Installing New Heads on Dresden (Walter Light) Timpani

We're taking the mystery out of Dresden-style timpani! In this addition to the 3 part series on Dresden timpani (often called “Walter Light timpani"), Daniel Kirkpatrick, owner/operator at DK Percussion and Principal Timpanist at the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, takes you through the necessary steps to prepare your timpani, install teflon tape on the bearing edge, install a new drumhead, center the hoop, find the "sweet spot", and finally clearing the heads.
Additional video work by Will Harris.
Links:
Teflon Tape (Steve Weiss):
www.steveweissmusic.com/produ...
Harris Percussion (Will Harris):
www.harrispercussion.com/
DK Percussion:
www.dkpercussion.com
EXTENDED CUT: "Finding the Sweet Spot" - • Finding the "Sweet Spo...
DK Percussion Light Timpani Rebuild Series Playlist:
• Light Timpani Overhaul
DK Percussion Facebook:
/ dkpercussion
DK Percussion Instagram:
/ dk.percussion
DK Percussion Stainless Steel Tuning Indicator Bolts:
www.dkpercussion.com/product/...
DK Percussion Light (American Drum) Ear Bushings:
www.dkpercussion.com/product/...
DK Percussion TH-cam Channel Amazon Wish List:
wishlist.dkpercussion.com
Chapters:
Intro: 0:00
Disassembly and Teflon: 0:33
Cleaning: 4:10
Pedal/Range Setting: 5:45
Witness Mark: 6:47
Aligning Rocker Arm: 7:42
Head Evaluation: 8:13
Aligning Hoop/Head, Sweet Spot: 10:40
Tension Rods Alignment: 11:28
Adding Tension & Centering Hoop/Spider: 13:12
Finding The Sweet Spot: 16:20
Shifting The Head: 20:25
Four Ways To Center a Head: 21:04
Tensioning/Tuning: 25:12
Apps for Tuning: 25:52
Starting Fine Tuning: 26:35
Channel System: 27:23
Averaging system: 29:02
Fine Tuning: 30:23
Let It Settle: 33:51
Review: 35:10
Outro: 35:25

[@DKPercussion]

If you see any "chapters" or spots you'd like marked, please leave it in the comments and I'll add it!

[@garyrobinson9514]

Congratulations, Dan and Will! This is a well thought out and excellently produced video!

[@DKPercussion]

Thanks, Gary! Will was a huge help in making this.

[@michaelsikora6739]

Excellent presentation that is, while very intense, packed with TONS of good information. Lately my experiences have been much more 'pedestrian' and the biggest challenge I face 95% of the time is "...how long will it take till you can get the drums out of here..." Sadly sound ISN'T their biggest concern!

[@DKPercussion]

Thanks for watching! I think like all things in the world, there are "levels" of needs/wants, preparations, expectations, etc, and if you can't tell from my video, I'm a bit OCD with good timpani and heads.

[@cwsees]

Excellent! Could you perhaps show maintainance for the moving parts on Walter Lights?

[@DKPercussion]

I'll add it to my to-do list!

[@nmpercussion2]

Thanks for making this video! I'm about to do a 4-head change on my Adams Dresdens, and this video tutorial is well-produced and timely. I'm glad I'm not the only one that centers heads by feel. I was only taught the paper scrap-and-pencil method.
Your discussion about what makes a good plastic timpani head was excellent--perhaps you could expand that conversation into its own video, with examples of each of the issues you see?

[@DKPercussion]

I wish I had thought to do that when I was going through my last order! Consider it added to the to-do list. Thanks for watching!