Improving Tom Sound

[Drummerbones]

I've got a Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute kit that sounds great. I do all my main recording on this kit. However, in our band's rehearsal hall I have my old Pearl Export kit. I like to do tracking there as well, but I just can't get good recorded sounds out of those toms. I've got good head & I sure as hell know how to tune my drums. I'm just spoiled by the Yamaha kit. I'd like to be able to use some of the recordings I get from our rehearsal hall. So what's the big secret to making average-sounding drums sound great? Use a drum module on the toms? Replace the sound with sampled drums? (I record on a Yamaha AW16G, not a PC....no samples for me). Any thoughts?

[Farview]

Pearl exports like to be tuned low. I have gotten great things out of them with pinstripes and the heads almost slack. You can't tune them the same way you do a nice set of drums, they just won't do it.

[Drummerbones]

The heads I have on there now are tuned fairly tight. Well, not real tight, but not so low they're almost wrinkled. I'm going to pick up some new heads this week (I like pinstripes as well) and try tuning them lower. Anyone else?

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by Drummerbones

The heads I have on there now are tuned fairly tight. Well, not real tight, but not so low they're almost wrinkled. I'm going to pick up some new heads this week (I like pinstripes as well) and try tuning them lower. Anyone else?

Export shells are made from mohogany, I believe. The inner ply is something else like basswood. That helps the company keep the cost down. Mahogany produces about 20% more low end than maple, and about 10% more than birch. I would try thinner heads, like ambassador clears. Tune them like you would for your birch kit. Then pull your tom mics back a little bit. About 1-2 inches. Roll off a little low end on the mixer and add some 4-6k for attack. That should make 'em sound pretty nice.

[PhilGood]

Here's the reason I like ambassador heads. I have Tama Rockstars, which are mohogany shells. The toms sound big on this song, not just because I did 4 takes and decided to layer them all for the intro and choruses, but in general they sounded much better that the aquarian 2 ply's I had on before. (those are like pinstripes)

This is from a CD for my old band which we never finished, so excuse the levels. (Recorded on my home rig.)

http://www.monkeyworksinc.com/samples/Stained.mp3

[Farview]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

but in general they sounded much better that the aquarian 2 ply's I had on before. (those are like pinstripes)
http://www.monkeyworksinc.com/samples/Stained.mp3

The ambasodors do sound good on those drums. The Aquarians do not sound ANYTHING like pinstripes. They are much thicker than the remos and don't respond the same way. I'm sure they have their use, but I can't stand the Aquarians. (for what I am doing) I use Remo pinstripes and the world is good.

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by Farview

I'm sure they have their use, but I can't stand the Aquarians.

I'll second that! They are soft, dead and pretty much worthless. Even the single ply snare head I had sounded dead, boingy and felt mushy. You're right, pinstripes are much livelier, but still too dead for my taste. They work much better on maple drums.