New bass drum purchase dilemma.

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RVLVNGDRS

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I'm buying a new bass drum for my kit and was wondering if anyone could offer a direct comparison between to in particular (or suggest something better).

I'm looking for very deep, thumpy, and not too resonant, and from what I've read so far, I'm stuck between two pearl models:

The Pearl Reference bass drum and the Pearl MHX series bass drum.

The reason I'm a little confused, is that people everywhere state the Reference bass drum to be the best bass drum for "bottom end" punch, but on the other hand, I always thought that more mahogany meant more "bottom end", and I believe the MHX is more mahogany than the Reference.

I have tried a Reference bass drum at the music store, but considering it wasn't on a set-up kit and that it wasn't tuned properly and that there wasn't any dampening AND that the room acoustics were crap, I couldn't really make a proper judgment.

So once again, my question is: Can someone offer a good comparison between these particular bass drums?

Thanks to everyone who answers :)
 
Does it have to be a Pearl bass drum? If you're going purely by sound, I suggest looking at a Mapex Saturn bass drum. They have two inner plies of walnut and 4 plies of maple. Saturns are some of the smoothest, lowest pitched(in comparison to other drums of the same size) most resonant drums I've ever heard. They also have a seemingly ridiculous tuning range.

What size drum are you looking at?
 
what's wrong with your current bass drum?

Forgive me for answering your question with another question, but what's wrong with your current bass drum?

It is my opinion that the sound you are looking for is largely determined by the choice of heads, muffling and tuning.

(not to mention choice of beater, how you play it, room acoustics/mike placement, etc.).

The Pearl reference series was desinged around the concept that each drum in the kit has the best combination of wood vs. shell depth and diameter.
 
RezN8 said:
The Pearl reference series was desinged around the concept that each drum in the kit has the best combination of wood vs. shell depth and diameter.
Click to expand...

My point was that I've often heard that this particular bass drum had the lowest-end punch than any other.

The problem with my current bass drum is:

-Sharp bearing edge makes for less contact with wood, giving a more open sound.

-The size, 20 inch, doesn't sound very big at all.

-The wood, 7 ply rock maple, isn't designed to emphasize the lower frequencies as much as mahogany does.

I'm using an Audix D6 as my mic. I've muffled the interior with a towel and the batter head is, I believe, the Remo Powerbass with the 2 muffler rings. So in terms of muffling and mics, I don't think there's much of a problem. Actually, what I have now sounds quite good, I just think I could get better if all the above criteria were different.
 
This isn't relevant at all, but I played a DW kit today that had the deepest, most righteous natural kick sound I've ever heard. I pooped my pants.
 
Greg_L said:
This isn't relevant at all, but I played a DW kit today that had the deepest, most righteous natural kick sound I've ever heard. I pooped my pants.
Click to expand...

What isn't relevant? I asked a very specific question.
 
Greg_L said:
I meant my comment about the DW kick isn't relevant.
Click to expand...

right, sorry, stupid me :p

btw, i think i'll go with the Reference. i tried it in a good room and it was awesome...beyond awesome...i don't think any other drum will come close.

thanks
 
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