Bass Drum Stuffing - Yes / No? - With what - Why???

[WERNER 1]

Let me start out by saying that I'm not a drummer --- but I play one on TV j/k!

Thanks to the help of you guys in the past I was able to figure out which heads to purchase for my CB MAX drums that I have here for drummers to use in a pinch. I ended up going with Evans G2's - Coated. I purchased them about 6 months ago, but I'm just now getting around to putting them on

My question is in regards to whether or not I need to have any sort of padding, stuffing, blankets....what ever inside the kick/bass drum........and if so, what is the purpose of this and how does it effect the recording process (As recording these will be my main focus)

Also, is there a "standard" for the hole in the head.....or does it really need to be in there?? (I'm thinking yes for mic'ing purposes??)

Any info on this will be greatly appreciated!!!

I"m planning on trying to record some drum sounds this weekend as the wife's out of town and I'll have some time to tinker -- I'll post the clips when I get them recorded.

PS - I did do a search about the padding inside, but it didn't come up with anything decent..........allot about cutting out the hole though WHat size should the hole be anyway???

Thanks!!!!

Rick

[bubbagump]

Just another one of those personal preference things. The only way you'll know what you like is to try. PErsoanlly I leave my kick wide open and lean a pillow against the resonant head. Some guys stuff the inside fo the drum, som guys do nothing. It all depends.

As for the hole... same deal. I don't personally have a hole as I like a thuddy kick. Some guys want slap and in that case, putting a mic in the drum makes sense and so does a hole... maybe. Some guys just remove the resonant head all together on the kick for recording. Again, try different combinations and see what you liek... Even better, maybe tell us a recording that you think the kick souunds good on. I bet we can tell you how they did it (or at least get close to it)

[twostone]

Well I whatch this killer video of Greg Bissonett(Chick Korea) and all he used was a rolled up towell but he explains in dept it's all about the tuning and type of drum heads. The video "rocks" tells you everything about live set up and recording set up he covers everthing no details left out try a web search for him.

[slidey]

I like a good thwack with depth so I do two stage micing D112 in the shell & an AKG solidtube w/20db pad!!

I don't have a front skin & I tape a towel to the back (beater) head & the shell for live & I add a pillow for studio work

..I had to chime my bit in there

OH YEAH & a powerstroke III bass-drum head is essential

everyone needs one because I said so

LOL

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by twostone

Well I whatch this killer video of Greg Bissonett(Chick Korea) and all he used was a rolled up towell but he explains in dept it's all about the tuning and type of drum heads. The video "rocks" tells you everything about live set up and recording set up he covers everthing no details left out try a web search for him.

Uh, I don't think Gregg ever played with Chick. Dave Weckl did. Gregg played with Maynard Ferguson, David Lee Roth, Joe Strianai and Ringo's all star band.

I'm actually supposed to go over to his house next friday. (3rd cancellation if not.) I can ask him...

[slidey]

mmmmmmmmm Dave Weckl is a hero, in fact the towel is a custom DW accessorie by evans (I think)

Gregg B's solo album submarine is something else

[petermiller]

depends on how you like it, personally all I can say is evans makes a pillow which is perfect. It mostly depends on the room your in as to how the drum will repond to dampening and other sympathetic resonance and so on. Big room wide open tight space dampen up quite a bit etc. first off tune the thing up right and see how it sounds.

[chester]

The pillow/blanket/etc. adds muffling. Some bass heads however have muffling in them so they are enough. Its really all about preference.
havign a hole in the bass reso does have little effects on the sound and also if it is in the middle of the head or off to the side, as well as the size and amount of holes. Another thing that all comes down to preference. And yes, one hole is often used for better mic positioning.

[WERNER 1]

ok, thanks guys....I think

I'll just try it wide open, then with a res. head on there with a hole (What diameter??), and then with a pillow or blanket in there and see which one I like the best...

I've got the Evans G2 coated for all of the batter head's, but I've got an Evans EQ4 for the bass/kick

I just started re-heading the drums last night.........man that tuning process get's pretty involved! (Tuning Bible) I made it through the snare and the smallest mounted tom ....... I'm planning on getting the rest of the kit done tonight..

I'm still a bit lost on setting the pitch.......I wish there was a way to set this up in an easy manner.

Rick

[chester]

i think most holes for the resos on bass drums are what, 5"? I could be wrong but thats what i think most are.

[Minion]

My Kit came with 2 heads and without a Hole in it for Micing so I cut a Small 6in Hole in the Head so I can Put a Mic in and I also have a Small Pillow Leaning against the Batter Head and I usually Put the Mic inside the Pillow about 3 inches from the Head...I also Tune the Bass Drum as Low as it can go without the Hardware Rattleing, This way I get a Pretty Deep Thwaping sound with little sustain that I like for the Music I use.....


Cheers

[breeeeza]

i have never tried this but i have been told that bubble wrap just bundled into a bass drum (not neatly) sounds amazing. its worth giving it a go

[slidey]

Originally Posted by breeeeza

i have never tried this but i have been told that bubble wrap just bundled into a bass drum (not neatly) sounds amazing. its worth giving it a go

Did it with newspaper once with a retro screen (mesh front head)

[herostyle]

I stuff my head and it has a hole but then again that just came with my set. I'm getting a new resonant head. But I have yet tyo decide that too. IUts preference and combinations.

[WERNER 1]

Well I got the new heads on the kit, including the kick drum (Evans EQ4). I was initially going to cut a 5" hole in it off center, but at that last second I decided not to. So I'm running a solid res. head on the front of the kick. I've got the Res head real loose, or at a low pitch (Just a hair up from the lowest possible clear pitch) and the batter head is about the same, maybe a tad tighter. The kick seems to have a bit too much resonation in it when you thwap it with the beater so I'm thinking of adding some stuffing.

One of the drum companies had an artical on stuffing the kick drum that was pretty interesting............don't recall which on off hand as I've been sifting through info all weekend.

I'm thinking of using some acoustical foam inside the kick.......anyone ever do this, or should I just stick with the blanket/pillow line of thinking??

Thanks,
Rick

[herostyle]

Blankets and pillows have worked fine for me but I've played on sets that have the foam. They work just as well. If you ant to save money, go with the pillows.

[Farview]

If you put the hole in the reso head, it will not ring so much.

[herostyle]

Yeha that would work too. He might still need foam tho. or something like it. Because I have a hole. but it is real tiny. So I dunno.

[Farview]

A 5 inch hole will do it. If you still have a problem, just find something that will fit in there and just touch both heads. You want the head to move, you just want to dampen it a bit. Evans makes a little pillow-type thing that lays up against the head, it works very well.

[herostyle]

Yeha I'll reccomend the same too.

[phaqu]

For me,it depends on what style of music Im doing and the tempo. Rock (usually faster), I like a piece of styrofoam cushion to lay at the bottom, touching the beater head to get a good thump without a lot of boom and ring. For a slower jazz tune , I take it out for a boomier sound (if thats what I want). For recording, I leave the front head off, most of the time.

[herostyle]

Well I play various types of rock so I'll use the stuffing method. But eyah, different types of music, need different setups. I guess thats how I can pout it.

[Farview]

All the rock and metal I do, I do it without any muffling and a hole in the front head. Tuning is a big part of this.

[herostyle]

Yeah, it is. I guess its preference once again. ANd different types of tuning. You have no hole you said? And it sounds nice? That must be good tuning too.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by herostyle

Yeah, it is. I guess its preference once again. ANd different types of tuning. You have no hole you said? And it sounds nice? That must be good tuning too.

I do have a hole. almost always.