Cutting Hole in Bass Drum?

[kidkage]

Anyone have tips on cutting a hole in the resonant head?
Not burning/melting a hole in it, but actually cutting one in it without a cutting kit.

 

[grimtraveller]

There you go Kid, take it from those in the black robes that know their thaing.

just cut the hole with a razor blade. It takes 5 seconds. Or, if you want a functional hole that looks nice, buy a head with a pre-cut hole, or buy a port ring and cut it yourself and snap the ring in place.

It has been mentioned here before, and it is the most sensible answer. Go to your local musical instrument retailer (or order it on-line) and get a ring that is made for the hole in the bass drum reso head. It comes with a template. Trace it out and cut it as neatly as you can with an X-acto or utility knife. The ring has an adhesive tape that is very much like an epoxy based glue so that the ring will stay positioned without buzzing because of vibrations and also it adheres the head to the ring so it will keep any bad cuts from growing into a tear later on down the road. It's simple, it works, end of story.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^

I cut my own holes with port rings and it looks pro and works perfect.

 

[TelePaul]

Why not burn? Get a can of tuna, eat the tuna, put the rim on the stove and use it like a cookie-cutter on your reso skin. Do it outside and put something bahind the skin.

 

[Greg_L]

Why not burn? .

Because it's sloppy and ugly.

 

[TelePaul]

Because it's sloppy and ugly.

lol ugly bass drums sound 10% less bassy!

I actually did this on my last set of skins and it worked fine, was quite neat. I wouldn't trust my accuracy with an exacto either.

 

[Greg_L]

lol ugly bass drums sound 10% less bassy!

I actually did this on my last set of skins and it worked fine, was quite neat. I wouldn't trust my accuracy with an exacto either.

If you never play live, an ugly resonant head isn't a problem. If you never play live, a sloppy port won't tear when soundguys toss mics in and out of the hole. If your drums never leave your room and sloppy is okay, then why not just do it with the x-acto? It requires no heating, no burns, and no time.

 

[bdenton]

The drum shop I go to has a "beam compass" from an old-school mechanical drawing set. It's fitted with a blade similar to an Exacto knife and cuts a beautiful hole.

I think they'll cut it free if you buy a new head, or maybe for about $5.00 if you bring in your head.

You might want to check with your local drum shop...

 

[kidkage]

i ordered a ported head but they sent me a non ported one and i didnt want to deal with the time and restocking and shipping fees.

I cut a 5-6 inch hole in the center the other night with a utility knife... it doesnt amazing good, but it sounds amazing. it only took a minute anyway.

 

[disord3r]

I always went with a 4" hole offset from center. Now that I think about it, I can't remember why I decided that was better than a hole placed dead on center. Even off-center, you still get some beater sound, but I think it might have had something to do with how the heads interact.

Funny how you pick up habits that you stick with over time and eventually don't know where your logic was coming from.

 

[sideshot]

if you dont make a nice smooth cut with the exacto..and without a 12$ kit..
then melt the hole..if not the pressure from you beating the life out the other side will split the edge around the razor hole you cut..
musicians friend ships everything free, sweetwater etc..its like 12 bones man! get a kit and do it right or have fun in a year putting on a new outer head cause yours split ..in front of everyone..on stage..or at home.