What is the "proper" way to mute bass drum heads?

[jonnyboy]

I used to make my heads last a LONG time as well. If you use the foam 1x1 weather stripping from Home Depot or Lowes, you can glue it on with silicone in a tube using a caulking gun. The clear silicone works the best, the white doesn't really hold well or set up well. I have tried everything, and you really can't go wrong with one strip around the edge of the head on each drum. Lay a bead of clear silicone down on the head and press the foam strip into it. You can always add silicone later, so don't make a mess by over doing it. I used to fully foam the 3-4-5 drums, and partially foam the smaller 1 and 2 drums, so they would have a bit of ring. On 1 and 2 I would put strips on like parenthesis, with an open space at top and bottom. If you leave the heads on for a year or so, or the kids grab the rim, you may have to replace the foam before a head change as it wears out from touching it for several months. I personally haven't had much luck foaming the inside of the head, or the shell. It just seems easier to foam once the heads are on and tuned up a bit.

IMO, The Cadets have some of the finest sounding basses in DCI for the last 25 years. They use the foam method and crank the heads. You won't want to crank your Powerlites, just make them sound nice. The heads will last longer if you don't crank them and wail on them as well.

Check out this Cadet vid from 2011

The top bass is 75% foamed, and the other 5 drums have a full wrap.

[CANDRUMMER]

The question is "Do you want to mute it or tune it?"

Various ways have been used over the years from wide felt strips-pillows inside the drum-taping various things to the outside head etc.

[Perc_Instructor]

If you want to make the heads last a long time as you mentioned and then tend to replace with the cheapest i.e. Remo Ambassadors then I would use "tone foam" the brand name and do it on the shell with the edge of the foam barely protruding past the bearing edge. Tone foam has glue under an easy to remove paper backing so you can do it nice and clean along the shell removing the tape as you go. Doing it this way saves the foam from being exposed to the elements and done properly can last several years and makes it easy to change the heads and not have to redo the foam and tuning. I've used this method on plenty of Yamaha Powerlite bass drums for middle schools and it creates a similar sound to the Yamaha Field-Corps drums using PowerMax heads. With my high school lines I always use Remo PowerMax heads on both Yamaha Field-Corps and Pearl Championship drums.

Edited June 19, 2012 by Perc_Instructor

[cabalumnidrummer]

Whatever you choose, don't over muffle. A drum that sounds good from a few feet away often sounds like a cardboard box from the stands. I prefer a little ring up close that sounds like a nice drum tone from a distance.

I think this is a point that is all-too-often ignored. I constantly have this conversation with bass drummers who complain about the sound of their drum up close. Inevitably, I make them walk at least about 25-30 feet away, and then I play on their drum. End of argument at least 90% of the time.

The same is true for snare drums, in my opinion. They may ring too much to your liking up close, but that is exactly what makes them project outdoors on the field. Basses and snares that are heavily muffled may sound great to the player, but their voices can be lost to the spectators -- and judges -- in the stands. At least, that's my 'old school' understanding. Modern percussion experts may very well disagree.

I muffle bass drums with the peel-and-stick foam and attach it to the shell, projected just a bit past the bearing edge so that the head will touch it. I only go about 2/3 of the way around (on the bottom, primarily for aesthetic reasons). The big benefit to putting it on the shell is that if you break a head, you don't have to re-muffle, just put on the new head. I haven't tried any of the pre-muffled heads yet, but they sound like a good idea as well.

[MikeN]

Gotta say again, I've used the Remo PowerMax pre-muffled heads, and love them. They also have removable rings (2 if I remember right) so you can change the sound slightly if necessary.

Mike

[Grandpa]

if you prefer the foam method,..........consider symetry when installing,..........but I agree with MikeN, the premuffled head are great, tons of projection!

Look at the Remo PowerMax bass drum heads, all you have to do is put them on and tune!

Evans has something similar, I believe but I don't know the specific product line.

What other brands are available, and how do the prices compare?

[Grandpa]

I've always used the self-adhesive weatherstripping from Home Depot

Me too but sometimes I find it's difficult to keep consistency through the line and even from side to side.

[actucker]

Evans were actually the first to come out with pre muffled bass heads. The MX-1 and MX-2 are the Evans equivalent to the Powermaxes. I've had great success with both the Remo and Evans incarnations. I'm currently using the Evans MX-2's in my full time group, and couldn't be happier with the control I have over the sound.

[drummer79]

Evans were actually the first to come out with pre muffled bass heads. The MX-1 and MX-2 are the Evans equivalent to the Powermaxes. I've had great success with both the Remo and Evans incarnations. I'm currently using the Evans MX-2's in my full time group, and couldn't be happier with the control I have over the sound.

I do the mx 1s on top 3 and the 2s on bottom 2 drums. I love it

[LSU GRAD 82]

pre-muffled heads (my new personal favorite)

Remo PowerMax. Only way to go. Don't have to worry about placement, putting too much or too little foam on the inside or outside. It's all done for you.........