<strong>Drum</strong> Woodswas fine grain wood. Commercially grown trees are not asdense in grain and therefore, not as prized.In most cases, the costs of the respective sets arewarranted. An all maple set is more expensive because it isall maple and maple is expensive. Mahogany sets havedropped off in availability simply because there isn't thatmuch good true mahogany left at a price most drummers willpay and the brighter attack imparted by today’s popularmusic tends to favor Maple or Birch sounding kits. Birch andbeech grow faster and are easier to get, so they get a littlecheaper.In the end it doesn't have to be complicated. When you hearwhat you like within a budget that has the look and finish,you will then know what you are after and can begin theprocess of finding a kit that comes close to your budget. Tryto avoid marketing hype and just sit back, relax and let yourears guide you.All rights reserved - J. Scott Johnson, Indianapois - "c" 1999http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id14.html (4 of 4)1/22/2005 4:11:26 PM
ConstructionProf.Sound's <strong>Drum</strong> Tuning Bible v3ConstructionHomePocket DTBWoodsConstructionTuning & SeatingKickSnare <strong>Drum</strong>Snare TuningSnare UnitBuzzingConceptsEquipmentBuying <strong>Drum</strong>sBuying CymbalsBIOAcousticsConstruction Guidelines, All <strong>Drum</strong>sTo pick the right head to achieve desired sound, you should consider the inherent character of your drum, which is oftenvery much determined by its construction.All of what I consider as important aspects of construction are covered in greater detail as you read through the <strong>bible</strong>. Herewe start by giving some simple rules to better understand the construction aspects:1. The rougher the interior, the less resonant the drum. Just like putting carpet on a wall, rough interiors break-up andabsorb reflections.2. Thinner shells are more resonant. Because there is less mass, they are easier to excite, they resonate more thanthick and heavy shells.3. The sharper the bearing edge, the more overtone and high pitched overtone resonance.4. If the drum is void of obstructions inside, that is, no reinforcing hoop adhered to the inside; the drum will be moreopen and vibrate more freely. Conversely, if the drum has reinforcing hoops inside, it will have a shorter decay/sustain anda more mid-ranged presence or attack than unobstructed shells. The reinforcing or counter-hoop stifles the ability for thedrum to resonate, thus decreasing the low-end along with the very high-end response to a small degree. Therefore, theunobstructed shell is usually brighter or with more high frequencies, while the thin unobstructed shell increases low-endresonance as well.5. A “better” sound is what you want the drum to sound like and despite the marketing propaganda; less expensivedoes not mean an inferior sound. Low cost drums are usually a “punchy” type sound due to wood grades used. If recording,this may be exactly what you want in a drum.6. Wood Sound Explained: First, these are general guidelines, which are greatly enhanced by the thickness of thewood used. So if you apply the rules given above, and some common sense, the following will hold true or aid in choosinga drum.Contact●●●●●Maple compared to African Mahogany: Mahogany will have an approximate 20% increase in low frequencyresonance over the Maple drum, mid and high frequencies will be the same from a reproduction point of view.Maple compared to Birch: Birch will have about a 10% loss in reproduction of low end compared to Maple andabout a 20% increase in the high end, with the mid range remaining about the same. So the Birch kit will definitelybe a “harder” and “brighter” sounding kit.Beech is in between Maple and Birch. All other Maple colored woods used in laminated shells are basically therefor either structural integrity or looks and do not have the desired qualities (meaning density and grain structure) ofthe above.Mahogany has earned an undeserved bad reputation due to the use of inferior grades such as Luann on low costdrums for appearance reasons. But Mahogany is a very rich sounding and warm tone.Oak is a very bright cutting sound and stick attack and presence are very pronounced.Bearing EdgesFor many reasons, this is a very misunderstood area of the drum. The bearing edge is the part of the drum that the headshould be in contact with at all times and is the essential element to gaining resonance, or the lack thereof. The problem is,they are hidden from view most of the time.If you are using a “vintage” set of drums, or any set of drums for that matter, first take into account the era or how they werehttp://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id13.html (1 of 3)1/22/2005 4:11:30 PM
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