottom and making it a popcorn snare.  :-)
--
  -MIKE-
  "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
     --Elvin Jones  (1927-2004)
  --
 http://mikedrums.com
  ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

It was the only variable I could figure out... and it was true in most
rooms I played in, albeit some more than others. A really lively room
it didn't matter so much, but for those country-club gigs with low
tile ceilings and lots of carpet where we got shoved in the corner it
made a lot of difference if I raised the drum, angled it away from the
kick, or just moved it from the kick. But I have to admit that it was
a 12" tom that this was true for - not an 8" tom. My advice for an 8"
is to keep it tuned high, cause they sound terrible if you try to tune
it down to make it sound lower/bigger than it is. I have an 8" that's
rarely used these days, but when it did come out to play I had it
tuned up pretty tight.

Paul

[Mark]

Thank you all... I appreciate it and will give those tips a try.

Post by Keith Runfola

Post by Mark
This is my first post in a while... I'd like to ask for some technical
help.
I have an 8" Taye ProX tom that sounds pretty good when it's off the
bass drum. It has a RIMS type suspension mount.  But when I mount it
on the bass drum, it loses all of its resonance.
I've tried a few different types of tuning. I've tried to bend the
RIMS mount to hopefully put less tension on the drum. The thing that
is weird is that the drum sounds fine off the bass, but then
completely dead when mounted on it.
Any suggestions?
M

This will sound odd perhaps, but if you are sitting behind the kit
when you hit the 8", try leaning forward so that your ears are a
little closer to the drum. I've found that even very small differences
in the listening position can affect the sound profoundly. In other
words, it might not be as bad as you think.
Keith Runfolawww.JazzDrummer.comwww.GreenOakArts.com

Agreed.  That, plus try changing the amount of space between the
bottom of the tom and the top of the kick.  If the tom doesn't have
any air underneath it to resonate, it'll deaden the sound.  Try
turning it away from the kick or raising it up in the air a little
more.  I had this same problem with my mounted toms, 10" + 12" on a
stand to the left of the kick.  When I moved it further from the kick
to the left, the 12" tom would sing.  When it was hanging right over
the kick with only 1-2" of space underneath it would sound deader than
dead.
Good luck!
Paul