How Does Shell Material Affect Tone?

[Zaphod B]

Does the shell material determine a drum's tone?

How would the tone differ between a birch laminate, cheap plywood, or lexan?

Or is the shell just there as a stable physical platform for the heads?

 

[drummercat]

When you hit the drum head, both drum head and the shell will virbate, and produce the drum sound. different material of shell will have different vibration.....so they will have different sound.

hope you get my point!

 

[Zaphod B]

Yep, I get it. Thanks.

So I assume laminated wood shells would have a "warrmer" tone than, say, metal (or lexan)......

Do drummers get into arguments about which type of wood shell provides a certain character, in the same way that guitarists go on about mahogany vs ash vs maple?

 

[Farview]

Yep, I get it. Thanks.

So I assume laminated wood shells would have a "warrmer" tone than, say, metal (or lexan)......

Do drummers get into arguments about which type of wood shell provides a certain character, in the same way that guitarists go on about mahogany vs ash vs maple?

Yes.

The tone also depends on how thick the shells are. 9ply maple will sound different than 3 ply maple.

Different shell materials will feel different to play. I have played Rocket Shells (carbon fiber) and Trick drums (aluminum, I think) and they just feel different to play. It's hard to describe, almost like a rubbery feel to them compared to wood shells.

 

[mikeh]

Material, number of plys, thickness of plys, type of hardware, all of these thing affect tone and resonance.

There are many types of wood - maple, birch, mahogany, bass wood, falcata and numerous other more "exotic" woods. Often a drums may have different plys of more than one wood. There may also be drums made of steel, brass, fiberglass, plexiglass, etc.

Yes, drummers do debate wood. Most prefer maple (for it's "warmer" low end and projection) many prefer birch (for its pronounced mid rang attack). Some like mahogany both for low end response and projection. Fiberglass may not be as "warm" but can provide lots of projection (ie: they're loud).

Thinner drums (less plys) resonate more which creates a warmer sound but may not project as well. Thicker drums project more and have more attack but may not resonate as well.

 

[Zaphod B]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the response.

 

[PhilGood]

Just to add, thinner shells emphasize low end response where thicker shells emphasize the attack. The shape of the bearing edge will also influence the tone. There are many factors.

 

[fiveironguy]

Dont forget oak, my yamaha oak customs are real purdy!