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adjusting strainer.....

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2012 10:13 am
by Wiz
Okay ...been wrestling with the new Black Beauty 6.5 by 14.

Thanks to some great help from you guys, I have replaced the stock heads with a Remo Ambassador and a Haze 300.

I have been really giving it a good crack (pun intended) as far as tuning goes....

I must have tuned this thing, about 50 times over the last few days...8)

Also a little tip....when you spend the better part of a couple of hours, reading the drum tuning bible....and following it to the letter, and bringing the drum up slowly, and I mean slowly...and you get to the point where its singing...and then you go to put the strainer on ....and find you have put the hoop in the wrong place....I have some suggested words for you to utter....8) Wont do that again!

Anyways, I am really starting to get a handle on tuning, but I am having some trouble adjusting the snare wires.

I follow the tip in the drum tuning bible of, bring the snares up really slowly, and can easily discern, when they make contact for the first time, then its rather easy to hear them start to snap...but then Its very difficult for me to discern how much tension.....any tips?

Its probably like asking how long is a piece of string.

I must say, I would be screwed without the drum dial. I can see how you wouldn't need one, after years of tuning, and I can tune my guitar pretty damn close to perfect when putting new strings on without a tuner...but drums, its gonna take me a while. I find the drum dial really helpful, and then it gives me a good solid ear reference....to build on.

If anyone has a 6.5 deep black beauty, with those heads I mentioned and a drum dial.....i would love to know what settings you use.

Also, I would love to hear your drum, with and without the strainers on. Just a couple of single hits would be worth their weight in gold to me.

thanks

Peter

Re: adjusting strainer.....

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2012 1:07 pm
by Drumstruck
I think you've won the laugh of the day award Peter - nice of you to share the rim story.

One tuning tip is to get the skin in tune with itself - rest your thumb lightly in the middle of the skin and tap adjacent to each of the lugs - you'll hear which ones need to go up or down.

The tension tool only works to the extent that each lug screw must be able to turn easily in the lug - a tighter thread will mean more perceived tension. A tiny bit of vaseline on each screw (tiny) can reduce stiction.

You'll also notice that drummers are perpetually fiddling with the snare strainer and the hihat clutch to get them "just right". Make sure the snare wire is centred equidistant from either snare bed so you get even tension with the strainer.

I don't have a black beauty so can only offer general comments. :-ss

Re: adjusting strainer.....

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2012 1:53 pm
by Wiz
Hey Ian

yep, i got the dickhead of the day award...I am always more than happy to share my short comings...8).


I have gotten the drum tuning sorted out, and do exactly what you suggest, I get it set with the drum dial, then fine tune by ear....and the drum is really starting to sing.

I also realise, it doesn't take much movement, tension wise, to change the tuning, and I think I was just too far heavy handed....I now have a low medium and high tuning sorted...and I am getting there with the strainer...

I just re cut some drums, and I am getting happier all the time.

The great thing about this drum, compared to my old snare..I don't HAVE to dampen it, its quite a revelation for me....8)


cheers

Peter

Re: adjusting strainer.....

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:13 pm
by ChrisW
Did you watch the Gatzen video I posted in your other thread? It's pretty fool proof, and there are links to other tuning videos of his.
I'm not a fan of the Drum Tuning Bible. It's not all wrong, but it makes some suggestions I don't agree with.
The main key to tuning any drum is making sure each lug is tensioned equally. I use equal half or full turns of the drum key, moving diagonally across the drum head - as in 12 noon, then 6pm, then 3pm, then 9pm etc, etc....
Once you have the head tight enough to resonate, tap the head next to each lug and adjust the tension until they all ring at the same pitch.

Re: adjusting strainer.....

PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 2:19 pm
by Wiz
ChrisW wrote:Did you watch the Gatzen video I posted in your other thread? It's pretty fool proof, and there are links to other tuning videos of his.
I'm not a fan of the Drum Tuning Bible. It's not all wrong, but it makes some suggestions I don't agree with.
The main key to tuning any drum is making sure each lug is tensioned equally. I use equal half or full turns of the drum key, moving diagonally across the drum head - as in 12 noon, then 6pm, then 3pm, then 9pm etc, etc....
Once you have the head tight enough to resonate, tap the head next to each lug and adjust the tension until they all ring at the same pitch.


I sure did Chris, and thanks for posting the link it was super helpful....

I think I have just been a bit ham fisted...and needed to be more subtle...funny my wife says the same thing...8)


thanks again for all the help...