I agree! I have had a double 24x14 set, a 24x16, a 26x16 and a 24x18. I have also found that with larger bass drums I do not like porting the resonant head as they do not resonate as well when air escapes. I suspend a D112 in the center of the drum facing the beater using heavy duty elastic or bungee cords in an X pattern connected to the lug bolts inside the shell. Then either run a mic cable through the vent hole or cut a hole in the shell and install a panel mount XLR jack on the drum.
Awesome, like the Kelly shu. I love the sound of an unported resonant head on a big bass drum. Rumbling thunder. I have tried mic’ing it up for live and recording that way, but it is just easier to get a modern bass drum sound with a port hole. I’m with you though, love that sound.
Yes sir, it took me a little time to get completely comfortable with it, and it wasn’t like a “voila” moment, but I got the most sound out of it when the batter was tuned up (about 1 full turn) and front head tighter ( about 1 1/2 turns ) Thanks for watching!!
@@terrywinkle6010 Thank you man! I have a lot of experience doing sessions, but relatively new at home recordings. I'm learning my equipment and the room sound little by little. The past 10 or so cover videos I've done are starting to sound better, but I'm still striving to improve. Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Thanks for the video. I recently purchased a Ludwig Classic Maple Pro Beat and was looking around for ideal tuning for these drums and this video for the bass drum was exactly what I was looking for.
@@ccdrums1290 Just tried it out and it sounds perfect. I was really surprised that the 24" batter and reso need to be more that "JAW" compared to a 22".
@@jayhova1776 Awesome brother, glad it’s working for you. Don’t take my word for it though, I would encourage you to experiment and see if different tunings sound better to you. You can also hear my bass drum in the covers I do on my channel. The “Since you been gone” by Rainbow cover I did has a nice bass drum sound with the exact tuning I described in the video.
Thanks for this informative and well-made video! I can confirm what you say about the slightly higher pitch: my 24x18 Tama Superstar is a beast when its Remo Ambassador batter head is tuned to a low medium tension and its Remo Renaissance reso head just a tad higher. Thud, slap, and projection all at once!
Very helpful! I just had this exact experience going from a 22-24 last night. The sound guy said my kick was splatty, probably because it was all click beater and no body from being JAW
Beautiful tone! I tune the same with my 70's Pearl 24x14. PS3s on both sides with a 5-inch sound hole. I also use the same Audix mic. It sounds phenomenal though both my QSC K12.2s and KS118 subwoofer! I've also played my kit at other venues without any mics. The tone and punch cut through graciously! A 22 is not capable of that kind of sound. It just has to be witnessed to be believed. It's also worth mentioning that a 24 also cannot emulate a 26. I love hearing other drummers play my kits in a live context at various venues. I found that to be massively helpful in getting to know my drums. I tweak things in small increments, but when it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sound is subjective so also listen to compliments from customers and fellow musicians. You'd be surprised by the rare piece of advice that gives one an epiphany of sorts. Haha!
Yeah man, your lucky to be able to get your kit being played by others to give you a different perspective on how they sound. Thanks for watching the videos, hopefully they are helpful to folks struggling with tuning. 🙂🤘🏻🤘🏻
Thank you! I bought a 24X14 DW last year and have not been happy with it. I have been tuning it JAW and could never get it to sound good. Also, my kick pedal beater always does a double or triple slap on the head. I have not been able to figure out how to stop that. Maybe the higher tuning will do the trick.
The higher tuning should get you more volume and presence. The beater bounce happens more if you have a full front head ( no hole). Hopefully the slightly higher tuning will help. Those size drums can be finicky…..but when you get the right tuning they sound awesome.
Hey, thanks for your great video! I got my first 24" and try different things in my homestudio. Everything you said is also what I found out - i tune a little higher than on 22s - especially the front head is very important. At the moment I go with 3 mics and no hole. Rumbling like hell, but thats fun! 😜 Maybe the next step will be to cut out a hole and try different dampenings like the Simon Phillips towel and so on. But at the moment I am a little afraid of loosing the magic (kind of). So I am not sure... I really love the Ludwig Sound, but I am a Sonor guy - all drums S-Classix (thin birch vintage shells like SQ2 Vintage config). All the best to you and keep up your great work. Greetings from Germany! Jochen
That sounds great Jochen! Sonor drums are great, very well made and sound wonderful. I like the sound with no hole too, that big booming sound makes it fun to play 😊 Thank you for watching and commenting on the video! All the best to you as well, enjoy those beautiful Sonors!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks man! Just cutted out the hole (with a dynamo ring) and put a very light dampening (just laid inside on the shell) and slightly touching both heads. Works perfect for me. Enough of the boom and bottom end, but also good to record and be flexible in different situations. I think kind of same way you did - your video helped on my journey! All the best! 👍🏼
@@schlagzeugvideocoach Great! I saw some of your videos by the way. Very impressive. You are a great player. Drums sound great too! Yes, I thought the hole was best for recording and being flexible as well. Still get the boom, works out pretty well. Have a great one!!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks man - I just do German at the moment, hope you could understand some things with subtitles... 😜 I subscribed to your channel and will check out more videos. Thank you and keep it up! Jochen 👍🏼
I did tune both heads to the same pitch at one point and it was ok, the fundamental pitch was relatively the same, but the tighter front head yielded more body and punch acoustically. The fundamental pitch is only a touch higher with the tighter front head, didn’t make much difference in that area but it did help with feeling more presence from the drum. Hope that helps.
From day one I have played 22's. This past year we opened for a band where the drummer was using a 24. I ended up buying a Gretsch Renown 13, 16, 24. My normal go to on the 22 was the Aquarian SK2 and the Aquarian Regulator with a mic hole for the reso. So I went with what I know on the 24. Super disappointed with the results. I have always ran wide open with no pillows in my 22's. To get this 24 to work, I had to use a pillow. Now it's actually sounding decent. I might have to give the Remo's a try tho cause I hate running pillows.
Hey Matt. I know what you mean brother. I had a bit of a learning curve with what my ears expected to hear from the 24” after having a 22”x18”. The 24” didn’t have the low “thump” per se, more of a bigger, faster low end sound due to the 14” depth. Like I said in the video, I use a PS3 because of the volume it has over the SK2 and Evans Emads, but it doesn’t muffle or bring out a ton of low end thump like the SK2 does on a 22”. It’s a different animal and one you have to experiment with to find that sound. I’m getting used to it now but at first I didn’t like it as much. The key for me was tuning up the front head a bit more, I do have a small DW pillow in it. I tried felt strips but liked the sound of the pillow better. Good luck finding your sound!
I just swapped out my 13” rack for a 14”, so now I am playing 14 rack and 16 and 18 floors. I used the numbers in your video for my floor toms, but not sure where to tune my 14”. What numbers would you suggest for the 14 in this situation? Same as the 13?
Cool! Bonham sizes! Yes, if it’s a 14x10, I’d tune it close to where the 13” was…..in that ballpark anyway. See how it feels and sounds there, then if it’s too stiff feeling or too high pitched for your liking, just lower it in very small increments until you get the sound you want. Let me know how you make out!
Great video. I’ve got two 70s 14x24 Luddys. A stainless steel & a 3-ply. I use the same method as well and tuning these drums. I got the idea from John Bonham. I was surprised that you didn’t mention him, but nonetheless, a great video tutorial.
The stock heads I got on my classic maple kit were the equivalent of clear emperors on the toms and a Powerstoke 3 on the kick. Those heads are fine for a big rock sound. I use clear emps live, coated in the studio and a clear PS3 on the kick. Depending on what type of music you play and sound you’re after, the stock heads are decent and worth at least trying them out to see if they work for you. Head choice is very subjective, so I would check to see what heads your favorite drummers are using and go from there to dial in YOUR sound. Good luck man!!
Yes I understand. It’s a matter of experimenting with both the head choice and tuning. What size is your bass drum? Try tuning the batter head low, like about 3/4 to 1 full turn on each lug, and the front head just a little tighter. Do you have a hole cut in your front head? You may have to try a different batter head to get the sound you are looking for. Experimenting is key in getting your sound. It’s a process, but you’ll know your drum when it’s all done.
Its 14x24 classic maple. Im thinking to remplace the batter head to a ps3 clear. One friend of mine have the same kit with classic hardware and its sound bigger with stock heads.
How does a 24" bass drum work for jazz, and lighter music? I have heard many drummers say the 24" is best for a mostly heavy rock drummer. Would you be comfortable using the 24 for lighter stuff? Thanks!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks for the reply. I guess my 10" and 12" inch rack toms, which currently sit very nicely over my 20" bass drum, will have to find a new configuration with the height of the 24?
@ it may take some getting used to. Really, it comes down to what makes you comfortable. There are advantages to 20” bass drums too. Easier to transport, easy to tune, height of toms, etc. My response was directed at using a 24” drum purely for the music, which it has proven to be great in jazz, and other genres. It’s a different animal for sure, but whatever makes you feel the most comfortable is best🙂.
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks. One more question if you do not mind. How can one make a 20" bass drum sound more like a 24"? Which drum heads would you recommend? Maybe a 22" kick is a nice in the middle solution, at least regarding the height of toms? Appreciate all of the feedback.
@emiliocarpino6792 My pleasure my friend. So in my experience, a 20” bass drum won’t really sound or feel like a 24” bass drum acoustically. 20” bass drums are great, tight and punchy. 24” bass drums move a lot more air and just feel different. With that being said, you can make a 20” bass drum sound as big as it can by minimizing muffling and using heads that will resonate without restriction. Single ply heads (like a Remo ambassador) front and back with no port hole and tuned up a touch higher will give you a nice sound for jazz and lighter stuff. Maybe a felt strip on the batter or both heads to help tame the sound. A 22” bass drum is a nice compromise between the two, nice low end and with the same type of head combination and tuning, will give you a big sound. Your toms will sit a little lower than on a 24”, which would probably be of benefit to you. Hope that helps!
It just depends on the sound your after, and what type of music you play. If you’re playing in a rock band, then probably you want the kick drum to be low and punchy. The tension on the batter head is pretty low, and I would suggest tuning the reso side just a bit higher to help the drum punch. A rough estimate based on when I played a 22” kick would be batter side at about 90 hz and reso about 98 hz. This is just an estimate though, your preference and head selection may alter those tuning frequencies. That would be ballpark though.
@@ccdrums1290 I get it. It’s a musician’s preference. I prefer the more wide-open, rawer sound for the tone(s) overtones, etc. I do appreciate both styles.
@@Iloveyhwh_1974 Yes, I do too…the EQ’d sound is more of a modern sound. I like a raw, big boomy kick drum and that sound is great for Zepplinesque type stuff. You’re right though, very subjective to what drummers prefer.
The inside mic gives me the attack of the beater and some of the low end punch. The outside mic picks up the low end rumble and “whoompf” if you will. Without the inside mic, the drum would have less attack and a little less punch. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Bonham played that way forever. One way to compensate for that if you don’t want to port the head is to mic the beater side. That works pretty well, but it’s tough to get the attack of the beater and punch of the kick for a modern kick drum sound without a mic port, especially live. Hope that helps!
If you want max volume and projection from your kick unmiced, there are a few things you should do to maximize the drum’s potential. I don’t know what size the bass drum is, but it doesn’t really matter. If it was me, first I’d keep a full front head on with NO port hole. That creates a big full sound from the column of air inside the shell. The air can’t escape and causes the whole drum to react. That’s how Bonham got that big sound. The second thing is not to have the heads tuned too low. Low tuned floppy heads sap the projection and volume from the drum. At a distance, all you hear is attack and no body. I’m not saying tune the heads high, but the batter head should be above wrinkle a bit with the front head about a full step higher, just like a tom. I would also muffle minimally, maybe a felt strip on the batter head about a third of the way up on the head, nothing or another felt strip on the front head. If you use a PS3 front head for example, with that subtle muffling ring, you won’t need anything else to muffle. Remember too that what sounds a little resonant and “ ringy ” to you behind the kit will sound perfect about 10-20 ft. in front of the kit. So to recap, no port hole, tune the heads up enough to get the shell reacting and the whole drum resonating, not just the heads. Use muffling sparingly…JUST enough to take away annoying overtones, but leaving a nice full resonant tone with a natural decay. That should give you the biggest, loudest kick drum sound you can get unmiced. It won’t be “punchy” like a modern kick drum, that comes from micing, but adding a patch to the beater impact point to accentuate the attack will help give it a more modern sound while still giving you a huge tone. Hope that helps!
@@douglashardy177 whoa sweet! That sucker should be loud as heck then when you get it outfitted just right. It also depends on the heads you choose. Some pre muffled heads like an Aquarian super kick or other heavily pre dampened heads will reduce volume and the need for muffling in most cases. When I played acoustic gigs, I wanted my bass drum to be as loud as possible and project out into the audience. The loudest head that still gave me a nice thump was a clear PS3. I used that on 22/24/26” kicks, always sounded great. Smooth white or black single ply front head with felt strips on both heads. Loud, powerful and heard in the back of the room. Of course, your tastes may differ, but that formula is tried and true . Good luck man, hit me up if you want to talk more! 🤘🏻🤘🏻
I hear you brother, but for more versatility and less problems with sound crews and getting modern rock drum sounds, a hole is necessary. I do try to keep it as small as possible to retain as much tone as possible.
That's a perfect bass drum size and sound. When I heard the last four strokes with eq it had it all.
Thanks man! I like it and that was just a quick demo. It can sound better giving more attention to it.
I agree! I have had a double 24x14 set, a 24x16, a 26x16 and a 24x18. I have also found that with larger bass drums I do not like porting the resonant head as they do not resonate as well when air escapes. I suspend a D112 in the center of the drum facing the beater using heavy duty elastic or bungee cords in an X pattern connected to the lug bolts inside the shell. Then either run a mic cable through the vent hole or cut a hole in the shell and install a panel mount XLR jack on the drum.
Awesome, like the Kelly shu. I love the sound of an unported resonant head on a big bass drum. Rumbling thunder. I have tried mic’ing it up for live and recording that way, but it is just easier to get a modern bass drum sound with a port hole. I’m with you though, love that sound.
I'v found different beaters make a big difference with the 24" as well. Thanks for the vid
For sure!
I was tuning my 24x14 Ludwig Classic Maple with a PS3 batter just yesterday. Thanks for a great video and explanation!
Yes sir, it took me a little time to get completely comfortable with it, and it wasn’t like a “voila” moment, but I got the most sound out of it when the batter was tuned up (about 1 full turn) and front head tighter ( about 1 1/2 turns ) Thanks for watching!!
@@ccdrums1290 Like you, I played 22" bass drums until a few years ago. Love the 24" and yes, needs to be tuned up a bit to get the body.
@@ccdrums1290 By the way, your recordings sound exceptional!!!
@@terrywinkle6010 Thank you man! I have a lot of experience doing sessions, but relatively new at home recordings. I'm learning my equipment and the room sound little by little. The past 10 or so cover videos I've done are starting to sound better, but I'm still striving to improve. Thank you so much for watching and commenting!
Thanks for the video. I recently purchased a Ludwig Classic Maple Pro Beat and was looking around for ideal tuning for these drums and this video for the bass drum was exactly what I was looking for.
Great! It should at least get you in the ballpark. You may like things a bit different, but it should be of some help to you. Enjoy that kit!!
@@ccdrums1290 Just tried it out and it sounds perfect. I was really surprised that the 24" batter and reso need to be more that "JAW" compared to a 22".
@@jayhova1776 Awesome brother, glad it’s working for you. Don’t take my word for it though, I would encourage you to experiment and see if different tunings sound better to you. You can also hear my bass drum in the covers I do on my channel. The “Since you been gone” by Rainbow cover I did has a nice bass drum sound with the exact tuning I described in the video.
Thanks for this informative and well-made video! I can confirm what you say about the slightly higher pitch: my 24x18 Tama Superstar is a beast when its Remo Ambassador batter head is tuned to a low medium tension and its Remo Renaissance reso head just a tad higher. Thud, slap, and projection all at once!
Awesome man! Glad you liked the video and congrats on your bass drum, I’m sure it sounds killer!!
Very helpful! I just had this exact experience going from a 22-24 last night. The sound guy said my kick was splatty, probably because it was all click beater and no body from being JAW
Yes absolutely. That’s the only reason it would sound that way. A slightly higher tuning on the batter and reso should do the trick!
Beautiful tone! I tune the same with my 70's Pearl 24x14. PS3s on both sides with a 5-inch sound hole. I also use the same Audix mic. It sounds phenomenal though both my QSC K12.2s and KS118 subwoofer! I've also played my kit at other venues without any mics. The tone and punch cut through graciously! A 22 is not capable of that kind of sound. It just has to be witnessed to be believed. It's also worth mentioning that a 24 also cannot emulate a 26.
I love hearing other drummers play my kits in a live context at various venues. I found that to be massively helpful in getting to know my drums. I tweak things in small increments, but when it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sound is subjective so also listen to compliments from customers and fellow musicians. You'd be surprised by the rare piece of advice that gives one an epiphany of sorts. Haha!
Yeah man, your lucky to be able to get your kit being played by others to give you a different perspective on how they sound. Thanks for watching the videos, hopefully they are helpful to folks struggling with tuning. 🙂🤘🏻🤘🏻
Thanks!
You bet!
Thank you! I bought a 24X14 DW last year and have not been happy with it. I have been tuning it JAW and could never get it to sound good. Also, my kick pedal beater always does a double or triple slap on the head. I have not been able to figure out how to stop that. Maybe the higher tuning will do the trick.
The higher tuning should get you more volume and presence. The beater bounce happens more if you have a full front head ( no hole). Hopefully the slightly higher tuning will help. Those size drums can be finicky…..but when you get the right tuning they sound awesome.
Great video. Awesome sound. Thanks!
Thanks man! Glad you liked it!!
The 24” sounded best! Don’t cut a hole in the resonant head though or you will loose some of that magic.
I getcha brother!
Yes you don't need a hole.
Excellent video! Really cool and very informative! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks
Very informative 👍thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks man.
Hey, thanks for your great video! I got my first 24" and try different things in my homestudio. Everything you said is also what I found out - i tune a little higher than on 22s - especially the front head is very important. At the moment I go with 3 mics and no hole. Rumbling like hell, but thats fun! 😜
Maybe the next step will be to cut out a hole and try different dampenings like the Simon Phillips towel and so on. But at the moment I am a little afraid of loosing the magic (kind of). So I am not sure... I really love the Ludwig Sound, but I am a Sonor guy - all drums S-Classix (thin birch vintage shells like SQ2 Vintage config). All the best to you and keep up your great work. Greetings from Germany! Jochen
That sounds great Jochen! Sonor drums are great, very well made and sound wonderful. I like the sound with no hole too, that big booming sound makes it fun to play 😊 Thank you for watching and commenting on the video! All the best to you as well, enjoy those beautiful Sonors!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks man! Just cutted out the hole (with a dynamo ring) and put a very light dampening (just laid inside on the shell) and slightly touching both heads. Works perfect for me. Enough of the boom and bottom end, but also good to record and be flexible in different situations. I think kind of same way you did - your video helped on my journey! All the best! 👍🏼
@@schlagzeugvideocoach Great! I saw some of your videos by the way. Very impressive. You are a great player. Drums sound great too! Yes, I thought the hole was best for recording and being flexible as well. Still get the boom, works out pretty well. Have a great one!!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks man - I just do German at the moment, hope you could understand some things with subtitles... 😜 I subscribed to your channel and will check out more videos. Thank you and keep it up! Jochen 👍🏼
Very informative!!!!! I love your videos!!!! Awesomeness 😊😊😊
Thanks Bryan!
I did tune both heads to the same pitch at one point and it was ok, the fundamental pitch was relatively the same, but the tighter front head yielded more body and punch acoustically. The fundamental pitch is only a touch higher with the tighter front head, didn’t make much difference in that area but it did help with feeling more presence from the drum. Hope that helps.
You’re welcome, I’ll try to post stuff that’s helpful 😃🤘🏻
From day one I have played 22's. This past year we opened for a band where the drummer was using a 24. I ended up buying a Gretsch Renown 13, 16, 24. My normal go to on the 22 was the Aquarian SK2 and the Aquarian Regulator with a mic hole for the reso. So I went with what I know on the 24. Super disappointed with the results. I have always ran wide open with no pillows in my 22's. To get this 24 to work, I had to use a pillow. Now it's actually sounding decent. I might have to give the Remo's a try tho cause I hate running pillows.
Hey Matt. I know what you mean brother. I had a bit of a learning curve with what my ears expected to hear from the 24” after having a 22”x18”. The 24” didn’t have the low “thump” per se, more of a bigger, faster low end sound due to the 14” depth. Like I said in the video, I use a PS3 because of the volume it has over the SK2 and Evans Emads, but it doesn’t muffle or bring out a ton of low end thump like the SK2 does on a 22”. It’s a different animal and one you have to experiment with to find that sound. I’m getting used to it now but at first I didn’t like it as much. The key for me was tuning up the front head a bit more, I do have a small DW pillow in it. I tried felt strips but liked the sound of the pillow better. Good luck finding your sound!
I just swapped out my 13” rack for a 14”, so now I am playing 14 rack and 16 and 18 floors. I used the numbers in your video for my floor toms, but not sure where to tune my 14”. What numbers would you suggest for the 14 in this situation? Same as the 13?
Cool! Bonham sizes! Yes, if it’s a 14x10, I’d tune it close to where the 13” was…..in that ballpark anyway. See how it feels and sounds there, then if it’s too stiff feeling or too high pitched for your liking, just lower it in very small increments until you get the sound you want. Let me know how you make out!
Great sharing of this very helpful video my Big Brother!!
Love and respect Kyle!! 😊🥁🇵🇭
Thanks!
Great video. I’ve got two 70s 14x24 Luddys. A stainless steel & a 3-ply. I use the same method as well and tuning these drums. I got the idea from John Bonham. I was surprised that you didn’t mention him, but nonetheless, a great video tutorial.
Thanks man. Bonham was definitely a big influence on my playing and tuning method on all my drums.
Cool video, Clint! I gotta get that app!
Thanks. The app is cheap and has good stuff on it. I don’t use it much, but it comes in handy here and there.
What do you think about classic maple drumset stock heads. Toms and BD, Need a change?
The stock heads I got on my classic maple kit were the equivalent of clear emperors on the toms and a Powerstoke 3 on the kick. Those heads are fine for a big rock sound. I use clear emps live, coated in the studio and a clear PS3 on the kick. Depending on what type of music you play and sound you’re after, the stock heads are decent and worth at least trying them out to see if they work for you. Head choice is very subjective, so I would check to see what heads your favorite drummers are using and go from there to dial in YOUR sound. Good luck man!!
I ll tune higher the bass drum heads. I dont feel a big boom in my New kit bd and I worry about it
Yes I understand. It’s a matter of experimenting with both the head choice and tuning. What size is your bass drum? Try tuning the batter head low, like about 3/4 to 1 full turn on each lug, and the front head just a little tighter. Do you have a hole cut in your front head? You may have to try a different batter head to get the sound you are looking for. Experimenting is key in getting your sound. It’s a process, but you’ll know your drum when it’s all done.
Its 14x24 classic maple. Im thinking to remplace the batter head to a ps3 clear. One friend of mine have the same kit with classic hardware and its sound bigger with stock heads.
The front head hole is 4 inches
This drum’s fundamental is 55 Hz when fully cranked up. Is it suitable for a woofer or sub-woofer?
Both probably? I think either would pick up frequencies that would be valid.
Good stuff
Thanks man!
How does a 24" bass drum work for jazz, and lighter music? I have heard many drummers say the 24" is best for a mostly heavy rock drummer. Would you be comfortable using the 24 for lighter stuff? Thanks!
Yes sir, Buddy Rich played a 24” bass drum. Tuned up high for a nice lively sound, the 24” will sound great!
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks for the reply. I guess my 10" and 12" inch rack toms, which currently sit very nicely over my 20" bass drum, will have to find a new configuration with the height of the 24?
@ it may take some getting used to. Really, it comes down to what makes you comfortable. There are advantages to 20” bass drums too. Easier to transport, easy to tune, height of toms, etc. My response was directed at using a 24” drum purely for the music, which it has proven to be great in jazz, and other genres. It’s a different animal for sure, but whatever makes you feel the most comfortable is best🙂.
@@ccdrums1290 Thanks. One more question if you do not mind. How can one make a 20" bass drum sound more like a 24"? Which drum heads would you recommend? Maybe a 22" kick is a nice in the middle solution, at least regarding the height of toms? Appreciate all of the feedback.
@emiliocarpino6792 My pleasure my friend. So in my experience, a 20” bass drum won’t really sound or feel like a 24” bass drum acoustically. 20” bass drums are great, tight and punchy. 24” bass drums move a lot more air and just feel different. With that being said, you can make a 20” bass drum sound as big as it can by minimizing muffling and using heads that will resonate without restriction. Single ply heads (like a Remo ambassador) front and back with no port hole and tuned up a touch higher will give you a nice sound for jazz and lighter stuff. Maybe a felt strip on the batter or both heads to help tame the sound. A 22” bass drum is a nice compromise between the two, nice low end and with the same type of head combination and tuning, will give you a big sound. Your toms will sit a little lower than on a 24”, which would probably be of benefit to you. Hope that helps!
Does you bass drum move up n down? My 24 does with my ludwig atlas pedal but not with my old mapex single chain 🤔
No my bass drum does not move up and down. That’s a weird thing going on….not sure what’s up with that?
I use the same head on my 24
Have you tried anything else?
What would be the frequencies for batter and reso side on a 22" kick?
It just depends on the sound your after, and what type of music you play. If you’re playing in a rock band, then probably you want the kick drum to be low and punchy. The tension on the batter head is pretty low, and I would suggest tuning the reso side just a bit higher to help the drum punch. A rough estimate based on when I played a 22” kick would be batter side at about 90 hz and reso about 98 hz. This is just an estimate though, your preference and head selection may alter those tuning frequencies. That would be ballpark though.
I definitely prefer both mics with no EQ as a standalone sound. I thought the EQ deleted all that tone from the shell.IMO.
Stand alone maybe so. In the mix it won’t cut without some “click” and more oomph.
@@ccdrums1290 I get it. It’s a musician’s preference. I prefer the more wide-open, rawer sound for the tone(s) overtones, etc. I do appreciate both styles.
@@Iloveyhwh_1974 Yes, I do too…the EQ’d sound is more of a modern sound. I like a raw, big boomy kick drum and that sound is great for Zepplinesque type stuff. You’re right though, very subjective to what drummers prefer.
Also would you get the same punch without the mic port?
The inside mic gives me the attack of the beater and some of the low end punch. The outside mic picks up the low end rumble and “whoompf” if you will. Without the inside mic, the drum would have less attack and a little less punch. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Bonham played that way forever. One way to compensate for that if you don’t want to port the head is to mic the beater side. That works pretty well, but it’s tough to get the attack of the beater and punch of the kick for a modern kick drum sound without a mic port, especially live. Hope that helps!
I dont plan to mic it. I play gigs at smaller bars. What would you suggest I do to get some volume and power from it?
If you want max volume and projection from your kick unmiced, there are a few things you should do to maximize the drum’s potential. I don’t know what size the bass drum is, but it doesn’t really matter. If it was me, first I’d keep a full front head on with NO port hole. That creates a big full sound from the column of air inside the shell. The air can’t escape and causes the whole drum to react. That’s how Bonham got that big sound. The second thing is not to have the heads tuned too low. Low tuned floppy heads sap the projection and volume from the drum. At a distance, all you hear is attack and no body. I’m not saying tune the heads high, but the batter head should be above wrinkle a bit with the front head about a full step higher, just like a tom. I would also muffle minimally, maybe a felt strip on the batter head about a third of the way up on the head, nothing or another felt strip on the front head. If you use a PS3 front head for example, with that subtle muffling ring, you won’t need anything else to muffle. Remember too that what sounds a little resonant and “ ringy ” to you behind the kit will sound perfect about 10-20 ft. in front of the kit. So to recap, no port hole, tune the heads up enough to get the shell reacting and the whole drum resonating, not just the heads. Use muffling sparingly…JUST enough to take away annoying overtones, but leaving a nice full resonant tone with a natural decay. That should give you the biggest, loudest kick drum sound you can get unmiced. It won’t be “punchy” like a modern kick drum, that comes from micing, but adding a patch to the beater impact point to accentuate the attack will help give it a more modern sound while still giving you a huge tone. Hope that helps!
Awesome thank you so much. Ya the kick is a 24” x 14” and is the ludwig classic oak.
@@douglashardy177 whoa sweet! That sucker should be loud as heck then when you get it outfitted just right. It also depends on the heads you choose. Some pre muffled heads like an Aquarian super kick or other heavily pre dampened heads will reduce volume and the need for muffling in most cases. When I played acoustic gigs, I wanted my bass drum to be as loud as possible and project out into the audience. The loudest head that still gave me a nice thump was a clear PS3. I used that on 22/24/26” kicks, always sounded great. Smooth white or black single ply front head with felt strips on both heads. Loud, powerful and heard in the back of the room. Of course, your tastes may differ, but that formula is tried and true . Good luck man, hit me up if you want to talk more! 🤘🏻🤘🏻
What is that phone app you use to see what hz = the note?
The app is called Drumtune pro. $12 on the App Store.
Never cut a hole in the front head. You will loose so much tone. Instead place one of the mics on the back side of the drum.
I hear you brother, but for more versatility and less problems with sound crews and getting modern rock drum sounds, a hole is necessary. I do try to keep it as small as possible to retain as much tone as possible.