On drums...

AGAIN...

This is my 8th drum set, and I still have problems with the sound of my S Classix bass drum...
The toms are FANTASTIC - DIVINE even... I put Coated Ambassadors on top, left the factory resos... Just perfect... A good, loud and open sound. It isn't warm (maybe if I had Coated Emperors, I'd get a warmer sound, but I'm sure I'll lose the sustain and ring).

The snare drum - could be better. The factory (made in US head) is not as good as a regular Coated Ambassador (I guess that goes for the snare side, too)...

Unfortunately - tha bass drum has a lot of BOOOOOM in it. So, as usual, 2 things come to mind:
1) Putting a light blanket inside, to take some of the air power.
2) Porting the head - and taking it from there. Unfortunately, I'm a bit against porting the head at this moment...

Changing the head combination is not an option - until I save enough for a Coated PowerSonic...
Funny, my friend (a great jazz drummer - the best here) made the bass sound phenomenal - but I get to play it, not him...
The bass drum is 17.5" deep - so moving a lot of air inside makes unwanted sound waves appear...


Opinions?!?
I already have a port hole, and a port ring (thanks Brian). And, of course, a light blanket...

P.S. I've tried using a felt strip on my Hilite - nothing...

_________________
Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!

Hey, Goki. Glad to hear you like the toms!

What heads are on the bass? The stock PS3?

Never tried anything heavier than coated Ambs on the toms. As soon as I switched to the coated, I realized that they were the best sound, for my purposes, that I would get, while still maintaining all the fun stuff.

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Gregory

Yup - stock PS3...

But, regarding bass drum sound, I like the fat tone that Steve Gadd has - and I think that's a stuffed drum...

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Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!

Goki...just going by your description "too much boom", not liking the "stuffed" sound....and head replacement not being an option....assuming your heads are where you want them....you are on the right track. You need to let some air out.
Before you do though.....give yourself some more time with the drum. It is brand new to you. Maybe change up your tuning a bit, mess with it...try things you never tried before or thought possible.
What size was your Hilite kick...22 x 17?

Presumably a recorded sound?

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Gregory

Kel's advice is good, and I'd make an additional recommendation; play with it in a musical situation if you haven't already.

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Gregory

You should port the head, it will give you a bunch of options and your soundmen will be much happier.
I use to never use ported heads, but found I could get way more variety of sound it I could stick my hand into the drum and adjust muffling for the room/sound system I was in.
It's a big drum, lots of air moving in there, get a little out. My classix kick sounded great with a 4 inch hole in the reso, plus a t shirt against the res head.
Try it, you'll like it. If you don't I'll send you a new head.
Powersonics sound like poop on those drums as well, just my 2 cents.

Ha. Yeah, I didn't like those either.

I holed heads 4" my whole life until I found this Evans EQ1 head. Thanks again to Cliff for turning me onto them.

My thinking might change soon though as I'm pretty sure I will be playing out in the near future. Like Tim says, that's where everything gets tested. Doesn't matter much if it sounds killer at your house.

Goki, I'm trying to imagine what problem you are having. When I got mine, my sense was that there was too little BOOOOM, which is to say, there was a lot of attack, a fair but short low bass presence, but no middle warmth that creates a round sustained tone.

By what you say, it sounds as if your perception is the exact reverse of mine, and the solution therefor, would be exactly the opposite of my solution, which was to fit a Fiberskyn Ambassador weight reso w/felt strip loosely applied. But before you start with the light-saber-and-laundry solution:

Questions:

Does my description match your experience?
Are you describing an ambient sound or a miked sound?
If your friend played it and it sounded great, was that because you were out in front of the drums, away from the kit, where the Classix sound can really be heard?
Is there a way that you can duplicate the way he played?
Coming off the HiLites, you may have developed habits that are not the best for the Classix. Does a lighter foot give you more of the sound you're looking for? Is your friend burying the beater or does he keep the beater out of the drum?

Changing a kit can demand a very different style of playing. I set my Designers back up this evening after playing the Classix for the last two weeks, and it took me a half hour to remember how to play them, even though I've played nothing but Designers for the last eight months.

A new kit takes some learning. Keep at it!

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Gregory

I bury the batter - that's true, Greg - I can't do better with the Signature peal i use (unless I rearrange everything with the pedal)...
I tried the Coated Ambassador once - too thin for my taste. But - I also hate clear batter heads on bass drums (although almost all of my drums had those )

The bass sounded great when he played it, upfront - but he was more focused on the toms, I must say...
When I play the bass without the band - the air inside makes an extra movement that rattles everything...
With the band - it's a bit better but when Marta and me do a solo piece...problem...


Tim - I have a 5" sticker, and a 6" rock ring... What do You suggest using?
The ring certainly looks more tuff...

When I ported my Gretsch with a 4" hole - the head got destroyed with a mic the next day...

As far as Powersonic goes - it killed the rattle I got from the batter side, and I liked that. The sound WAS dull, I must admit...


So - keep it up guys... I'd really like to know what to do... I'll check out the store for Evans EQ1 today - if they have something...

_________________
Goki - short from Goran

Let the good drums roll!!!