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Thread: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

  1. #1

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    Default How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    I have a small 18" bass drum and I want to get a larger boomier sound out of it that I'm getting at the moment. Can anyone give me advice, I'm going to be getting a new head for it soon so if you could give me your opinion on the best head for me and also the best ways to tune it that would be great, thanks

  2. #2

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Based on my experience with my 20" ddrum I would use an Aquarian SKII and a ported matching Reso.
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  3. #3

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    i have a 22 in and i put a pillow in my bass to get rid of the boomy sound
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  4. #4

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Hey, we need PHROGGE in here. He knows what to do.
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  5. #5

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    I'd guess maybe an ambassador or emperor, definitely no muffling. My gut tells me more so towards an ambassador. you will have a significantly more lively head than a 2ply especially if it's coated. Also important, is there is a very specific tuning technique John Bonham's drum tech used to dial in his signature "big band" kinda sound(one was higher or lower than the other). Being an 18" you are naturally going to have a focus in the tone of the drum, but if you play with a single ply coated head i think you should be able to get close. it would also help to use felt or wool(sometimes called bombers) beaters for your pedal 4-6" from the head. my gut also tells me to avoid any kind of patch, to keep it as open as possible. That size wants to be controlled and focused sounding, so it will be you fighting against the drum to get your sound instead of it's intended one.
    Last edited by Russ; 08-05-2010 at 07:03 AM.
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  6. #6

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    crank the res head higher

  7. #7

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    the problem is a 18" kick will be never be good for rock..on paper its optimised for acoustic and jazz music

    if you want volume which i amuse is what you want not booooooooom! get a sk1 or 2

    in the end of the day the less it sounds like a big floor tom and more it sounds like a kick the better

    sorry about the double post

  8. #8

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    I have 2 Remo PowerStroke III's on my 18" mid 80's Ludwig birch, with a little bit of foam in it to help give it more boom, and less tone. Heads are fairly tight, and I have a riser on it as well to get her off the ground. I have not ported the reso, and I advise against it with such a small diameter. I think it sounds pretty darned good.

  9. #9

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Mike it and EQ it low.

    all the best...

  10. #10

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Quote Originally Posted by itchie View Post
    crank the res head higher
    Came in to say this. I have an 18" Mapex with the stock heads on it...the beater head has a built in muffling ring...but anyway, I definitely get a better sound out of it when the reso head is tighter than the beater head.

  11. #11

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Using SKII batter; EMAD reso; EVANS EQ pad. Still dialing it in with the SKII (building flooding has kept me otherwise occupied the last couple of weeks).

    I am waiting for a KickPort to see how that sounds.

  12. #12

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    felt strips, most are used with the batter and no port resos, Was wondering can u run felt strips on the reso even if its ported for a good sound?

  13. #13

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Hey, Iv`e got an 18" kick with a EMAD batter head and a Evans Inked custom head on the front and everyone tells me at gigs it sounds as good as a 20". It`s got alot of boom

  14. #14

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    Powerstroke 3 or comparable single ply head as the batter with an unmuffled reso head, Ambassador or similar. Boom.

    The only two constants I have are DW and Zildjian.

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by nechre View Post
    powerstroke 3 or comparable single ply head as the batter with an unmuffled reso head, ambassador or similar. Boom.
    +1.
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  16. #16

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    I would tune it old school with no port holes, pillows, or blankets. Just use two felt strips on the reso and another two on the batter. This will let your bd shell come alive. If you bury your pedal, just use a thicker beater pad...I go cheap and get mine at homedepot (ie, 2" furniture pads). Try it...its cheap...just a few dollars for the felt strip and the furniture pad. However, you will get the most boom out of your bassdrum.

  17. #17

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    Default Re: How to get a boomy sound out of a 18" bass drum?

    I would think if you want boom to just use ambassador over ambassador. Clear would give more of a thud, whereas coated would give a thump. Either one would get you that boom, but there would just be a difference in tonal characteristics between the two.
    ZildjianLeague/LP/Aquarian/Mapex/Pearl
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pearl MCX Man View Post
    I wish I was your wife
    Quote Originally Posted by amdrummer View Post
    if double bass is cheating then so is using two sticks

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