Bottom heads

  • Thread starter Thread starter ez_willis
  • Start date Start date
Yeah, the drum, not the head. It seems I read somewhere, maybe the 'drum tuning bible' that leaving the bottom head, or the front head on a bass drum off of the drum for an extended period of time would warp the drum itself. -

Couldn't find it here- http://www.drumweb.com/profsound.shtml, maybe I seen it somewhere else, maybe I'm paranoid.
 
As long as their in a controlled enviroment (A/C - dehumidifier) leaving heads off or on the shell shouldnt warp.
 
I have heard that it can be a problem on the bass drum if you have rack toms mounted on it, but it should be fine on a tom itself.
 
I write and record my own songs. First I record the drum tracks, then bass tracks, guitar tracks, etc. etc... I am a bass player first, not a drummer, but I found it to be much easier to learn how to play the drums, and record them myself than to actually deal with a drummer. I've got my drums setup to where they are real comfortable to play, so I don't want to tear them down, because I won't be able to get them setup where I like them again, and it's a hassle tearing down and setting up every two weeks when I record a new song. I am getting weird overtones that seem to be coming from the bottom heads of my toms while doing vocal tracks. I know it's probably a tuning issue, but again, I am not a drummer by nature and they sound pretty good for what I'm doing and I don't want to tweak on drum tuning for a month. The room is small too, that may be a factor also, it just seems easier to pull the bottom heads off if it won't damage the drum. I might just throw a blanket over the kit til I'm ready for drum tracks again, I was sort of just curious if it would hurt 'em or not. Dang, that was my longest post ever, sorry.
 
unless you are specifically "going for" that bottomless head sound, i'd advise against it. it won't hurt the drum, but it'll sound like ass.

usually taking the bottom head off is a compensation for not knowing how to tune the drums properly. sounds like that's what you're looking for. you'd be FAR better served "tweaking for a month" on learning how to properly tune your drums than by employing the "quick fix" of taking off the bottom heads.

start with some fresh new heads and a copy of the tuning bible and go from there. if you do it right, your drums will sing.

and if the major problem is them making sympathetic noises while you sing, just break the drums down or throw a blanket over em. drums WILL vibrate sympathetically. all instruments do.


cheers,
wade
 
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