Tagged As: Yamaha Maple Custom Drum
Question:
I am having trouble tuning my 8 x 12 Yamaha tom. The bearing edges are perfect, the drum is not out of round, even the heads are flawless. The tone I get from the drum is not what I expected-the optimal tuning range is much lower than I expected. My Starclassic birch kit 11 x 12 tom has a much thinner shell, but the sweet spot is around the same pitch. I expected the Yam's to have a relatively higher pitch, overall, but that is not the case. Any ideas?
Answer:
What kind of heads are you using, and are they really flawless? Heads can differ drastically these days, with one not fitting in w/the rest of the set. Check the head itself, replace it if necessary, then check the mounting bracket. if it is loose that can affect the resonance. You don't mention what types of heads you are using, but - it is very important to keep in mind how different an 8x12 is from an 11x12. The shorter drum will have a 'faster' tone, and generally a lower pitch. This is because the sound pressure coming from the top head is much stronger at 8 than at 11. Since it takes more energy to produce low end, you can really get a rich sound out of your MC. Keep a clear ambassador on the bottom at a medium to high tension, with the top head slightly lower than the other. I have one - it'll rock (or swing)!
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