Deeper Tom sound

[jgziegler]

Howdy folks!

I've got a 10" tom that I would like to sound deeper, I need to replace the head anyway (why you don't lend your drums to drummers you don't know), so any tips on how I could get the 10" to sound more like a 12"?

Danke!

[8beat]

Laying an old head on top of the new head deepens the sound.

[kay-gee]

Probably better off just buying a 12. The smaller the drum, the narrower the tuning range usually. You can try heavier heads and tune it low, but then it might just feel like beating on a pillow. I just recently added a 12 back to my Gretsch set. A world of difference from the 10 though they both sound great.

all the best...

[EddieV]

Try a batter head for a reso. I think you'd be surprised how the tone on that tom will change when you put a Pinstripe on the top AND bottom (or something similar). It will sound much deeper. I did this for years...fwiw.

Hard to see in this pic. But I did this years ago with all my toms on a cheap EXPORT kit. I was really happy with the results. It got ride of some of those 500 - 4K overtones too.

[crispycritters]

If the batter needs replacing anyway you could go for a twin ply head and fit the old batter as a reso just to see how much it will lower the tone.

Sadly I think Kay-gee nailed it, a 10" tom will have a fairly narrow tuning range and a combination of heavy heads and lowest possible tuning will probably kill all resonance. Maybe looking for an orphan 12" tom on ebay or similar would be best

[SpazApproved]

all the tricks I know have been listed.

But I like my high pitch 10.
But I follow it up with a 12, 14, 16 haha

[N2Bluz]

If it's a 1up/1down, then 10 & 16 are not bad. Here's one thing you can try, especially if it's that old Premier listed in your signature...
Assuming the old Premier shells take standard modern size heads (I think some took special sized heads), try a new Evans head with the "360" design. It should fit looser and allow the head to sit flatter on the edge. This should allow for a lower tuning range. Also, experiment with wider tuning intervals between top & bottom heads, like maybe a third or fourth. That might give it a fuller sound. On my PDP kit, the 10 & 12 shells are real close in pitch. I actually have issues tuning the 10" high enough.

[jgziegler]

Thanks all, especially N2, and yes, it's the Premier and luckily the 10" takes modern heads (not so much the 16" I'm afraid).

Unfortunately, all the drums are in my building cellar, as my place still isn't finished. I would like to say it's because I'm a foreigner here, but the reality is in this country, delays, laziness and stupidity are the norm in the construction world...

[myk]

Yes on my 10" (fiberglass),I have clear emperor batter and pinstripe reso sounds deep, I also did this with my 8" so it didn't sound like I was hitting a paint can.



Mike

[FlyByNight]

When I tune the reso maybe 1/4 or a half turn higher. It increases resonance and makes the toms sound full. At least that's what I found with birch.