SlippyFingers
Joined: Jul 20, 2016
Posts: 18
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Posted on May 07 2022 12:53 PM
Hey folks,
I'm curios to know, how do you tune your drums, especially the toms?
Preparing a recording session, I try to get that vintage sound, but I don't know how. I have a (modern) classic maple from Ludwig, which should be able to produce that sound. I'm trying multiple heads: Remo Ambassador and Diplomat. Of course round bearing edges of vintage drums are beneficial, but I watched multiple surf bands having new drums and even recreating that sound to some degree.
So here's what especially of interests to me: How do you pitch batter and reso head? Which one is higher and how high do you pitch the batter head? I'm using a tunebot device which is quite handy, so may be someone even has some data? thx!
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1378
New Orleans
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Posted on May 07 2022 04:01 PM
I’m curious about this question also! I usually tune the floor time to its lowest note, then set the toms relative to that. Sometimes I try to hit a C note on the middle tom, but usually I just go with the lowest tone because I like a thunderous sound.
I have noticed that a lot of older drum sets had the toms tuned quite high, including the floor time. I tried that out for a while and actually really liked it. I could not tell you what note they were, but they were each about one step apart.
My extremely limited understanding is that the batter head is your note, and the resonating head is your decay / sustain.
— Daniel Deathtide
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drumsdick
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 225
Central CT, USA
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Posted on May 07 2022 08:34 PM
The possibilities on head selection, tuning preferences and personal opinions on this topic are endless. Also head film thickness, number of plies, coated vs not, and built-in muffling methods. Finding the sound that feels right to you is an endless journey, and subject to change without notice.
That said, your Ambassadors over Diplomats (or other brands equivalents) is a popular combination.
I like to tune both heads to the same pitch, because I prefer maximum resonance for playing surf drums live. (Some sound guys are not used to this). Others tune the batter heads higher for quick rebound, with the resonant heads a bit head lower to reduce the ring, which may also help if recording.
I often use 12”-13”-16” toms, tuned pretty high, to 3C-2A-2F. Others tune instead to “perfect fourths” intervals, rather than notes between any two toms. Think of the tune: “Here Comes The Bride”.
Tune Bot has a mobile app that can be helpful wth tuning your kit as well. Make sure you tune with the opposite head muffled. I tune with the tom on a pillow, drum throne seat or piece of high-pile carpet. I place a small square of Moon Gel in the center of the head I am tuning. More consistent than muffling with finger pressure. Don’t go crazy trying to get the frequency at each lug perfectly the same. Plus or minus a couple of Hz seems OK. I do a little CPR on each head, then fine tune again, to help keep the toms in tune longer under high-energy playing.
TMI, for sure. I hope others will offer their insights and suggestions.
See other threads on SG101 for your recording mic selection and placement!
— *Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521
Last edited: May 07, 2022 20:52:27
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ElectricLimnology
Joined: Nov 20, 2017
Posts: 113
Southeast MIchigan
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Posted on May 08 2022 09:24 AM
The simple answer to this question is tune the resonant heads a bit higher than the batter side heads and do not close mic. Record the drums with one mic if possible.
As an aside, there is no right way to tune a drum hey (apologies for repeating this mantra) but it seems like there are infinitely wrong ways to tune them. We hear a lot of poorly tuned drums. It sounds like you have a pretty good kit so this might not apply to you but generally I’ve found that a lot of drums have “a sound”. Meaning an average to not so great drum like many of us are often dealing with has one good tuning scenario that it responds to. You as the drummer or more often sound engineer has to find it.
— The Vicissitones
Diesel Marine
The Rasputones
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