new used drums...

[badassmak]

woohoo I got tired of messing around with crappy drum software and bought a fairly cheap kit...a ludwig set; http://www.ludwig-drums.com/products/rocker/LR1025EC.html (used) , a snare, bass, floor tom, and 2 toms? that attached to the bass...as well as one cymbal (no hihat)...for about 400 canadian...I have a question about the kick...it has no padding inside, and sounds way to hollow, I wanna stick some pillows in there to deaden the sound a bit...is ther a specific way to open it up without uhh...busting it???...any other first timer tips would be greatly appreciated too...thanks alot...

 

[rushfan33]

What do you mean open it up? Are you asking about taking off the head? Sorry if that's a stupid question but the way you worded your, that's all I could think get out of it.

RF

 

[badassmak]

(possibly newbie drum catagory question)

yes open it up... or is that a bad thing to do?

 

[bingbing]

Hi Mak....

There should be lugs on each side of the drum holding the heads on. If you unscrew the lugs on one side, the head on that side will detach, and you can put padding inside. Then, simply reattach the head and screw the lugs back in.

I hope this helps your situation...from your info, this is all I can think of.

regards,
bingbing

 

[mikeh]

Taking a drum head off (or opening it up) is not a bad thing to do - it is a common thing. In fact if you plan to play drums (even as a 2nd or 3rd instrument) you need to know how to change heads. Taking off heads simply requires loosening the tuning lugs.

It sound like you know very little about drums - try to find a drummer (a friend or a friend of a friend) to show you basic head tuning. It is just as important as knowing how to change strings on a guitar and tune a guitar.

 

[badassmak]

newbie drum guy

hehe yeah I know nothing about drums, alot of practise will be required here (to hell with the 3 roomates hehe)... I foound a link here at MXtabs http://www.mxtabs.net/tuning.php?PHPSESSID=4c1d9ee97c919dfa81f23ab469097f08 they go into some mention of tuning, but im thinking this is all applying to non plastic heads...i haave plastic heads ...how are they any different from real ones ??? can i just screw em on and they are magically in tune ? (sorry im a hermit person very few freinds outside of the home, and my roomates cant even play mary had a little lamb on recorder...home recording.com is my new friend )...I appreciate very much any help or info you pass along...thanks again

 

[mikeh]

Putting drum heads on - or taking them off is the same regardless of the type of head. Almost all drum heads are ow made of some type of plastic - or Mylar, etc.

The "secret" to tuning a drum head is to make sure that you have even tension all the way around the drum. If you have 6 lugs you alterante from side to side (much like you tighten the lugs on a car tire to get even tension).

After you have tightened each lug with your fingers, you then alternate from lug to lug about a half turn each until you start to get tension, then reduce to a 1/4 turn each.

Tap the drum head about 1 inch inside each lug (toward the middle of the head) and try to make sure the tone is the same at each lug (this is called tuning a drum to itself).

There is a site called drumweb.com which provides very detailed informationon drum tuning. You will learn alot with some additional research.

Regarding the different types of heads, clear vs. coated does not make a lot of difference (coated can be slightly dryer sounding), single ply vs. double ply - a single ply head resonates a little more.