@12234cats If your referring to a drum set, there are many mid-line drums to consider. I suggest you Google "Mid-line Drum sets" to see what strikes your fancy. All the big drum companies offer a budget kit for new, up and coming drummers.
@killjoyshidae1208 these are the demos for Evans. So, yes...EQ pads for internal muffling techniques and matching pitches between the batter & reso are demo'd
Pillows can work as long as you understand how to position it. Generally, pillows are overkill inside the shell. I suggest purchasing (1-2) Evans EQ pads. They are very easy to adjust and can be position in many different ways. You can check them out at Evans online
@bobgatzen Pillows are generally overkill, difficult to adjust properly inside the shell. I suggest purchasing (1-2) Evans EQ pads. They are very easy to adjust and can be position in many different ways. You can check them out at Evans online
@SMG59 Close to the same pitch but generally, the batter head is slight higher in tension... depending on the type of "feel" you desire at the the pedal. My best advice is to experiment with VERY SMALL incremental moves at the drum key. It's easy to go by and miss a great tuning setting. Again... very small, delicate key turns!!
This guy has helped me SOOOO much in so many ways. He has great methods and has a great way of teaching. I would love to know his opinion on bass drum sizes. I have played 24" and for most of my life a 22". I am thinking of switching to a 20" I always feel that I want my toms a bit lower. I just wonder if you can still get a nice deep punch from a 20" bass drum.
@jordanjcm Oh I love smaller diameter BD's. I use a 20" drum and get just any type sound Im after. The pedal feel is concise. Last but not least, the small BD allows more flexibility in tom positioning. Oh, almost forgot... easier to transport!!! What's not to like? No problem what so ever with a BIG sound from a 20" BD.
@bobgatzen Thanks very much! I really do not know what made me think that 22 was my favorite BD size. I guess it was when I swithed from a 24 ( first kit I had when I was a kid) . The 80,s for me it was the bigger the better. LOL. I feel kinda stupid because I always have my toms in a position where if I am not carful they will hit the bass drum. That is because I am always trying to get them as low as I can with my kit. Its like DUH, get a smaller bass drum, dummy. LOL
I am a sort of beginner drummer and have a Tama Swingstar drum set. Everything but my bass drum seems to just have an echo kind of boom like a tom-tom. There is no hole in my drum so I can't put like a pillow or anything into it, and I've tried to tune it but it doesn't have the resonance of Bob's bass drum. Is there a way to get rid of the "boom" echo sound in my bass drum?
@BlobsofClay Pick up an Evans EQ pad, remove the reso head and place the pad with the pillow portion touching the batter head. Put the reso head back on and your in!!!! That's all it takes. Let me how it works out. The pad will not only lower overall pitch it shortens sustain by placing the pad against the batter head.
Hopefully my set will not arrive till May or June but I'll let you know how the kit performs!! I'm confident that they will do the job because the top brands are not offering the same quality no more and you see the brands like Mapex and ddrum that offer great products with great prices cause they know they have to fight the big TITANS like Tama, Pearl, Ludwig, Yamaha, Sonor, Gretsch and last but not least the Top of all DW. God Bless!!!!
@adrian0714 This is true. I worked for Noble & Cooley for 20 years! We made great break-through drum-set designs. However, I switched to DW upon releasing the BOA Pedal System. The fact is the "Titans" have the "power of distribution"...sorry to say, a big plus over the indies. It's kind of sad in a way.
@SimenNaes thanks for the tip!! I just sold my drum set and bought a ddrum Dios Maple for a great price, also the reviews for the kit are very good, it hasn't arrived yet but do you know if it is a good drum set? I was planning to exchange for a Gretsch renown maple. What do you think? Thanks again.
@adrian0714 Sorry Simon I'm not familiar (hands-on) with the ddrum line. However, Ddrum has a fine reputation in the industry... I'm certain their acoustic drum line is not crapola!! Please let me know how they work for you... so we can help the next drummer considering ddrums.
Any recomendations to which brand of drums to buy in the future?? I love Mapex and was planning to buy a Saturn, also I was checking a Pearl Master Custom. Any suggestions will help, by the way love the part when you say " i love wrinkles on the heads" lol. Thanks again.
I was planning to sell my set, but then I wanted to give it a try with new heads and Then I saw your tuning techniques and help me a lot!! You just saved me $1600 on a new set up.
Thanks for the tips here. The guy at the shop definitely had my bass drum tuned a bit high when I bought the set, and even though I got new heads for every other drum and re-tuned all of them, I never bothered to do that with the bass drum.
@NoFearKieranHere I try my best to keep it non-commercial but the reality is... I'm endorsed by several companies so there's no getting around favoritism... to a degree.
@bumba220 Understood. The solution is the "2nd generation" EMAD-reso. We replaced the foam ring with a plastic insert that shaped like the EMAD ring in miniature. The foam ring is much smaller and will never break apart or fall out. We test as thoroughly as possible but there's no way to duplicate each and every drummers style of hitting the BD. The new EMAD-reso is a giant step forward in design.
@conganige The BD is a Noble & Cooley drum. NC uses both a steel and plastic washer on they're drums. The plastic washer helps the t-rods form detuning.
Bob, you are about the only one on here that actually teaches how to tune drums! You have made my drums sound 100% better, and I am able to tune by ear without a hitch. Thanks
Hey Bob, I have struck a dilemma that I believe you could probably help me out with.
Recently I have just bought a remo powerstroke 3 head (don't kill me for choosing remo over Evans) and I'm going for a hard rock, heavy metal sort of sound. What kind of tuning would you recommend for both the batter and reso heads?
@TheShankmeister Huge difference. Sustain will be drastically reduced. Also, high frequencies from the beater slapping the head surface will sound "woody' in nature. These days, I'm going the exact opposite by using a "clsoed" BD format...no vent hole. I'll be uploading a video on this set-up very soon.
.....oh yeah, do I need a hole in the front bass drum head? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having one? Is there a tool to use that makes a nice factory cut??
@Practicle24 Only reason the vent the front head is to insert a microphone inside the drum. Otherwise, set-up internal ( EQ pads/control sustain)) and go for the "closed head system. It generates a rich, dense tone compared the the vented head combo. I'm going to upload a video on this topic... please stay tuned!
Hey I gota quick question for ya, does it really matter what quality bass pedal you use. Cuz I was looking at guitarcenter to geta new pedal and I noticed that some were only $30 and others are $300... Pretty big difference huh, do u thnk it's worth Payn the extra $270. Would it effect the bass's sound alot or not?
I view drum pedals as I do drumsticks. Pedals and sticks is an intimate connection between you and the kit... test a $300 DW pedal (DW 5000 is a good choice) against a "cheapie" and decide for yourself.
@legoarts I used to have a cheap PDP $100 double pedal and after I upgraded to a DW9000 double, I felt a huge difference. They were really expensive but the feel and responsiveness are amazing.
@scbraga120 Yeah, ya got to mic it. Low frequencies have far less "cut" compared to high frequency sounds (snare drum, cymbals, small diameter rack toms, etc.)
An acoustic solution is to flopped out the batter head to it's lowest tension. This will generate more "slap" tone... far more cut than in higher tuning ranges.
Bob, I would like to ask if there is anything I should keep in mind when taking off heads and putting them back on, as I wanna take off my bass drum head and burn a 4 inch hole in it. Thanks in advance.
@Redkillahh Yes, it's important re-install the head at the same position it was originally set at. Mark one of the tension rods and the head with a couple of pieces of masking tape. Then simply align the marks upon re-installation.
Please someone tell Bob Gatzen or if anyone can email me information on - By adding a port hole on the bass drum reso head, how does that affect the sound of the kick drum??? I don't mic my drums, but I want to know what the 4-5 inch hole does to the sound. Do I even need to cut the hole??dannysanchez31@gmail.com
can you make a video of how to make it sound more heavy metal-ish? like Chris Adler's i love the sound of his bass...i think its in the muffler he uses but it might also be the tuning
I had to review this video since I recently set-up/tuned my drums and the bass drum sounds too high (from the back anyway).
Another issue I have with bass drum tuning is the claws on my bass drum are cheap and tend to bend under pressure. And the heads are probably well past their expiration date.
@TomMSTie Best to start with fresh heads. Keep in mind that the amount of tension applied is just above the point where the head flops out. Very little t-rod pressure should applied. Gon't forget to place a EQ pad or any type of sound absorbent material (small pillow) inside the shell... this alone will lower overall pitch by at least 1 step.
Although I currently can't afford new heads, I'll at least re-tune it from the ground up. I use a Remo 22" bass drum muffler, but I'm think of replacing it with a pillow.
@skanerost I use a closed (un-ported reso head) system on the Blue Flame kit. I control sustain by (2) EQ pads mounted at the bottom and top of the drum head. Yes, I attach an EQ pad to both the upper and lower position of the headl. This creates "equal" pressure against the head. The problem is in recording. You need to position 2 mics, one in the front of the head and the other from behind the head for the "attack" characteristic. This combo produces great sound and feel.
Hi Bob! I have a question: where should the beater hit the head? In the perfect center or just a little above it (due to "stuff" on the bottom of the bass drum like an eq pad; pillow etc.) ??? :)
@Danie11o best to strike it approximately 1> 1.5 inches off-center. This will excite overtones that generate a more "complex", richer tone regardless of the muffling technique.
@monkeygames18 absolutely...here is the procedure to explore tom sounds...Tune both heads to the "lowest possible pitch" eliminate wrinkles and "boinginess" in sound. Raise the pitch of the batter 1/2 step-listen, than the reso 1/2 step-listen. Continue this procedure until you sense a pitch combination that suits your taste. Once the "pitch-range" is established, you can fool with raising or lowering the batter head to create pitch-bend.
@bobgatzen hey thanks man. just got a new mapex saturn kit so im trying to explore all different ways of tuning. your vids have changed my tuning ideas from hit and miss to perfect every time, who's needs a tech? haha cheers Bob.
@colinhammond2k7 The Evans EC2-SST's for toms provides a wide range in tuning with excellent durability. The EMAD-2 would be my best suggestion for BD.
@quovadisrocks This is an age-old problem not unlike getting rid of sympathetic snare buzz. Rarely, do 2 "identical" bass drums sound the same. Your best bet is to "duplicate" head types, pedal beater, internal muffling but most importantly. tuning. In theory, the 2 drums should sound the same, but they don't. Pinpoint the differences in sound (sustain, tone, attack) then tweak tuning & muffling on "one" of the drums to duplicate the other drum which is your basic sound source.
Does the EQ RGS Pad come with the velcro strips? I'm really interested because my pillow in my bass drum keeps pushing back when I hit it. Every time I get a great sound the pillow moves back and I loose that sound :(.
Note: I love you videos! Great advice! But why do you tune the batter before the reso? Doesn't the reso carry the tone and the batter mostly the feel?
Sorry I'm asking too much questions, but is the EMAD reso the same as the EQ3 reso with an EMAD ring?
The batter is responsible for both sound & feel. The Reso controls pitch and overall sustain.
EMAD vs EQ3- Yes, the EMAD ring differentiates the 2. We are about to release a 2nd generation EMAD reso equipped with a redesigned ring...nice improvement!
@bobgatzen Thats good news! I'm thinking I'll buy the RGS pad, an EMAD Reso (hopefully by the time I buy one the new ones are out !) and an EMAD Onyx. I'm thinking the Onyx should be good for my basswood kit since its so bright and open. The Onyx should be able to get a better bass sound than a clear EMAD, am I right?
Thanks Bob for taking the time to answer my questions!
Here's a tuning technique to test a series of tunings that provide varying degrees of of "crack" sound.
Tune the both the batter and snare (reso) head to an A Pitch. Listen. Then move the batter head up in pitch by 1/2steps Bb, B, C, C# and D. Play and listen to each of tunings. You should hear the drums overall sound change from a fat, non-pitched sound to a pop/crack with a clear pitch. This is a great way to explore your snares potential for sound and style.
Many different things. I have a church set for gospel music. what would best for that (mapex m birch) and i have my home kit that is for Rock/metal(mapex m birch)
Hi Bob! Thanks for the videos they're a treasure! :)
I was wondering if you have any advice on how to avoid the emad/emad2 plastic muffle holder from braking & I would appreciate if you could tell me your opinion between emad2 and the hydraulic bass head 'cause I love the sound of the emad2 but I keep braking the muffle holder. Thanks a bunch! Cheers! :)
The hydraulic is very different than the EC's. Ya never know... it may be something you'll like... the only way is to try it. But if you like the EC sound. We pretty much solved the breakage problem so I suggest you write Evans On-line. More than likely they'll respond positively. It's worth a try.
I change heads depending on "wear". I stick to once a year on heads that are wearing evenly and more frequently on heads I hit the most (snare and toms, especially 8's & 10's.
It's difficult to say...it's personal preference. I'd start with the EMAD2 withe the EMAD reso. If you set your drum up with this combination and then write to me your take on it, I might be able to be more specific in suggesting a head combo that fits your musical profile
My comfort zone is tuning a 1/2>1 step above the lowest possible pitch. Useful tuning on the bass drum is very limited with the exception of small BD (18") for jazz playing. If the head feels too bouncy, experiment by placing a pad lightly against the batter. try different positions and pad sizes. The Evans EQ-Pad & RGS pads are totally adjustable.
Sounds like it's over tensioned. Almost always high BD tunings generate a "boing" type sound. Try lowering both heads, then raise the pitch of the batter by only small degree (1/2 step).
2 of my favorite BD heads are the EMAD-2 and the EMAD-Onyx. If you go for the batters always best to pick up the EMAD-reso. Its a package... designed as system. Let us know how it works out for you.
There are a lot of new Evans products being released. You should check out the new EC-SS and PowerCenter tom and snare heads. Also, we have a new innovative snare-wire design coming out in April or so.
hey bob, i just bought a yamaha hipgig. it has a 16" bass drum. I haven't found an evans bass head in 16", only remo and aquarian. It is a 4 piece kit, any suggestions on how i should tune the bass drum and heads?
Yeah, we don't have a designated 16" BD head. However, many hipgigers use a 16" G-2 coated or clear. I'd go for a pitch between B-D which the Evan RGS pad inside the drum. Start by not having the pad touch the heads, than experiment with various levels of pressure applied to the batter, than the reso. Experiementation... it will steer you to discovering what works best for your style of playing.
dont you just love Evans? they work wonders! i have an emad on the batter side with an evans Onyx on the reso side with a mic hole with just a little bit of dampening against both sides. it sounds amazing =]
Unfortunately, this video was shot with the mic being placed out of screen. Often producers prefer not having a mic on screen. Close mic (as the we mic BD's) would of revealed the actual sound of the bass drum. Best to listen to drum performances on the channel to get a feel for a good bass drum sound. The technique in tuning is the important thing.
Your videos are always a big help - I've been using Evans Hydraulic heads for a while, but I had never replaced the bass drum head - I picked up an EMAD2, and though it was about $10-20 more than the competition it was worth every cent - the dampening ring made dampening the drum feel less like a thrown together pile of pillows and made it much easier to recreate or change for the studio. Evans is definitely the best head company, and your videos are funny and informative. Thanks for the tip!
Hey Bob, my bass drum is 22x22 with stock bass and reso heads (both remo powerstroke 3 equivilents). I am after a real "cannon" sound, would you reccomend the evans emad 2. thanks.
The EMAD -2 generates a "dense" focused tone. It's my personal favorite. If your after a more"open" tone with more sustain then the EMAD-1 or GMAD would be good choices.
Of course, I used the thick muffle ring with both heads at medium tension with a full size pullow in the drum but not touching either of the heads.I used plastic beaters and the bass drum has a really nice click to it.
I have had and emad for some time now and I've try tons and tons of possible combos i.e. open reso head closed different pitches ugh i can't et it to work. So question i know that some 2 ply heads have more attack then singles does the emad 2 have more slap or punch? Is the EQ2 head a good one fore that? say if i wanted the option to have switch between boom and slap/punch with the EQ2 wha would be a good reso head that resonates yet has punch and low end if i wanted to switch between?
Bob thank you so much! this helped me a lot with my new evans Emad 2 batter and EQ3 heads! the lowest pitch possible technique really helped, thanks a ton Bob :D
Love your videos. I have successfully tuned my snare and two mounted toms. All I have left is the floor tom and bass. I should have no problem with the other tom, but the bass... well I haven't had too much success before. Using these steps I should be able to get everything fixed... but I guess actual pitch is just personal preference, right? Like there's no "standard" drum tuning is there?
Thanks x...your dead on! Sound is subjective. My philosophy is... if sounds good to you... it's a good sound. My formula is SOUND>FEEL>EMOTION. Bottom line... the listener responds to your emotions more so than the sound itself.
Hey Bob, do you have any tips or suggestions on how to get two kicks to sound as identical as possible? I'm sure excessive scrutiny leads to insanity.
It's very common and difficult to solve. My take on it is, large diameter drums have the most difficultly with repeatability in production while maintaining shell "roundness". This notion makes sense if you think about the management of large sheets of wood being exactly the same. Not to mention drumheads cut from large sheets of Polyester film.
The best we (drummers) can do is to tweak until we find the very best tuning, even if it's not the same for each drum.
@bobgatzen Thanks for your input. You bring up valid points. I guess it's more a matter of cutting down on variables. I was just hoping there was something I may have been over-looking. I'll keep soldiering on.
The best bass drum head for me is the Evans E-mad1. I cannot put it into words how much better it is than a regular ambassador or powerstroke 3 weight head. I love the sound under a mic and without a mic. Either way, it's the best and the future
What would you prefer for a new drummer like me i herd that you know alot about this kinda stuff
12234cats 2 months ago
@12234cats If your referring to a drum set, there are many mid-line drums to consider. I suggest you Google "Mid-line Drum sets" to see what strikes your fancy. All the big drum companies offer a budget kit for new, up and coming drummers.
bobgatzen 2 months ago
Not the inside of the bass drum haha I meant the one you put on the drumhead what's the name of that?
DrumBoy2000 2 months ago
Haha not the inside of the bass drum I bought that one but the one you put on the drumhead.
DrumBoy2000 2 months ago
What's the name of the pad thing that he puts on the bass drum where the pedal hits?
DrumBoy2000 2 months ago
@DrumBoy2000 the "EQ pad from Evans
bobgatzen 2 months ago
Oh yeah! Look at those babies!!!! LMAO
TurboJThomas 3 months ago
@TurboJThomas HAAAAAAAAAAha!
bobgatzen 3 months ago
on the evans site, do they do the same tuning and do they muffle the drums?
killjoyshidae1208 3 months ago
@killjoyshidae1208 these are the demos for Evans. So, yes...EQ pads for internal muffling techniques and matching pitches between the batter & reso are demo'd
bobgatzen 3 months ago
Pillows can work as long as you understand how to position it. Generally, pillows are overkill inside the shell. I suggest purchasing (1-2) Evans EQ pads. They are very easy to adjust and can be position in many different ways. You can check them out at Evans online
bobgatzen 3 months ago
@bobgatzen Pillows are generally overkill, difficult to adjust properly inside the shell. I suggest purchasing (1-2) Evans EQ pads. They are very easy to adjust and can be position in many different ways. You can check them out at Evans online
bobgatzen 3 months ago
Would you ever recommend a medium sized pillow for dampening a bass drum?
EAW56 3 months ago
Hey Bob thanks for all these tuning vids! they help me so much!
I have a question. Do you tune the res bass head the same as the batter head on the bass?
thanks
SMG59 4 months ago
@SMG59 Close to the same pitch but generally, the batter head is slight higher in tension... depending on the type of "feel" you desire at the the pedal. My best advice is to experiment with VERY SMALL incremental moves at the drum key. It's easy to go by and miss a great tuning setting. Again... very small, delicate key turns!!
bobgatzen 4 months ago
anybody......what kind of drums should I get? I've been playing guitar, bass, piano, and now I want to learn the drums! I play any type of music...
MarinRayado 5 months ago
i wish this guy was my grandpa
blink7777777 6 months ago
This guy has helped me SOOOO much in so many ways. He has great methods and has a great way of teaching. I would love to know his opinion on bass drum sizes. I have played 24" and for most of my life a 22". I am thinking of switching to a 20" I always feel that I want my toms a bit lower. I just wonder if you can still get a nice deep punch from a 20" bass drum.
jordanjcm 6 months ago
@jordanjcm Oh I love smaller diameter BD's. I use a 20" drum and get just any type sound Im after. The pedal feel is concise. Last but not least, the small BD allows more flexibility in tom positioning. Oh, almost forgot... easier to transport!!! What's not to like? No problem what so ever with a BIG sound from a 20" BD.
bobgatzen 6 months ago
@bobgatzen Thanks very much! I really do not know what made me think that 22 was my favorite BD size. I guess it was when I swithed from a 24 ( first kit I had when I was a kid) . The 80,s for me it was the bigger the better. LOL. I feel kinda stupid because I always have my toms in a position where if I am not carful they will hit the bass drum. That is because I am always trying to get them as low as I can with my kit. Its like DUH, get a smaller bass drum, dummy. LOL
jordanjcm 6 months ago
@jordanjcm COOLA!!!
bobgatzen 6 months ago
I am a sort of beginner drummer and have a Tama Swingstar drum set. Everything but my bass drum seems to just have an echo kind of boom like a tom-tom. There is no hole in my drum so I can't put like a pillow or anything into it, and I've tried to tune it but it doesn't have the resonance of Bob's bass drum. Is there a way to get rid of the "boom" echo sound in my bass drum?
BlobsofClay 6 months ago
@BlobsofClay Pick up an Evans EQ pad, remove the reso head and place the pad with the pillow portion touching the batter head. Put the reso head back on and your in!!!! That's all it takes. Let me how it works out. The pad will not only lower overall pitch it shortens sustain by placing the pad against the batter head.
bobgatzen 6 months ago
Excellent work Sir, very very thorough and explaining a lot more than other vids/people in drum shops.
38Highbury 8 months ago
mike is pretty hot
TheLegendMA 9 months ago
Hopefully my set will not arrive till May or June but I'll let you know how the kit performs!! I'm confident that they will do the job because the top brands are not offering the same quality no more and you see the brands like Mapex and ddrum that offer great products with great prices cause they know they have to fight the big TITANS like Tama, Pearl, Ludwig, Yamaha, Sonor, Gretsch and last but not least the Top of all DW. God Bless!!!!
adrian0714 9 months ago
@adrian0714 This is true. I worked for Noble & Cooley for 20 years! We made great break-through drum-set designs. However, I switched to DW upon releasing the BOA Pedal System. The fact is the "Titans" have the "power of distribution"...sorry to say, a big plus over the indies. It's kind of sad in a way.
bobgatzen 9 months ago
@SimenNaes thanks for the tip!! I just sold my drum set and bought a ddrum Dios Maple for a great price, also the reviews for the kit are very good, it hasn't arrived yet but do you know if it is a good drum set? I was planning to exchange for a Gretsch renown maple. What do you think? Thanks again.
adrian0714 9 months ago
@adrian0714 Sorry Simon I'm not familiar (hands-on) with the ddrum line. However, Ddrum has a fine reputation in the industry... I'm certain their acoustic drum line is not crapola!! Please let me know how they work for you... so we can help the next drummer considering ddrums.
bobgatzen 9 months ago
Now to get both of my base drums to sound the same. Uhh..
Good video nonetheless.
bmxchimp 10 months ago
Any recomendations to which brand of drums to buy in the future?? I love Mapex and was planning to buy a Saturn, also I was checking a Pearl Master Custom. Any suggestions will help, by the way love the part when you say " i love wrinkles on the heads" lol. Thanks again.
adrian0714 10 months ago
@adrian0714 Tama, superstar or any of the starclassic series. DW custom or performance series
SimenNaess 9 months ago
I was planning to sell my set, but then I wanted to give it a try with new heads and Then I saw your tuning techniques and help me a lot!! You just saved me $1600 on a new set up.
adrian0714 10 months ago
Bob you aré the Master in Drum tuning!!! Thanks to you my Drum set is tuned wayyy better!! God Bless you always!!!
adrian0714 10 months ago
Thanks for the tips here. The guy at the shop definitely had my bass drum tuned a bit high when I bought the set, and even though I got new heads for every other drum and re-tuned all of them, I never bothered to do that with the bass drum.
RedSandStudios 11 months ago
@RedSandStudios Cool... you're very welcome. As long as your happy with you BD sound now... is all that matters!
bobgatzen 11 months ago
this isnt a 'how to' video, this is an advertisement
NoFearKieranHere 1 year ago
@NoFearKieranHere I try my best to keep it non-commercial but the reality is... I'm endorsed by several companies so there's no getting around favoritism... to a degree.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen ooh, fair enough
NoFearKieranHere 1 year ago
LOL! Oh god, the ending made me laugh 9:07 "... they got scientist working at Evans Im telling ya." :)
xscarlet7 1 year ago 2
@xscarlet7 LOL!!! Yes, you are 100% right.... Art & Science... neither one exists without the other!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
I love the Evans bass heads but those foam rings in the front head always end up falling out!
bumba220 1 year ago
@bumba220 Understood. The solution is the "2nd generation" EMAD-reso. We replaced the foam ring with a plastic insert that shaped like the EMAD ring in miniature. The foam ring is much smaller and will never break apart or fall out. We test as thoroughly as possible but there's no way to duplicate each and every drummers style of hitting the BD. The new EMAD-reso is a giant step forward in design.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Hi, What is the round matt you ( Black washer) fixed for drum head?
conganige 1 year ago
@conganige The BD is a Noble & Cooley drum. NC uses both a steel and plastic washer on they're drums. The plastic washer helps the t-rods form detuning.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Lmao his face is priceless when he tries to show the difference with and without the hole muffler... He was probably like "oh crap. Move on."
adamz003 1 year ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "ring or o ring" ...please explain
bobgatzen 1 year ago
where is it possible to find the ring or o'ring. how to call it exactly? please!
racelike 1 year ago
Bob, you are about the only one on here that actually teaches how to tune drums! You have made my drums sound 100% better, and I am able to tune by ear without a hitch. Thanks
starsfan1 1 year ago
Hey Bob, I have struck a dilemma that I believe you could probably help me out with.
Recently I have just bought a remo powerstroke 3 head (don't kill me for choosing remo over Evans) and I'm going for a hard rock, heavy metal sort of sound. What kind of tuning would you recommend for both the batter and reso heads?
Cheers, A
heavymetal999 1 year ago
bob, you are the man :D
CamoteMaster 1 year ago
@CamoteMaster You're too kind... thanks Jordy!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
4:37. epic.
TheVictimsX 1 year ago 10
@TheVictimsX Thanks V
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Hello Bob, A question.
What if I'm playing without the front head? What difference does that make to the sound?
By the way, thank you for an amazing lesson!
TheShankmeister 1 year ago
@TheShankmeister Huge difference. Sustain will be drastically reduced. Also, high frequencies from the beater slapping the head surface will sound "woody' in nature. These days, I'm going the exact opposite by using a "clsoed" BD format...no vent hole. I'll be uploading a video on this set-up very soon.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
.....oh yeah, do I need a hole in the front bass drum head? What are the advantages/disadvantages of having one? Is there a tool to use that makes a nice factory cut??
Practicle24 1 year ago
@Practicle24 Only reason the vent the front head is to insert a microphone inside the drum. Otherwise, set-up internal ( EQ pads/control sustain)) and go for the "closed head system. It generates a rich, dense tone compared the the vented head combo. I'm going to upload a video on this topic... please stay tuned!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
How much pressure are you applying to the bass drum head when you are putting the wrinkles in then pulling them out???
Practicle24 1 year ago
4:38 haha
malachyr8 1 year ago
Hey I gota quick question for ya, does it really matter what quality bass pedal you use. Cuz I was looking at guitarcenter to geta new pedal and I noticed that some were only $30 and others are $300... Pretty big difference huh, do u thnk it's worth Payn the extra $270. Would it effect the bass's sound alot or not?
Btw ur great, learned alot
legoarts 1 year ago
@legoarts Thanks L!
I view drum pedals as I do drumsticks. Pedals and sticks is an intimate connection between you and the kit... test a $300 DW pedal (DW 5000 is a good choice) against a "cheapie" and decide for yourself.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@legoarts I used to have a cheap PDP $100 double pedal and after I upgraded to a DW9000 double, I felt a huge difference. They were really expensive but the feel and responsiveness are amazing.
jampk24 1 year ago
i love evans they definetley are the best heads next to remo and aquarian
TheDittohead3 1 year ago
@TheDittohead3 You've got my vote!!! Thanks Ditto!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@scbraga120 my pleasure....please let us know how it works out for you
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@scbraga120 Yeah, ya got to mic it. Low frequencies have far less "cut" compared to high frequency sounds (snare drum, cymbals, small diameter rack toms, etc.)
An acoustic solution is to flopped out the batter head to it's lowest tension. This will generate more "slap" tone... far more cut than in higher tuning ranges.
Hope this helps
Bob
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Bob, I would like to ask if there is anything I should keep in mind when taking off heads and putting them back on, as I wanna take off my bass drum head and burn a 4 inch hole in it. Thanks in advance.
Redkillahh 1 year ago
@Redkillahh Yes, it's important re-install the head at the same position it was originally set at. Mark one of the tension rods and the head with a couple of pieces of masking tape. Then simply align the marks upon re-installation.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
so is bob gatzen the owner of evans drumheadds
TheDittohead3 1 year ago
@TheDittohead3 No, I Innovate & Design they're drum set heads. I've with the company for just 20 years now.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Please someone tell Bob Gatzen or if anyone can email me information on - By adding a port hole on the bass drum reso head, how does that affect the sound of the kick drum??? I don't mic my drums, but I want to know what the 4-5 inch hole does to the sound. Do I even need to cut the hole??dannysanchez31@gmail.com
dannysanchez31 1 year ago
can you make a video of how to make it sound more heavy metal-ish? like Chris Adler's i love the sound of his bass...i think its in the muffler he uses but it might also be the tuning
MaggotMuncher96 1 year ago
@MaggotMuncher96 Good idea...I'll surely put it on the list of video uploads... I'm always fight time & energy so please be patient.
Thanks for the tip
bobgatzen 1 year ago
As always, endorsing bass drum products.....
metalliclark 1 year ago
I had to review this video since I recently set-up/tuned my drums and the bass drum sounds too high (from the back anyway).
Another issue I have with bass drum tuning is the claws on my bass drum are cheap and tend to bend under pressure. And the heads are probably well past their expiration date.
TomMSTie 1 year ago
@TomMSTie Best to start with fresh heads. Keep in mind that the amount of tension applied is just above the point where the head flops out. Very little t-rod pressure should applied. Gon't forget to place a EQ pad or any type of sound absorbent material (small pillow) inside the shell... this alone will lower overall pitch by at least 1 step.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen Thanks again, Bob. :)
Although I currently can't afford new heads, I'll at least re-tune it from the ground up. I use a Remo 22" bass drum muffler, but I'm think of replacing it with a pillow.
TomMSTie 1 year ago
@TomMSTie My pleasure...good luck...good tuning!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
If you have a bass drum thats not "ported" in the front should you dampen it then ?
Can i use this technique on my bass drum thats not ported ?
Thanks for the best tuning tips ever
skanerost 1 year ago
@skanerost I use a closed (un-ported reso head) system on the Blue Flame kit. I control sustain by (2) EQ pads mounted at the bottom and top of the drum head. Yes, I attach an EQ pad to both the upper and lower position of the headl. This creates "equal" pressure against the head. The problem is in recording. You need to position 2 mics, one in the front of the head and the other from behind the head for the "attack" characteristic. This combo produces great sound and feel.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen Thanks a lot for your quick and helpfull reply, is there a video i can check what you do ? Or any thoughts on making one ?
Thanks once again for helping all us drummers :)
skanerost 1 year ago
@skanerost best to checkout my channel on "Drummerworld". It includes a resume of my work over the years. Thanks for your interest
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Hi Bob! I have a question: where should the beater hit the head? In the perfect center or just a little above it (due to "stuff" on the bottom of the bass drum like an eq pad; pillow etc.) ??? :)
Danie11o 1 year ago
@Danie11o best to strike it approximately 1> 1.5 inches off-center. This will excite overtones that generate a more "complex", richer tone regardless of the muffling technique.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen Thanks a lot Bob :)
Danie11o 1 year ago
@Danie11o Happy to help out
bobgatzen 1 year ago
thx bob im getting my drum set next week and all your videos helped me a lot
mastergfbspr 1 year ago
@mastergfbspr thanks M...hope you hit the jackpot!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
can you tune your toms to LPP?
monkeygames18 1 year ago
@monkeygames18 absolutely...here is the procedure to explore tom sounds...Tune both heads to the "lowest possible pitch" eliminate wrinkles and "boinginess" in sound. Raise the pitch of the batter 1/2 step-listen, than the reso 1/2 step-listen. Continue this procedure until you sense a pitch combination that suits your taste. Once the "pitch-range" is established, you can fool with raising or lowering the batter head to create pitch-bend.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen hey thanks man. just got a new mapex saturn kit so im trying to explore all different ways of tuning. your vids have changed my tuning ideas from hit and miss to perfect every time, who's needs a tech? haha cheers Bob.
Charlie.
monkeygames18 1 year ago
@monkeygames18 Now there's a great idea...a "Be your Drum-Tech" Series!
Thanks Charlie
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen yeah! your onto something there Bob. Thanks for your help man.
monkeygames18 1 year ago
@monkeygames18 My pleasure...thanks for the "inspo"Charlie!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
MAN!!! You're awesome...imma go back and tune my drums again. Thanks a million!!!
robbiemack81 1 year ago
@robbiemack81 COOOOL! My pleasure...thanks for the good news
bobgatzen 1 year ago
hey bob what would be the best evans heas for a whole kit that will last long . iv gone throught 2 sets of heads since i got my new kit 4 months ago
colinhammond2k7 1 year ago
@colinhammond2k7 The Evans EC2-SST's for toms provides a wide range in tuning with excellent durability. The EMAD-2 would be my best suggestion for BD.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen thanks bob .
colinhammond2k7 1 year ago
@colinhammond2k7 You're very welocme...my pleasure Colin!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
i use 2 bass drum ... i have difficulty to make them sound same... Can you help me ?
thank you
quovadisrocks 1 year ago
@quovadisrocks This is an age-old problem not unlike getting rid of sympathetic snare buzz. Rarely, do 2 "identical" bass drums sound the same. Your best bet is to "duplicate" head types, pedal beater, internal muffling but most importantly. tuning. In theory, the 2 drums should sound the same, but they don't. Pinpoint the differences in sound (sustain, tone, attack) then tweak tuning & muffling on "one" of the drums to duplicate the other drum which is your basic sound source.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Does the EQ RGS Pad come with the velcro strips? I'm really interested because my pillow in my bass drum keeps pushing back when I hit it. Every time I get a great sound the pillow moves back and I loose that sound :(.
Note: I love you videos! Great advice! But why do you tune the batter before the reso? Doesn't the reso carry the tone and the batter mostly the feel?
Sorry I'm asking too much questions, but is the EMAD reso the same as the EQ3 reso with an EMAD ring?
Thanks Bob!
Salzcamino 1 year ago
@Salzcamino
RGS- yes it comes with 2 velcro strips
Thanks for the kudis Sal!
The batter is responsible for both sound & feel. The Reso controls pitch and overall sustain.
EMAD vs EQ3- Yes, the EMAD ring differentiates the 2. We are about to release a 2nd generation EMAD reso equipped with a redesigned ring...nice improvement!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen Thats good news! I'm thinking I'll buy the RGS pad, an EMAD Reso (hopefully by the time I buy one the new ones are out !) and an EMAD Onyx. I'm thinking the Onyx should be good for my basswood kit since its so bright and open. The Onyx should be able to get a better bass sound than a clear EMAD, am I right?
Thanks Bob for taking the time to answer my questions!
Salzcamino 1 year ago
@Salzcamino Absolutely, your evaluation is dead on...the EMAD-Onyx produces a fat, warm tone.
Let's us know know how the head combo works out....enjoy!
Bob
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen Will do! Thanks Bob!
Salzcamino 1 year ago
Well I like a nice, high pitch crack sound on my snare. Would the same tuning directions apply? Like would you still tune the bottom head tighter?
bradybrignac 1 year ago
Oh, and sorry for placing this comment under the bass drum video. I just watched watched all the parts and posted it when it was done.
bradybrignac 1 year ago
Here's a tuning technique to test a series of tunings that provide varying degrees of of "crack" sound.
Tune the both the batter and snare (reso) head to an A Pitch. Listen. Then move the batter head up in pitch by 1/2steps Bb, B, C, C# and D. Play and listen to each of tunings. You should hear the drums overall sound change from a fat, non-pitched sound to a pop/crack with a clear pitch. This is a great way to explore your snares potential for sound and style.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Oh! Thanks so much man. Btw your snare sounds beautiful 0.0
bradybrignac 1 year ago
The reso head is generally tune lower than the batter. For instance, tune the reso to an "a" and the batter somewhere between "c-d"
bobgatzen 1 year ago
What heads would you put on a Mapex m birch drumset? I have aquarian studio x on all the toms. and snare. an eq1 on the bass with an attack reso.
JackCarver2142 1 year ago
Need more info. What style of music do play?
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Many different things. I have a church set for gospel music. what would best for that (mapex m birch) and i have my home kit that is for Rock/metal(mapex m birch)
JackCarver2142 1 year ago
Hi Bob! Thanks for the videos they're a treasure! :)
I was wondering if you have any advice on how to avoid the emad/emad2 plastic muffle holder from braking & I would appreciate if you could tell me your opinion between emad2 and the hydraulic bass head 'cause I love the sound of the emad2 but I keep braking the muffle holder. Thanks a bunch! Cheers! :)
diamondyeqy 1 year ago
The hydraulic is very different than the EC's. Ya never know... it may be something you'll like... the only way is to try it. But if you like the EC sound. We pretty much solved the breakage problem so I suggest you write Evans On-line. More than likely they'll respond positively. It's worth a try.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Thanks! :) Maybe it's just me & my carelessness :)
diamondyeqy 1 year ago
Not to worry. I suffer from it as well.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
hey bob how long should i keep my heads on on till i should change them next ?
colinhammond2k7 2 years ago
I change heads depending on "wear". I stick to once a year on heads that are wearing evenly and more frequently on heads I hit the most (snare and toms, especially 8's & 10's.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
thanks do oyu knwo what heads would be best for 6 ply basswood?
colinhammond2k7 2 years ago
It's difficult to say...it's personal preference. I'd start with the EMAD2 withe the EMAD reso. If you set your drum up with this combination and then write to me your take on it, I might be able to be more specific in suggesting a head combo that fits your musical profile
bobgatzen 2 years ago
i will thanks
colinhammond2k7 2 years ago
is your bass drum real tight (the side you hit)?
Ju1ceem4n 2 years ago
My comfort zone is tuning a 1/2>1 step above the lowest possible pitch. Useful tuning on the bass drum is very limited with the exception of small BD (18") for jazz playing. If the head feels too bouncy, experiment by placing a pad lightly against the batter. try different positions and pad sizes. The Evans EQ-Pad & RGS pads are totally adjustable.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
so both sides are very loose? because mine seems kinda too echoie even with a pad inside.....is it too tight?
Ju1ceem4n 2 years ago
Sounds like it's over tensioned. Almost always high BD tunings generate a "boing" type sound. Try lowering both heads, then raise the pitch of the batter by only small degree (1/2 step).
bobgatzen 2 years ago
yeah somewhat ill try it thanks.
Ju1ceem4n 2 years ago
Right now i'm using Remo Powerstroke 3, a brand new head. But Im not so excited about it. It sound like paper. What can I do to that?
Meykuhh23 2 years ago
2 of my favorite BD heads are the EMAD-2 and the EMAD-Onyx. If you go for the batters always best to pick up the EMAD-reso. Its a package... designed as system. Let us know how it works out for you.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
I have never been a fan of evens but the emad heads are amazing.
272Christopher 2 years ago
There are a lot of new Evans products being released. You should check out the new EC-SS and PowerCenter tom and snare heads. Also, we have a new innovative snare-wire design coming out in April or so.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
hey bob, i just bought a yamaha hipgig. it has a 16" bass drum. I haven't found an evans bass head in 16", only remo and aquarian. It is a 4 piece kit, any suggestions on how i should tune the bass drum and heads?
jsdrumcapt 2 years ago
Yeah, we don't have a designated 16" BD head. However, many hipgigers use a 16" G-2 coated or clear. I'd go for a pitch between B-D which the Evan RGS pad inside the drum. Start by not having the pad touch the heads, than experiment with various levels of pressure applied to the batter, than the reso. Experiementation... it will steer you to discovering what works best for your style of playing.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Experimentation!!!... duh
bobgatzen 2 years ago
bob gatzen, you are amazing. you have helped me SO much, and have convinced me to go and get an EMAD 2!!!!!
munkych33z 2 years ago
The beauty in Sharing is that it's a 2-way street...thanks...my pleasure!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
dont you just love Evans? they work wonders! i have an emad on the batter side with an evans Onyx on the reso side with a mic hole with just a little bit of dampening against both sides. it sounds amazing =]
NewDarkAges13 2 years ago
I sure do...best drum heads in the world!!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
They tune up easily and quickly.
crlaw75 1 year ago
really nice
ChinaShi 2 years ago
thanks China
bobgatzen 2 years ago
good vid
but
i wish
u had
like used a pedal to show the sound
as your
adding the pads
onto it
jesusdapnk1 2 years ago
Unfortunately, this video was shot with the mic being placed out of screen. Often producers prefer not having a mic on screen. Close mic (as the we mic BD's) would of revealed the actual sound of the bass drum. Best to listen to drum performances on the channel to get a feel for a good bass drum sound. The technique in tuning is the important thing.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Your videos are always a big help - I've been using Evans Hydraulic heads for a while, but I had never replaced the bass drum head - I picked up an EMAD2, and though it was about $10-20 more than the competition it was worth every cent - the dampening ring made dampening the drum feel less like a thrown together pile of pillows and made it much easier to recreate or change for the studio. Evans is definitely the best head company, and your videos are funny and informative. Thanks for the tip!
Irapotato 2 years ago
You're very welcome Ira! I'll be sure to forward your comment to the Evans team...great inspo!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
I'VE Seen ur ViDeoS MAnY TIMes..
And You ArE AmaZinG!!!
Hector19931993 2 years ago
Glad to help out... comments like yours keep me motivated and inspired. Thanks!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, my bass drum is 22x22 with stock bass and reso heads (both remo powerstroke 3 equivilents). I am after a real "cannon" sound, would you reccomend the evans emad 2. thanks.
drumtime360 2 years ago
The EMAD -2 generates a "dense" focused tone. It's my personal favorite. If your after a more"open" tone with more sustain then the EMAD-1 or GMAD would be good choices.
You're very welcome... Happy Holidays!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, thank you for you advice, I went out and bought an Emad yesterday, and it sounds great. Thank you for your help.
drumtime360 2 years ago
My pleasure... you're welcome. Let's stay in touch
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Of course, I used the thick muffle ring with both heads at medium tension with a full size pullow in the drum but not touching either of the heads.I used plastic beaters and the bass drum has a really nice click to it.
drumtime360 2 years ago
Hey Bob! Awesome vid as usual! Thanks!
Question, will the small round foam (emad reso?) fit onto my already permanently installed port hole (plastic chrome looking thing a ma jig)?
JohnAGlasspoole 2 years ago
If the vent hole is 5" in diameter. Also, we place a fabric ring around the hole to prevent tearing of the foam.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Cool! Thanks again...I'll give it a try :)
JohnAGlasspoole 2 years ago
Forgot to thank you! for the comment
bobgatzen 2 years ago
I have had and emad for some time now and I've try tons and tons of possible combos i.e. open reso head closed different pitches ugh i can't et it to work. So question i know that some 2 ply heads have more attack then singles does the emad 2 have more slap or punch? Is the EQ2 head a good one fore that? say if i wanted the option to have switch between boom and slap/punch with the EQ2 wha would be a good reso head that resonates yet has punch and low end if i wanted to switch between?
cattfischh 2 years ago
which bass drum head gives more projection and what noticeable differences do these drum heads have: evans gmad and emad
24nachos24 2 years ago
The EMAD 1 (single ply) provides more "slap" tone then the G+. The Q+ sounds a bit more "dense" with slightly more sustain.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
el PP!
Anakin1988 2 years ago
i'm new. Would putting a blanket inside the drum dampen it?
AwesomeSauce714 2 years ago
Absolutely! Better yet pick up an Evans EQ pad or RGS pad that will allow to adjust how much muffling your after. Blankets are old school.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Bob thank you so much! this helped me a lot with my new evans Emad 2 batter and EQ3 heads! the lowest pitch possible technique really helped, thanks a ton Bob :D
XxKurt247Xx 2 years ago
Oooo... that's so good to hear.. .thanks for making my day X!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Love your videos. I have successfully tuned my snare and two mounted toms. All I have left is the floor tom and bass. I should have no problem with the other tom, but the bass... well I haven't had too much success before. Using these steps I should be able to get everything fixed... but I guess actual pitch is just personal preference, right? Like there's no "standard" drum tuning is there?
xxpbdudexx 2 years ago
Thanks x...your dead on! Sound is subjective. My philosophy is... if sounds good to you... it's a good sound. My formula is SOUND>FEEL>EMOTION. Bottom line... the listener responds to your emotions more so than the sound itself.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
I use this tuning technique for my kick..it works amazingly.
cavabanana 2 years ago
Ahhh... just waht the doctor ordered... good news! thanks c
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, do you have any tips or suggestions on how to get two kicks to sound as identical as possible? I'm sure excessive scrutiny leads to insanity.
Love your videos.
senseoftaste 2 years ago
It's very common and difficult to solve. My take on it is, large diameter drums have the most difficultly with repeatability in production while maintaining shell "roundness". This notion makes sense if you think about the management of large sheets of wood being exactly the same. Not to mention drumheads cut from large sheets of Polyester film.
The best we (drummers) can do is to tweak until we find the very best tuning, even if it's not the same for each drum.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
@bobgatzen Thanks for your input. You bring up valid points. I guess it's more a matter of cutting down on variables. I was just hoping there was something I may have been over-looking. I'll keep soldiering on.
Again, I appreciate your help.
senseoftaste 2 years ago
thank you so much! my bass drum sounds amazing now! thank you!
tjat375 2 years ago
You're welcome... always a pleasure to help out
bobgatzen 2 years ago
The best bass drum head for me is the Evans E-mad1. I cannot put it into words how much better it is than a regular ambassador or powerstroke 3 weight head. I love the sound under a mic and without a mic. Either way, it's the best and the future
scott111193 2 years ago
I'll be sure to forward your message to the Evans crew. Thanks!!
bobgatzen 2 years ago