Trouble with my bass drum sound...

Martin McFly (Ger) · Post by **Martin McFly (Ger)** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:47 am

Trustice

I'm in trouble with the sound of my bass drum (14").
It sounds not enough dry and low... what can I do to fix it?

...
http://www.come-unity.de
It's my REGGAE band from Germany;)

fatdan1067 · Post by **fatdan1067** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:12 am

I just tonight took delivery of the same set here in USA. Get a Remo flam pad and a Remo Ebony Pinstripe. It will sound MUCH better. You may need to muffle the top head slightly.

I love the kit, but the FIVE lug 10" tom is difficult to tune. I wish it had SIX lugs.

Good luck!

Post by **jmettam** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:26 am

Hey Dan,

How much did you get yours for? And shipping?

I'm very curious about these kits...

- John

Post by **jmettam** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:32 am

Hi Martin,

Here is my formula for getting a good kick sound from a 14" drum:

14" remo Power Stroke 3 for the bottom head

I prefer the coated head as it gives it a bit more muffling.

Tune it up until you just begin to have a tone. Use tape (2" wide) and paper towel in pieces around the edge of the drum head covering 1/3 to 1/2 of the circumference. This will add extra mass to the drum head and provide more muffling. Tune the head to your liking. GET LUG LOCKS! The little nylon things that slip over the head of the lugs. Otherwise they may come undone and fall off while you are traveling.

I also use a wooden beater to give a little more edge on the attack.

I don't have much experience with the top head as a tom-tom but I would thing that a remo ambasador or emporer would sound nice.

Hope this helps,

- John

fatdan1067 · Post by **fatdan1067** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 12:07 pm

John-I paid $280 including shipping. They have them on eBay. I bought it Sunday morning and it was on my doorstep Friday! The set is really nice. Granted, they are budget drums, but for what I do (incorporating acoustic drums into our songs that have until now only had a djembe) this set is perfect. The cowbell and cymbals that come with it are decent, and the pedal rocks!!! I replaced both the snare and tom heads and will do some kind of muffling on the bass drum/floor tom. I plan to use it for several months until I find a decent Club Jordan. I have a djembe stand that allows me to stand and play, and it fits right next to the cocktail set.

I recommend it if you are on a budget.

Post by **jmettam** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 7:28 pm

How anout the shell construction and hardware? It all looks a step up from the super cheapo kits from Tiwan in the pictures.

Thanks

- John

fatdan1067 · Post by **fatdan1067** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 9:56 pm

John- the hardware is good. The shells are pretty decent. However the bearing edge on the top of the snare is a little crooked, but I knew going in that new drum heads, some muffling, lug locks, and memory locks would be needed. I will note that the set I bought is available in midnight blue or wine red. I chose blue!
There is a set on eBay for $219 that LOOKS similar, but the cymbals are pure sheets (not spun and hammered like mine) and the "snare drum" is actually a tom with some snare wires UNDER THE TOP HEAD.
Again, a good set for the money.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:52 am

I recently bought the same set (GP Percussion) on E-Bay for $250.00. I am in the process of doing an extreme makeover on the kit. I have to agree that it is a decent kit for the money. I've already added a snare, cymbals, hardware, blast block and mics from my regular set. I am not really going for the classic streamline cocktail setup. I will post some pix when I finish the makeover.

Killer B

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:32 am

and did you note that the kit ist descripted as a 14" bass drum kit?
yesterday i bought a 14" remo pinstripe head and when i was home to prepare my kit... i was suprised: the bass drum is sized 15".

my kit is from ebay ebay too - and the seller descripts it as 14" again...

crazy

fw · Post by fw » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:16 pm

I liked having a few wads of fiber fill or cotton in my bass drum. I'd get an initial punch, then the fiber fill would shoot into the air and open the sound, then it would land and mute the overtones.

cocktaildrum.com