Floor tom resonance problem

[andre1]

Besides changing the legs on my floor tom, is there another way to increase its resonance. On certain surfaces it just won't resonate.  It's really most noticeable during sound check, but crazy annoying. I know there are different legs I could get for it, but the current legs and all my hardware is black. I don't wanna have chrome floor tom legs lookin' all goofy and whatnot. Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

[Da_Drumma]

it sounds like youre having more of an acoustical problem than a problem with the drum itself. You say on different surfaces you notice it. Well i.e.....a floor tom on carpert will sound different than on concret, tile, or wood...or even being in a corner. The resonance never changes, what you are hearing are the acoustical characteristics you are hearing. Ways around that which i find easy is to use a drum rug for each environment youre in, that way you get use to the same sound. Being that the floor tom is the closest to the floor, and parallel you get those reflections that altar the sound youre hearing. Hope this helps!!

[andre1]

thanks for the advice
i'm always on some type of carpet or rug when i play and sometimes i get that good "dooooohm" and other times its more like homer simpson in a lower pitch, "doh". i havent really paid much attention to the surroundings when this happens as i'm usually just tryna get everthing set up. maybe i'll get some of those air pocket legs and put electrical tape on them to match my hardware. you'd prolly have to walk up on 'em to notice.

[JFunky]

...what heads are you using on the floor tom?

[andre1]

i'm using ec1's on all toms

[MENDOZA]

Hey LGM fam!

There's actually a video on youtube by Bob Gatzen that deals with it.  I don't have access to youtube at work, but maybe someone can hook you up.  You can put a piece of foam under the floor tom leg that will raise the actual leg over the foam which will increase resonance.  They video shows what I just explained.  However, just go to youtube and search Bob Gatzen.  He has tons of videos and great tips for drum tuning.  Hope this helps.  Take care and God Bless.

Carlito

[JFunky]

i'm using ec1's on all toms

...okay, have you changed your Reso's?  What kit are you using?  Shell?

[andre1]

@ jfunky
i'm using ec reso's they are a few months old. i got 'em when i got the heads. i'm playing an rmv kit with bapeva shells. i don't always have this problem.

@carlito
i've got a gig tonite, imma dig around and see if i can find some foam or something like that. i tried using the little napkins at the club, but that didnt work. i dont know why i didnt think about foam. good lookin' out.

[JFunky]

@ jfunky
i'm using ec reso's they are a few months old. i got 'em when i got the heads. i'm playing an rmv kit with bapeva shells. i don't always have this problem.

@carlito
i've got a gig tonite, imma dig around and see if i can find some foam or something like that. i tried using the little napkins at the club, but that didnt work. i dont know why i didnt think about foam. good lookin' out.

...first of all, kudos to you man.  I've always wanted an RMV kit.  Those things sound amazing.    I would say that you have a more focused sound when using the EC Reso head.  Why don't you go ahead and get some fresh G1 Clears on the Reso side.  You're going to hear how the resonance and life comes back to the shell.  While you're at it, go ahead and pick up a fresh batter too. 

...I reheaded the kit at church both tops and bottoms recently and I couldn't believe how great it sounded.  I had full resonance restored on all the toms.  So, yeah bro', if its in the budget get both tops and bottoms.  If not, get the Reso for sure. 

...btw, get that Bob Gatzen DVD and watch the clips that Carlito is talking about.  I've been told that the dvd is a must own so its also on my birthday list. LOL

[andre1]

thanks. the kit does sound great. i've gotten a few compliments from engineers and sound guys as well.
i just might try the g1 clears the reso side and those sst joints on the batter. columbus percussion is having a half off sale on heads this week because of drum daze and payday is tomorrow. lol

[JFunky]

thanks. the kit does sound great. i've gotten a few compliments from engineers and sound guys as well.
i just might try the g1 clears the reso side and those sst joints on the batter. columbus percussion is having a half off sale on heads this week because of drum daze and payday is tomorrow. lol

...what's that? 

[j_kay]

It's the new EC2 'technology': Sound Shaping Technolgy.  This is what replaced the metal ring on the previous iteration.

[andre1]

...what's that? 

sst "sound shaping technology", they are the new ec2's. i dont know if they have them in the single ply yet. if they do i'll cop those.

[JFunky]

It's the new EC2 'technology': Sound Shaping Technolgy.  This is what replaced the metal ring on the previous iteration.

...ah okay.  J, you know me, I stay away from EC anything.    I don't know if that's the route I would take to get more resonance from the Floor Tom though.   

[andre1]

...ah okay.  J, you know me, I stay away from EC anything.    I don't know if that's the route I would take to get more resonance from the Floor Tom though.   

i dont want more resonance necessarily, just a more consistent resosnance. depending where i'm at i get a nice "dooohm" and at other venues its like "doh". i want the "dooohm" at all times. i hope that makes a little more sense.

[Da_Drumma]

i dont want more resonance necessarily, just a more consistent resosnance. depending where i'm at i get a nice "dooohm" and at other venues its like "doh". i want the "dooohm" at all times. i hope that makes a little more sense.

Thats the part that was confusing to me....can you describe the two different type of venues were you noticed the difference....like describe the outside/inside, mic'd/unmic'd. I mean cause when you say consistant I mean heads just dont give you great resonance one day, and the next day it dosent decide to. Even when it comes to the tom legs, if you achieved great resonance in the situation once in shouldnt be hard to get it again.

[andre1]

Thats the part that was confusing to me....can you describe the two different type of venues were you noticed the difference....like describe the outside/inside, mic'd/unmic'd. I mean cause when you say consistant I mean heads just dont give you great resonance one day, and the next day it dosent decide to. Even when it comes to the tom legs, if you achieved great resonance in the situation once in shouldnt be hard to get it again.

i cant really desribe the locations where i'm not getting what i want. i havent paid that much attn to where i'm at when it happens.
what i can say is: when i hit the floor tom and get a short decay if i tilt it on one leg or hold it by the rim and hit again i get the sound that i want. when i set it back on the floor its back to being a short decay. i'm gonna try some foam tonite(if i get the short decay) and see if that helps.

[Da_Drumma]

i cant really desribe the locations where i'm not getting what i want. i havent paid that much attn to where i'm at when it happens.
what i can say is: when i hit the floor tom and get a short decay if i tilt it on one leg or hold it by the rim and hit again i get the sound that i want. when i set it back on the floor its back to being a short decay. i'm gonna try some foam tonite(if i get the short decay) and see if that helps.

Gotcha....yeah, that should help. What ive noticed sometimes too which sounds kind of crazy is the way that you turn and angle your legs too, could help with resonance. I dont really have a scientific explanation for that, but I always notice it. I wanna say is the pressure you put on a floor leg. I mean the way I angle mine is most of the pressure is on one leg and the other carries less pressure which takes some of the resistance of off almost 2/3 of the drum which I guess actually causes it to....well, resonate more. I guess....kinds kinda stupid huh?? Lol.

[SabianKnight]

Besides changing the legs on my floor tom, is there another way to increase its resonance. On certain surfaces it just won't resonate.  It's really most noticeable during sound check, but crazy annoying. I know there are different legs I could get for it, but the current legs and all my hardware is black. I don't wanna have chrome floor tom legs lookin' all goofy and whatnot. Ideas? Suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

You don't have to change your floor tom legs unless you want more resonance. In which case you will need to get the RIMS mount floor tom kit.
I added the cushions legs caps from the Pearl Masters series floor toms to my Yamaha Maple Custom floor tom to give me an inch more height and increase the resonance. They work great.... purchase them in packs of three.
To add more punch to my floor tom and shorten the sustain a tiny bit i place about 6 cotton balls inside the drum.

If you just want consistency you need to apply the technique used by Conga players. Place a piece of hard wood/plywood underneath the floor tom the same diameter as the tom. To manipulate the amount of resonance or umph you can place it on top of the drum rug or below the drum rug. The distance of the drum from the board determines the overall amount of reflection of the drums sound which offers an increase in the power/volume of the drum.
The same technique can be applied to snare drums which is where I learned it from Curtis Nutall, one of Thomas Pridgen's first instructors. he plays with a board under his Craviotto snare.

[andre1]

You don't have to change your floor tom legs unless you want more resonance. In which case you will need to get the RIMS mount floor tom kit.
I added the cushions legs caps from the Pearl Masters series floor toms to my Yamaha Maple Custom floor tom to give me an inch more height and increase the resonance. They work great.... purchase them in packs of three.
To add more punch to my floor tom and shorten the sustain a tiny bit i place about 6 cotton balls inside the drum.

If you just want consistency you need to apply the technique used by Conga players. Place a piece of hard wood/plywood underneath the floor tom the same diameter as the tom. To manipulate the amount of resonance or umph you can place it on top of the drum rug or below the drum rug. The distance of the drum from the board determines the overall amount of reflection of the drums sound which offers an increase in the power/volume of the drum.
The same technique can be applied to snare drums which is where I learned it from Curtis Nutall, one of Thomas Pridgen's first instructors. he plays with a board under his Craviotto snare.

that's some good stuff SK, thanks
those cushion leg caps may be the answer. where can i get them?