people say drum tuning isnt rocket science, well this video just contradicted that statement. maybe rocket science is an over statement, but theres plenty more to drum tuning then the average drummer knows. thumbs up, very informative and helpful video.
That shouldn't be happening. Try the Evans EMAD-1 with the Emad-reso. Thanks for the compliment Mango... please let me know if the the Evans heads fit properly. Good luck!
@bobgatzen Haha thats awesome! Comments like this you will get from everyone and they wont stop because these tips are amazing, i never would have thought of checking if my hoops are straight or if my bearing edges were cut level so thank you!
@bobgatzen Haha your welcome ! I have a question for you and i think your the perfect guy to give me advice. Im buying a pearl masters mcx kit soon and i'll be again looking for a metal/rock sound. It comes stock with remo ambassador heads batter and reso the sizes are standard,14 snare, 12 tom, 13 tom and 22 bass drum. What heads do you recommend for a good metal/ rock sound ? Or should i stick with the remo's until they're worn ?
This is awesome. I've been having a rough time tuning my old early 60's Ludwig kit and I suspect a few of these problems may be present. One odd thing to mention is that I can only use single ply or thin two ply heads, otherwise something like a Remo pinstripe won't fit loosely enough. I can force it down over the shells but they pop off when I let go. Probably made before the days of thick two ply heads I guess! Anyhow, looks like a must-have DVD. Gonna grab one right now!
hey bob, i got a question. if i put my hoop upside down (the way you did) on the counter top i wobbles alot. but if i put it the way, how it would be on my kit, it's perfectly even. do i have to flatten it out or not? it seems like i make it even worse if i try to fix it.
@Nemorosus Flattening the counter hoop is important because it's stronger/stiffer than the drumhead hoop. If your counter hoop is "flat"... for most part the drumhead hoop will align itself to it allowing much better accuracy in tuning.
Been playing for years and always find tuning (Black Magic) to get what I want quite a lengthy process, having watched a number of Bob's tips n clips I will now put them to use and hopefully I will be able to do a better job in half the time! (then again its always been a good excuse to get out for some freedom from her in doors!)
good thing you got the money cuz i don't have the time lol thank you for this video i just got some beautiful evans ec2 sst's for my kit and they sound amazing low end lots of punch and a pretty sustain, stable and never ending thank you for these tips
your video is very insightful, and it help a lot :D
only difference for me being, i use aquarian drumheads, and they have the larger 'saf-t-loc' hoop on them, so they dont actually fit into many drum hoops as easy as yours do. hoever, your method does work for me, so thank you :D
@tazhaandbrian Absolutely. As the shell depth increases, the range tunings are reduced. For instance, you'll find more "useful" tuning possibilities from an 8x12 tom versus a 12x12. However, the 12x12 might produce a "specific pitch" that works great for Y.O.U! Sound is subjective... "if it sounds good to you...IT'S A GOOD SOUND!"
@tazhaandbrian Without hands-on I can only tell you that forcing the head into the hoop kills pitch clarity and sustain... it's a bad thing and need s to be fixed. It's most likely the hoop being out of round... try flexing (bending) the hoop by grabbing it at 9:00 and 3:00 o'clock... measure then make another measurement between 12:00 and 6:00. Keep flexing the hoop until the 2 measurements are the same or very close. Good luck!
Love the video. Helped more than any tuning video ive watched. I have a lower end set but your tunig tips got it sounding pretty good. Thx for posting the video.
I had an outside gig this weekend, my 14in floor tom & stock snare drum sounded BAD. I kept getting a horrible overtone from the snare & a rumble overtone from the floor tom. Everyone was looking at me as if I was the drummer that's never learned how to tune a drum (embarrassing). I bought this kit used & is my 2nd drum kit I've ever owned. After watching this vid I check out my drums & they're warped. I'm bummed but relieved it's not my fault. Thanks.
@bobgatzen They're brand new heads. Remo Reverse Dot on my snare and Remo Clear Ambassadors on my 14in floor tom. I know you're an evans guy and I'm for sure going to be experimenting with evans again, but either what drum head I get I shouldn't be getting such a crap tone right? (Not getting the entree line of heads of course).
Thanks again, I really do appreciate you responding to my comment!
@jessekkennedy Hie jesse, It's understandable that the clear, single ply heads are difficult to tune to a specific single pitch. Best to consider a "pre-damped" head for large diameters drums. From Evans, the EC-1 or 2SST batters provide a wide range of tuning while controlling overtones eliminating errant pitches. Best to test the EC head one one of your drums to see how it works.
Difficult for me to analyze your problem long distance. Best to view the Snare Drm vids and get back to me.
Hi Bob, just wondering; I have a Tama Superstar kit, with two 12" toms, a 22" bass drum, and a 16" floor tom. Ive never reskinned a kit before, so I dontknow which tom heads would compliment my preferred style of playing, a hard rock leaning. I'm looking for some help to find the best Batter/Reso combination, to give max resonance/durability. It would be a great help to receive another reply, and I am very much grateful for your clear, concise video's, regards, Shane.
The best choice would be the new EC2-SST combined with the EC-reso. This combination will deliver more tuning range, faster stick response and much clearer pitch. Always best to test a set-up on your 12" tom before investing into a complete set of heads.
Bob i just started watching your vids, and i have to say they are great. Yet the best part about them is the fact that you actually answer comments!! Not many people do that and thats mighty kool of you..
I'm a long time industry guy who really cares about drummer drumming. Without sounding corny...always my pleasure to help out! Thanks for the kind words elro
Bob your DVD is great and has been extremely helpful. I've been finding out where my drums are at and have a question. The bearing edge on the batterhead side lets one piece of paper slip in, in a relatively small area. However when I flip the drum over and check the resohead side I can get 2 almost 3 pieces of paper in there. Is this information referring just to the batterhead side? If I attempt to scrape the bearing edge do you recommend a sharp point? Thanks Bob
A single piece of pad paper varies in thickness between 2-4 thousands (002.-004.) of an inch. Once your able to slip a few papers under the edge it's time to have a pro flatten the bearing edges. The good thing is... it's fixable.
Hi Adam...depends on whether you like single or 2-ply heads. I recommend the Evans G+ Coated (single ply) or the new EC-SS 2 ply heads. For the reso head experiment with the Genera-reso and the EC-reso. Happy hunting!!
Hey Bob, How are you Sir. Since i have been gathering your plethora of knowledge, I have yet another question. If my bearing edges are not true,is it possible to touch them up with perhaps a lite sanding. I dont trust sending my shells through the mail to have them recut unless you have a better suggestion. I've heard that cabinet makers who have routers could possibly do the shells, not sure I trust them either. Thanks for your advice as always.......Mike
More often than not you don't have to "re-cut" bearing edges just reshape them. Yes, it would be best to have a reputable drum-tech do the job but it's not as difficult as it may seem. remove both heads, place the drum on a sheet of sand paper. Using both hands rotate the drum and check for flatness. Then pick up a wood scraper to shape the inside "bevel" (angle) over to the outside edge until it forms a sharp top edge. Then check again for flatness (true)
Hey Bob, I was wondering if filling in the holes with some type of wood filler (due to the guager rims,there are now 3 extra holes in the shell,2 small screw and 1 large post hole for rogers memri-loc tom mount) Would this help the sound in any way? Thanks as always Mike
Hey Bob, great video. What type of reso heads I should get for my 12 and 13 inch toms? They both have EC2 batter heads and factory reso heads. What head would give the best sound?
Thanks dude! And I have one more question. What snare side head would you recommend for a 12 inch snare drum? I've been noticing that Evans doesn't have too many heads for 12 inchers
Basically there are 2 popular choices. the Hazy-200 or 300. The 300 is the most popular...it works well for just about any genre. The 200 generates a brighter sound.
im trying to get a real "cannon" sound out of my bass drum" its a 22"x22" and Im using pre muffled batter and resonant heads, how much muffling should I use and should it touch either of the heads. I am trying to use as little muffling as possible? please help
I suggest picking up 1-2 EQ pads. Begin by placing 1 pad in the bottom of the drum, NOT TOUCHING THE HEADS. Than against the batterlisten, than switch it to the reso head and compare. Next, try a second pad against both heads. Another mounting method is to apply 2 Velcro strips at the TOP of the shell to mount (hang) the pad upside down. It muffles in a different way...you may like it. There ya go!
My boogie is to place it as close to the edge of the head as possible. This maximizes resonance. The more you position the hole towards the center will decrease resonance.
Check the "individual" pitch of the batter and reso. They should be close to each other in pitch.
Also, if your not able to tune to the same pitch at each t-rod, loosen all t-rods and rotate the head 90 degrees (12:00>3:00) then try re-tuning. Let me how that works out and we'll go from there.
i tried what you said but i still have the same problem, it only has 5 lugs so it is kind of hard to get them to match up, is there some sort of trick like the opposite tuning thing for odd lugged drums?
I assumed your drum was a 6-lugger. The 5-lug tuning pattern is 12:00>5:00>10:00>2:00>7:00. So OTT pattern are diagonal rather than 180 degrees from each other. Let us know how it works out.
Jeez, I´ve should of bought this DVD before I even bought my first kit! This stuff is like gold man. These little things when you don´t notice them, will make a studio-session a living hell. I always try to figure these types of things out beforehand and in the studio as well, but the result has often been toying with samples until the drums sound good. But the result leaves me unsatisfied about the fact, that the sound on the record is not the original and organic sound of my own kit...
More likely your ears. I don't mean that in a bad way but there's no substitute for ear training. I'd say yes to "a" head that doesn't tune up well...but all the heads... not likely.
Sing, sing, sing pitches and intervals. Tapping the head and singing the pitch will develop your ears.
Many of the big companies are now offering "standard depth toms (8x10,8x12,14x14, 16x16) A trend that is returning. For sure all the "indies" like Noble & Cooley, Orange County, MRP, Spaun, etc. will customize the drum of your dreams.
this particular video is much needed on youtube. after 25 years of drumming this IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "DW", "MAPEX",GRETSCH" AND THE LOW END DRUMS SHELLS LIKE PERCUSSION PLUS, PULSE,EXPORT INTERNATIONAL etc...
all shells are NOT created equal. thats why we have Evans Hydraullic heads still available today after all these years I guess because junk is still being made. thanks for this video.
The DD is a useful tool but it will never replace consistent practice and dedication to be able to "HEAR" your drums. They're speaking to us in a language we need to master.
I'm assuming toms heads... the Evans G-1 clear or EC-resonant if you want to warm up the sound. The Ec-resonant creates more density in tone regardless of the batter head style. Please let us know how it works out
my opinion is that you will only by the onyx heads this one time. i think you will be very disappointed in them. but dont give up on EVANS HEADS. its just that particular model head. they have really missed the mark on sound I think when it comes to this head.
what type of heads do you recommend for the snare? rack toms (all sizes)? floor toms? bass drums? have you heard of tama superstar? are those shells any good? im thinking of getting some. the newer models of course....replies are appreciated.
Here are a couple of suggestions Evans Drumheads: Toms- EC-2 Clear/EC-Reso Snare- Powercenter-RD /Hazy 300 / ECS-RD sub for PowerCenter BD- EMAD 2/EMAD reso EQ Pad I suggest you get know your kit by using "Like" heads on the toms. Toms- Evans G-1 clear or coated reso & batter.(sub EC-2 if you like 2-ply heads) BD-EMAD 1 or 2 /Emad resonant SNR- PowerCenter/Rd w/ Hazy 300 snare. This set-up is a good starting point in getting to know your drums.
how can i get a chad smith crack outta my snare? when i tighten my snares i get a good one but then i lose those wonderful overtones and it sounds too shallow. any advice? I've got a ludwig rockers if that helps.
Could be the snares being distorted requiring more tension to make them seat. Replace the snare sthen try this tuning technique.
Begin by tuning the snare & batter close to the same pitch. Start by tuning both heads to an "A". Than raise the batter a 1/2 step up at a time (Bb,B etc) while listening closely to the variations in sound. You should notice the sound getting changing from a snary-type sound to more of a pitched tone as the batter head is tensioned upwards.
Hi S. You can order it on Amazon or Alfred Publishing. Just be careful not to order the 1st DVD. The title of the 2nd DVD is "Drum Tuning Sound & Design....SIMPLIFIED". This version includes the entire footage from the original. Thank you!
Hey bob thanks alot! But i have a question regarding tuning. would be great if you could help.
I recently got an Evans Genera ST Dry snare head and i can't get a dry enough sound out of it.
I want a full on very dry sound and i know this depends of a number things such as shell depth etc but is there a specific way to tune this head to get the best dry sound out of it? Im getting quite frustrated with it.
Moon gel is a drastic approach to dampening. Best to "baby" the drum heads with minimal dampening combined with the right head type. This is subjective... it's like asking which drumsticks should I use? Go to the Evans siye and look up drumheads. Search "Snare" and you'll find all the models. The ECS-RD is a 2-ply head with patented dampening technique.
Bob, I swear, I've been having so much difficulty tuning my snare, and you just made my day! After watching some of your video's over and over again I got the thing to finally stop rattling!! Thanks so much, you are the man!
Man , if I could figure that one out I'd be livin' on the Riviera...ha! The thing that works for me is on the Quik-Tip I posted using the MIN-emad muffler attached between the tuning knob and the the outside wall of the snare throw-off. This technique has worked quite well for me.
You're welcome bryan. You're absolutely right. Drums seem so basic by design but are totally mechanical. For me it's the connection and balance between Art & Science
ok i just polled all of my wrap off of my drums and took it down to wood i like the way it looks but what well it do to the sound i'vr half way tuned them and there sounding ok i just want to see what you have to say
Generally, wrapped shells produce more low fundamental pitch. It's subtle but detectable, if you were to make a direct comparison (A>B test). For the most part the attraction to covered shells is in lower cost. But I know many drummers that go for the sound it produces as well. Once youy get you kit back together let us know what you think
god i've watched all of your videos and the thing that sucks is that about 2 years ago i had my set and i busted my batter head and i was stupid and fliped the drum over and played the reso head and now it's got stick dents all in it so i can never tune it right and i hate it and i can get a ride to a music store
Your welcome. It's OK to purchase a few single heads to experiment. Like 12" G+, EC-2 and G-2. This way you spend a few dollar for a couple extra to make the right choice for the entire kit set-up. Right now I'm using 3 types of batters on my kit. My approach is to create a sound I like for each drum.
good video, how often should I tune my drums? They haven't been tuned since 2 months, still sound good though, the drum kit is a very well british made vintage Premier.
Every time I play my drums I constantly "tweaking" the tuning. Heads loosen up, stretch out so it's best to keep at it tuning wise. Also, being consistent at tuning helps to improve and embed tuning technique.
Oh, if I only had a good drum kit to actually fidget with to get the sounds you get! I know, I know, it doesn't matter... that much. But 16 year old Pearl Exports just don't cut it anymore.
man your videos are so good you are like a national geographic narrator or something. you just have this voice that reminds me of a high school informative documentary on plants haha. anyways you make it very easy to understand what you are explaining and it helps out alot of people. i could watch these things for days.
Hi Bob. I have a tom which is just over 1/8th of an inch out of round. Is this actually something that should qualify for a return etc? The drum is a mapex saturn and according to the american website the shells are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. I cannot find any information on warranty on the U.K site but would it be acceptable/normal practise to send it back for going out of round to this degree?
Your DVD has been a great help with some tuning issues!
Thanks for the reply Bob. I think your enthusiasm for our instrument is great and also thanks for the numerous online articles I've found to be of great interest!
What is a good head in between a muted head and a coated head. I don't want it to be to clean, and I don't want it to be to live. Right now I use an Evans Hydrolic and am looking for something like a hydrolic head but with a more live bright response without the overtones. What do you think? Thanks for your time.
Hey Bob, quick question. I've been having problems tuning my 12" tom. I recently bought an evans g2 clear head, and when I placed the hoop over it, I realized that the head was too big. I tried pulling the hoop a few times but it didn't help. When I measured, the g2 head is an eith of an inch larger in every direction. What can be done?
Nope. The hoop is 12.5" all the way around, and the stock dw head I was using fits perfectly. Just for kicks I tried an old Aquarian Performance II head, and it dropped right in. I haven't been able to experiment much because I just bought the kit a few weeks back. However, I replaced all my other tom heads with g2's and this is the only one that hasn't worked out.
Hi Bob! Is this realy you posting? I want to thank you for teaching me how to tune my drums back then! I had your VHS drum tuning video.. from that point in time I get lots of complements when I tune drums and drummers I know look up to me. haha I kept the VHS a secret..shshshshsh!! I also would love to get your tracks for practice.. I had the CD with Will and yourself but its gone now... Do you have some good 256k mp3 of your tracks???
Good to hear from you... thank you, that the stuff i want to hear. Many have inquired about drumless mixes. I have tons of them but haven't thought much about how to distribute them. However, there are a few on the channel. See "Drumless Mixes #1,#2. Please stay tuned, more under construction.
people say drum tuning isnt rocket science, well this video just contradicted that statement. maybe rocket science is an over statement, but theres plenty more to drum tuning then the average drummer knows. thumbs up, very informative and helpful video.
xRockDrummah96 1 month ago
@xRockDrummah96 Thanks for the positivity Rock!
bobgatzen 1 month ago
would it be bad if i were to take off my tom ive been playing for a month now, and re-tune it?
laxplayer72 2 months ago
@laxplayer72 No... the more you explore the more you get closer to discover your SIGNATURE sound. Experiment, Experiment...EXPERIMENT!
bobgatzen 2 months ago
That shouldn't be happening. Try the Evans EMAD-1 with the Emad-reso. Thanks for the compliment Mango... please let me know if the the Evans heads fit properly. Good luck!
bobgatzen 2 months ago
Bob you are great, the man. My drums now sound legendary.
TheBungadian 2 months ago
@TheBungadian uda best B...it's messages like yours that keep me motivated...thanks!
bobgatzen 2 months ago
@bobgatzen Haha thats awesome! Comments like this you will get from everyone and they wont stop because these tips are amazing, i never would have thought of checking if my hoops are straight or if my bearing edges were cut level so thank you!
TheBungadian 2 months ago
@TheBungadian DISCOVERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is FUN huh? Thanks for the kind words b!
bobgatzen 2 months ago
@bobgatzen Sweet as bob your a cool dude !
TheBungadian 2 months ago
@TheBungadian Well thank you very much B! Nice message on a Monday morning...great way to start the week!
bobgatzen 2 months ago
@bobgatzen Haha your welcome ! I have a question for you and i think your the perfect guy to give me advice. Im buying a pearl masters mcx kit soon and i'll be again looking for a metal/rock sound. It comes stock with remo ambassador heads batter and reso the sizes are standard,14 snare, 12 tom, 13 tom and 22 bass drum. What heads do you recommend for a good metal/ rock sound ? Or should i stick with the remo's until they're worn ?
TheBungadian 2 months ago
@TheBungadian
My choice of heads is Evans Metal is not my expertise but here are heads that might do the trick…
Toms- Evans G+ Coated or EC 2-coated batters with EC-resonant on the bottom. Good projection combined with adequate durability
Snare- ECS-RD and the Hazy 300 snare
BD- The ONYX-EMAD batter and reso combination
EQ pad inside the BD "not" touching the heads.
Visit the Drummerworld" site and look for your fave drummers, where they often list their drum set-ups including heads.
bobgatzen 2 months ago
This is awesome. I've been having a rough time tuning my old early 60's Ludwig kit and I suspect a few of these problems may be present. One odd thing to mention is that I can only use single ply or thin two ply heads, otherwise something like a Remo pinstripe won't fit loosely enough. I can force it down over the shells but they pop off when I let go. Probably made before the days of thick two ply heads I guess! Anyhow, looks like a must-have DVD. Gonna grab one right now!
MangoChunks 3 months ago
hey bob, i got a question. if i put my hoop upside down (the way you did) on the counter top i wobbles alot. but if i put it the way, how it would be on my kit, it's perfectly even. do i have to flatten it out or not? it seems like i make it even worse if i try to fix it.
Nemorosus 4 months ago
@Nemorosus Flattening the counter hoop is important because it's stronger/stiffer than the drumhead hoop. If your counter hoop is "flat"... for most part the drumhead hoop will align itself to it allowing much better accuracy in tuning.
bobgatzen 4 months ago
You're a master !
bloopDS21 4 months ago
Been playing for years and always find tuning (Black Magic) to get what I want quite a lengthy process, having watched a number of Bob's tips n clips I will now put them to use and hopefully I will be able to do a better job in half the time! (then again its always been a good excuse to get out for some freedom from her in doors!)
Thanks Bob
MrDinger24 6 months ago
Hey Bob! I'm a big fan.:) But i need to know.. "How do you get sponser skins from evans? And you are fantastic!
Lauritzcool 8 months ago
Thanks for the good news Gibs ! My pleasure, happy to help out
bobgatzen 8 months ago
good thing you got the money cuz i don't have the time lol thank you for this video i just got some beautiful evans ec2 sst's for my kit and they sound amazing low end lots of punch and a pretty sustain, stable and never ending thank you for these tips
SuperGilbs 8 months ago
i gona try it all;.!!
soham2rescue 11 months ago
your video is very insightful, and it help a lot :D
only difference for me being, i use aquarian drumheads, and they have the larger 'saf-t-loc' hoop on them, so they dont actually fit into many drum hoops as easy as yours do. hoever, your method does work for me, so thank you :D
gabbalabbawoop 11 months ago
@gabbalabbawoop You're more than welcome.... alway a pleasure to help out and contribute something to my fellow drummers
bobgatzen 11 months ago
Actually a sheet of paper is about 3 to 5 thousandths of an inch.
amishdude 1 year ago
@amishdude Since when do the amish know this?
tordack 4 months ago
what if i dont have a drum key
toxicmonkey9991 1 year ago
@toxicmonkey9991 Pick one up immediately!
bobgatzen 1 year ago 9
@tazhaandbrian Absolutely. As the shell depth increases, the range tunings are reduced. For instance, you'll find more "useful" tuning possibilities from an 8x12 tom versus a 12x12. However, the 12x12 might produce a "specific pitch" that works great for Y.O.U! Sound is subjective... "if it sounds good to you...IT'S A GOOD SOUND!"
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@tazhaandbrian Without hands-on I can only tell you that forcing the head into the hoop kills pitch clarity and sustain... it's a bad thing and need s to be fixed. It's most likely the hoop being out of round... try flexing (bending) the hoop by grabbing it at 9:00 and 3:00 o'clock... measure then make another measurement between 12:00 and 6:00. Keep flexing the hoop until the 2 measurements are the same or very close. Good luck!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Love the video. Helped more than any tuning video ive watched. I have a lower end set but your tunig tips got it sounding pretty good. Thx for posting the video.
TonyTwoTonez 1 year ago
@TonyTwoTonez That's great to hear... you're very welcome Tony. My mission to keep drummers drumming!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Best spent five minutes of my entire year. Very helpful :-)
WMackbd 1 year ago
@WMackbd Special "Moments" ... it's like an endorphin rage! Thanks for writing mack
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@aatefmagic that's what I call... good news! Thanks aa!!
Too much gloom & doom these days. We (drummers) need to share, communicate and set a positive attitude for others to follow.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Ten thousandths of an inch? They typically call that one hundredth of an inch, Bob.
neelshiv 1 year ago
@neelshiv Yup...I stand corrected... an entire filming crew, production manager and myself didn't catch it... oh well, life goes on.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen
Hah, no offense meant, Bob. Just being one of those internet jackasses that anonymously picks at everything everybody else says.
neelshiv 1 year ago
@neelshiv no offense taken. We need more people like you to keep us on the ball! I'm smiling
bobgatzen 1 year ago
dammit, bob, i'm all paranoid now! D: hahaha
riseagainsttheunion 1 year ago
@riseagainsttheunion ha!! com'n... let's not take ourselves to seriously huh?
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen i went over all my drums last night (this video struck a nerve at around 2am) and tuned them with the OTT and they sound amazing(:
riseagainsttheunion 1 year ago
@riseagainsttheunion Thanks for the good news... always a pleasure to help out
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Thanks you so much for all your help and good advice!
Nayr5555 1 year ago
@Nayr5555 Always a 2-way street...it's my pleasure...thanks back Nay!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Bob, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO!
I had an outside gig this weekend, my 14in floor tom & stock snare drum sounded BAD. I kept getting a horrible overtone from the snare & a rumble overtone from the floor tom. Everyone was looking at me as if I was the drummer that's never learned how to tune a drum (embarrassing). I bought this kit used & is my 2nd drum kit I've ever owned. After watching this vid I check out my drums & they're warped. I'm bummed but relieved it's not my fault. Thanks.
jessekkennedy 1 year ago
@jessekkennedy What is your head combination? Is it time to replace them?
Bob
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen They're brand new heads. Remo Reverse Dot on my snare and Remo Clear Ambassadors on my 14in floor tom. I know you're an evans guy and I'm for sure going to be experimenting with evans again, but either what drum head I get I shouldn't be getting such a crap tone right? (Not getting the entree line of heads of course).
Thanks again, I really do appreciate you responding to my comment!
Jesse
jessekkennedy 1 year ago
@jessekkennedy Hie jesse, It's understandable that the clear, single ply heads are difficult to tune to a specific single pitch. Best to consider a "pre-damped" head for large diameters drums. From Evans, the EC-1 or 2SST batters provide a wide range of tuning while controlling overtones eliminating errant pitches. Best to test the EC head one one of your drums to see how it works.
Difficult for me to analyze your problem long distance. Best to view the Snare Drm vids and get back to me.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
@bobgatzen DUDE! Your the best! Thanks again!
jessekkennedy 1 year ago
@jessekkennedy Alwasys my pleasure to help out...thanks back Jesse!
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Hi Bob, just wondering; I have a Tama Superstar kit, with two 12" toms, a 22" bass drum, and a 16" floor tom. Ive never reskinned a kit before, so I dontknow which tom heads would compliment my preferred style of playing, a hard rock leaning. I'm looking for some help to find the best Batter/Reso combination, to give max resonance/durability. It would be a great help to receive another reply, and I am very much grateful for your clear, concise video's, regards, Shane.
mistermonsterr 1 year ago
hey bob, nice vid. you got here. actually I'm using Evans hydrolic 2-ply. what is the best reso head you suggest to come up a good reso and sound.
thank you..
looklikemagic 1 year ago
@looklikemagic Thanks L.
The best choice would be the new EC2-SST combined with the EC-reso. This combination will deliver more tuning range, faster stick response and much clearer pitch. Always best to test a set-up on your 12" tom before investing into a complete set of heads.
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Bob i just started watching your vids, and i have to say they are great. Yet the best part about them is the fact that you actually answer comments!! Not many people do that and thats mighty kool of you..
thank you
elrojomuerto6x 1 year ago
I'm a long time industry guy who really cares about drummer drumming. Without sounding corny...always my pleasure to help out! Thanks for the kind words elro
bobgatzen 1 year ago
Bob your DVD is great and has been extremely helpful. I've been finding out where my drums are at and have a question. The bearing edge on the batterhead side lets one piece of paper slip in, in a relatively small area. However when I flip the drum over and check the resohead side I can get 2 almost 3 pieces of paper in there. Is this information referring just to the batterhead side? If I attempt to scrape the bearing edge do you recommend a sharp point? Thanks Bob
Joe0fAllTrades 2 years ago
A single piece of pad paper varies in thickness between 2-4 thousands (002.-004.) of an inch. Once your able to slip a few papers under the edge it's time to have a pro flatten the bearing edges. The good thing is... it's fixable.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, i have a question. If im looking to play drums with a metal/rock sound to it what kind of skins should i get?
Thanks, Adam
bigboy4121 2 years ago
Hi Adam...depends on whether you like single or 2-ply heads. I recommend the Evans G+ Coated (single ply) or the new EC-SS 2 ply heads. For the reso head experiment with the Genera-reso and the EC-reso. Happy hunting!!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
i love this guy
carfreak213 2 years ago 16
I love you too!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
@carfreak213, a saviour!
crlaw75 10 months ago
Hey Bob, How are you Sir. Since i have been gathering your plethora of knowledge, I have yet another question. If my bearing edges are not true,is it possible to touch them up with perhaps a lite sanding. I dont trust sending my shells through the mail to have them recut unless you have a better suggestion. I've heard that cabinet makers who have routers could possibly do the shells, not sure I trust them either. Thanks for your advice as always.......Mike
xp8maple 2 years ago
More often than not you don't have to "re-cut" bearing edges just reshape them. Yes, it would be best to have a reputable drum-tech do the job but it's not as difficult as it may seem. remove both heads, place the drum on a sheet of sand paper. Using both hands rotate the drum and check for flatness. Then pick up a wood scraper to shape the inside "bevel" (angle) over to the outside edge until it forms a sharp top edge. Then check again for flatness (true)
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, I was wondering if filling in the holes with some type of wood filler (due to the guager rims,there are now 3 extra holes in the shell,2 small screw and 1 large post hole for rogers memri-loc tom mount) Would this help the sound in any way? Thanks as always Mike
xp8maple 1 year ago
you look familiar.
Ju1ceem4n 2 years ago
Yeah...a lot people say I look like Dave Garabaldi.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, great video. What type of reso heads I should get for my 12 and 13 inch toms? They both have EC2 batter heads and factory reso heads. What head would give the best sound?
bumjmm 2 years ago
Thanks B! The EC-resos will generate more "density" in tone. If you want more of an open sound try the Genera-resonant.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Thanks dude! And I have one more question. What snare side head would you recommend for a 12 inch snare drum? I've been noticing that Evans doesn't have too many heads for 12 inchers
bumjmm 2 years ago
Basically there are 2 popular choices. the Hazy-200 or 300. The 300 is the most popular...it works well for just about any genre. The 200 generates a brighter sound.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
im trying to get a real "cannon" sound out of my bass drum" its a 22"x22" and Im using pre muffled batter and resonant heads, how much muffling should I use and should it touch either of the heads. I am trying to use as little muffling as possible? please help
thanks
drumtime360 2 years ago
I suggest picking up 1-2 EQ pads. Begin by placing 1 pad in the bottom of the drum, NOT TOUCHING THE HEADS. Than against the batterlisten, than switch it to the reso head and compare. Next, try a second pad against both heads. Another mounting method is to apply 2 Velcro strips at the TOP of the shell to mount (hang) the pad upside down. It muffles in a different way...you may like it. There ya go!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
thanks Bob
drumtime360 2 years ago
My pleasure
bobgatzen 2 years ago
hey Bob, whats the best way to measure where to put a porthole or 2 in the front head
drumtime360 2 years ago
My boogie is to place it as close to the edge of the head as possible. This maximizes resonance. The more you position the hole towards the center will decrease resonance.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Thanks Bob, I've been drumming professionally for almost 25 years and I'm still learning things from your posts. Please keep it up.
Grooovin1 2 years ago
Your very welcome, that's great to hear. I'm working on a major project for DVD. I'll be posting clips on YT. Hope to have some new vids soon.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
bob!!!! im tuning my 12 inch tom and I like the pitch, but it sounds warbley!! what do I do?
kzone92 2 years ago
Check the "individual" pitch of the batter and reso. They should be close to each other in pitch.
Also, if your not able to tune to the same pitch at each t-rod, loosen all t-rods and rotate the head 90 degrees (12:00>3:00) then try re-tuning. Let me how that works out and we'll go from there.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
i tried what you said but i still have the same problem, it only has 5 lugs so it is kind of hard to get them to match up, is there some sort of trick like the opposite tuning thing for odd lugged drums?
kzone92 2 years ago
I assumed your drum was a 6-lugger. The 5-lug tuning pattern is 12:00>5:00>10:00>2:00>7:00. So OTT pattern are diagonal rather than 180 degrees from each other. Let us know how it works out.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Jeez, I´ve should of bought this DVD before I even bought my first kit! This stuff is like gold man. These little things when you don´t notice them, will make a studio-session a living hell. I always try to figure these types of things out beforehand and in the studio as well, but the result has often been toying with samples until the drums sound good. But the result leaves me unsatisfied about the fact, that the sound on the record is not the original and organic sound of my own kit...
Liikunnanmies 2 years ago
I try all these tuning tricks but drum still sounds bad.
Do you think it might be the heads?
drumscience45 2 years ago
More likely your ears. I don't mean that in a bad way but there's no substitute for ear training. I'd say yes to "a" head that doesn't tune up well...but all the heads... not likely.
Sing, sing, sing pitches and intervals. Tapping the head and singing the pitch will develop your ears.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey, Bob, this is about drums not tuning or heads. Do you know what drum company that still sells drums aren't so tall? Like, vintage look?
TheDirectorofFoo 2 years ago
Many of the big companies are now offering "standard depth toms (8x10,8x12,14x14, 16x16) A trend that is returning. For sure all the "indies" like Noble & Cooley, Orange County, MRP, Spaun, etc. will customize the drum of your dreams.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
does the Evans torque key tune drums well?
Im asking becuase im thinking of buying.
scaryguy32 2 years ago
It will get you in the ballpark, it's a helpful tool. But there's NO substitute for ear training.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
thank you so much my hoop was to small and i fixed it instead of getting a new hoop or shell thanks bob
PengPROducktions 2 years ago
Cool...my pleasure to help out...you're welcome!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
this particular video is much needed on youtube. after 25 years of drumming this IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "DW", "MAPEX",GRETSCH" AND THE LOW END DRUMS SHELLS LIKE PERCUSSION PLUS, PULSE,EXPORT INTERNATIONAL etc...
all shells are NOT created equal. thats why we have Evans Hydraullic heads still available today after all these years I guess because junk is still being made. thanks for this video.
zash008 2 years ago
I've got a DrumDial (wich is just helping a little bit). But if I could lay hands of a Bob Gatzen instead it would be priceless! ;-)
Callion 2 years ago
Thanks, nice comment...really apprectiate it!
The DD is a useful tool but it will never replace consistent practice and dedication to be able to "HEAR" your drums. They're speaking to us in a language we need to master.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Bob, if I have a batter, Emad Clear (Not a Emad 2) can I use a Emad resonant for the front ?
henpike 2 years ago
Absolutely! The EMAD 1 or 2 and the new Onyx were designed as a system.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Hey Bob, i recently purchased the new Onyx skins and i just wanted to know what would be the best reso skin to match them..
C0reyBernard 2 years ago
I'm assuming toms heads... the Evans G-1 clear or EC-resonant if you want to warm up the sound. The Ec-resonant creates more density in tone regardless of the batter head style. Please let us know how it works out
bobgatzen 2 years ago
my opinion is that you will only by the onyx heads this one time. i think you will be very disappointed in them. but dont give up on EVANS HEADS. its just that particular model head. they have really missed the mark on sound I think when it comes to this head.
zash008 2 years ago
So is the head trash if the head's hoop isn't level? :(
imover18gotityube 2 years ago
No necessarily. The head's hoop is made out of aluminum purposely for lighter weight and to have some "give" allowing it to fit all drum hoops.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Oh, hooray!
imover18gotityube 2 years ago
Yeah! and whoa rah to you
bobgatzen 2 years ago
Aha. Bob, your comments make me chuckle. Great video's and Tips. 5/5
TehMiniMan 2 years ago
Thanks teh!
2 lessons I've learned over the years... don't take yourself too seriously and laugh at your mistakes!
bobgatzen 2 years ago
what type of heads do you recommend for the snare? rack toms (all sizes)? floor toms? bass drums? have you heard of tama superstar? are those shells any good? im thinking of getting some. the newer models of course....replies are appreciated.
Neoanakin84 2 years ago
bobgatzen 2 years ago
what is ecs-rd?
Neoanakin84 2 years ago
EC is a series of heads including snare and toms. "S" stands for snare drum and "RD" is a reverse flexible dot mounted to the underside of the head.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
how can i get a chad smith crack outta my snare? when i tighten my snares i get a good one but then i lose those wonderful overtones and it sounds too shallow. any advice? I've got a ludwig rockers if that helps.
seventeen17van 2 years ago
Could be the snares being distorted requiring more tension to make them seat. Replace the snare sthen try this tuning technique.
Begin by tuning the snare & batter close to the same pitch. Start by tuning both heads to an "A". Than raise the batter a 1/2 step up at a time (Bb,B etc) while listening closely to the variations in sound. You should notice the sound getting changing from a snary-type sound to more of a pitched tone as the batter head is tensioned upwards.
bobgatzen 2 years ago
wow, thank you, i think that is the most helpful advice i've ever received on tuning. much appreciated.
seventeen17van 2 years ago
My pleasure
bobgatzen 2 years ago
hay bob , i was wondering where can i buy your dvd from the net>?
snaremasteraza 3 years ago
Hi S. You can order it on Amazon or Alfred Publishing. Just be careful not to order the 1st DVD. The title of the 2nd DVD is "Drum Tuning Sound & Design....SIMPLIFIED". This version includes the entire footage from the original. Thank you!
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Hey bob thanks alot! But i have a question regarding tuning. would be great if you could help.
I recently got an Evans Genera ST Dry snare head and i can't get a dry enough sound out of it.
I want a full on very dry sound and i know this depends of a number things such as shell depth etc but is there a specific way to tune this head to get the best dry sound out of it? Im getting quite frustrated with it.
GotNoName10 3 years ago
The Genera dry is inherently dry, short sustain. I'd try the ECS-RD and attach a MIN-Emad muffler. This way you get the best of both worlds.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Sorry im not familiar with the ECS-RD. I have some moongel which works quite well but it's not really my cup of tea. leaves my drumhead stick.
GotNoName10 3 years ago
Moon gel is a drastic approach to dampening. Best to "baby" the drum heads with minimal dampening combined with the right head type. This is subjective... it's like asking which drumsticks should I use? Go to the Evans siye and look up drumheads. Search "Snare" and you'll find all the models. The ECS-RD is a 2-ply head with patented dampening technique.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Oh ok yeh i'll definately look into that. Thanks for you help Bob
GotNoName10 3 years ago
Bob, I swear, I've been having so much difficulty tuning my snare, and you just made my day! After watching some of your video's over and over again I got the thing to finally stop rattling!! Thanks so much, you are the man!
tomlapy09 3 years ago
Great news...thanks for letting us know
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Is there a way that you can avoid the snare drums from detuning? Thanks!
diamondyeqy 3 years ago
Man , if I could figure that one out I'd be livin' on the Riviera...ha! The thing that works for me is on the Quik-Tip I posted using the MIN-emad muffler attached between the tuning knob and the the outside wall of the snare throw-off. This technique has worked quite well for me.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
I taught if anyone would know it would be you :) Thanks for the great videos they're truly a gift!
diamondyeqy 3 years ago 3
My pleasure... you're welcome
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Thanks for all the tips in this segment. I learned a lot!
crlaw75 3 years ago
You're welcome
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Wow ! Thanks, Bob ! The part where you pulled up on the hoop scared me, but I'll give it a try. Thank you for taking the time to show us.
lukeandlea 3 years ago
Your welcome luke!
bobgatzen 3 years ago
I have a Phil Collins Drum set,is it okay if I tune single headed drums?or it will be a different way to tune it?
camarofan101 3 years ago
Single headed drums have less tuning range than double headed. You'll might find resonance very specific. Be gentle with the drum key
bobgatzen 3 years ago
This video is extremely helpful. Thanks bob, never knew there was so much stuff to drum trouble shooting.
sporeandbryan 3 years ago
You're welcome bryan. You're absolutely right. Drums seem so basic by design but are totally mechanical. For me it's the connection and balance between Art & Science
bobgatzen 3 years ago
1:44 I've never heard someone say that a drum that "rocks" is a bad thing.
Dreammotive 3 years ago
lol! At least I explained how to fix it
bobgatzen 3 years ago
ok i just polled all of my wrap off of my drums and took it down to wood i like the way it looks but what well it do to the sound i'vr half way tuned them and there sounding ok i just want to see what you have to say
justinbrooklyn116 3 years ago
Generally, wrapped shells produce more low fundamental pitch. It's subtle but detectable, if you were to make a direct comparison (A>B test). For the most part the attraction to covered shells is in lower cost. But I know many drummers that go for the sound it produces as well. Once youy get you kit back together let us know what you think
bobgatzen 3 years ago
ok i got may drums back together and they sound really good you can here the shells more and not just the heads
justinbrooklyn116 3 years ago
Thanks for the good news
bobgatzen 3 years ago
god i've watched all of your videos and the thing that sucks is that about 2 years ago i had my set and i busted my batter head and i was stupid and fliped the drum over and played the reso head and now it's got stick dents all in it so i can never tune it right and i hate it and i can get a ride to a music store
justinbrooklyn116 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Sorry to hear that. Plenty of on-line stores for drumheads. "Musician's Friend" has a good rep.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
I learned some of these problems the hard way. My old naive ways. Thanks for the video, I'll keep those tips in mind when I buy new drumheads.
godofdrums 3 years ago
Your welcome. It's OK to purchase a few single heads to experiment. Like 12" G+, EC-2 and G-2. This way you spend a few dollar for a couple extra to make the right choice for the entire kit set-up. Right now I'm using 3 types of batters on my kit. My approach is to create a sound I like for each drum.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
good video, how often should I tune my drums? They haven't been tuned since 2 months, still sound good though, the drum kit is a very well british made vintage Premier.
Hady1994 3 years ago
Every time I play my drums I constantly "tweaking" the tuning. Heads loosen up, stretch out so it's best to keep at it tuning wise. Also, being consistent at tuning helps to improve and embed tuning technique.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Oh, if I only had a good drum kit to actually fidget with to get the sounds you get! I know, I know, it doesn't matter... that much. But 16 year old Pearl Exports just don't cut it anymore.
d0g69s 3 years ago
If you can afford it right now the deals on kits are great thanks to our sluggish economy
bobgatzen 3 years ago
man your videos are so good you are like a national geographic narrator or something. you just have this voice that reminds me of a high school informative documentary on plants haha. anyways you make it very easy to understand what you are explaining and it helps out alot of people. i could watch these things for days.
5kyler 3 years ago
Now that;'s what I like to hear. Thank you 5kyler! Everything I do is driven by passion.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Awesome info Bob thanks for the tip!
Stixman41 3 years ago
You welcome Stix
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Very helpful information indeed! Thanks bob!:)
Ossadas 3 years ago
Your very welcome my friend
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Hi Bob. I have a tom which is just over 1/8th of an inch out of round. Is this actually something that should qualify for a return etc? The drum is a mapex saturn and according to the american website the shells are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. I cannot find any information on warranty on the U.K site but would it be acceptable/normal practise to send it back for going out of round to this degree?
Your DVD has been a great help with some tuning issues!
peterundle99 3 years ago
It's worth a try. You have something to stand on. An 1/8 out will never tune evenly. Best of luck!
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Thanks for the reply Bob. I think your enthusiasm for our instrument is great and also thanks for the numerous online articles I've found to be of great interest!
peterundle99 3 years ago
Thanks Peter!
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Seems a bit long winded? Surely theres easier ways to get a good sound of your kit?
LTDrummer21 3 years ago
Sorry you feel that way. So many drummers blame themselves for not getting a good drum sound. This is drum-science 101
bobgatzen 3 years ago
What is a good head in between a muted head and a coated head. I don't want it to be to clean, and I don't want it to be to live. Right now I use an Evans Hydrolic and am looking for something like a hydrolic head but with a more live bright response without the overtones. What do you think? Thanks for your time.
thumppurrr 3 years ago
Evans EC-2 clears fall right between Hydraulic and the G-2. I recommend mating it with the new EC-reso.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Hey Bob, quick question. I've been having problems tuning my 12" tom. I recently bought an evans g2 clear head, and when I placed the hoop over it, I realized that the head was too big. I tried pulling the hoop a few times but it didn't help. When I measured, the g2 head is an eith of an inch larger in every direction. What can be done?
nafod25 3 years ago
This could be the same case with an Aquarian or Remo head. Depends on the hope dimensions. Have you had probelms with this in the past?
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Nope. The hoop is 12.5" all the way around, and the stock dw head I was using fits perfectly. Just for kicks I tried an old Aquarian Performance II head, and it dropped right in. I haven't been able to experiment much because I just bought the kit a few weeks back. However, I replaced all my other tom heads with g2's and this is the only one that hasn't worked out.
nafod25 3 years ago
This is very unusual. Please send me your address as a "message" (non-public) and I will have them send you a replacement.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Wel i bought an old premier,same model ringo used to play with in the early beatles days(so they say)
changed the tom reso head and noticed it was hard to get the head into the hoop(had to force it and I was told never to do so)
The drum-head was an old never used sonor reso head(original part of my first set)
So I used yr info on 'know where yr drum is at' but still it won't fit.
cheers
Erno
tubeyrself 3 years ago
Try a new reso head. The specs for O.D. (outside diameter) are much improved these days.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Bob if my hoop looses 0.5cm or 0.196 inch
is this adjustable?
Erno
tubeyrself 3 years ago
Are you speaking of flatness or concentricity? Either way those are relatively low figures that can be easily corrected.
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Wow, thought I've learned all about tuning drums before I saw the videos. But this broadened my horizon.
sickpack82 3 years ago
That's so good to hear... thanks!
bobgatzen 3 years ago
hey bob can you tune my drum for me? i'll pay you a million bucks..
almagelo10 3 years ago 5
Only 1 mil?
bobgatzen 3 years ago
Hi Bob! Is this realy you posting? I want to thank you for teaching me how to tune my drums back then! I had your VHS drum tuning video.. from that point in time I get lots of complements when I tune drums and drummers I know look up to me. haha I kept the VHS a secret..shshshshsh!! I also would love to get your tracks for practice.. I had the CD with Will and yourself but its gone now... Do you have some good 256k mp3 of your tracks???
Be a drumhead!!
girotube 3 years ago
Good to hear from you... thank you, that the stuff i want to hear. Many have inquired about drumless mixes. I have tons of them but haven't thought much about how to distribute them. However, there are a few on the channel. See "Drumless Mixes #1,#2. Please stay tuned, more under construction.
bobgatzen 3 years ago