Bass drum going boing.

[13m]

My youngest son has a drum kit and is complaining the bass drum doesn't sound right suddenly. It sounds more boingy, like a marching band sort of sound, than it did previously.

I know nothing whatsoever about drums, but does the above description mean anything to anyone sufficient to advise please?

If not, we need to buy some cymbals, I might chat up our local store and get them to deliver / fettle the bass at the same time.

[13m]

HOGEPH said:

Stick a blanket or a pillow in it, if still going boing, get a new head.

The head being the part the pedal hits presumably.

[13m]

Dizeee said:

Any updates to this?

What kit is it and what heads are on it either side?

I am being a remiss father and it's not yet been looked at. He also has cymbals that go rattle.

Easter hols coming though.

[So]

Your help is appreciated chaps. I intend to fix the drum kit at some point in the next week. I will post up snaps if needs be.

I think we will be buying him new cymbals. His drum teacher said they were ropey when he first got them and he got a distinction in his first drumming exam, so we said we'd buy new ones as a reward.

[So]

Elysium said:

So said:

Your help is appreciated chaps. I intend to fix the drum kit at some point in the next week. I will post up snaps if needs be.

I think we will be buying him new cymbals. His drum teacher said they were ropey when he first got them and he got a distinction in his first drumming exam, so we said we'd buy new ones as a reward.

My youngest took up the drums aged 10 and has actually got pretty good. As result I have had to learn some basics to help him out.

If you are replacing beginner cymbals look for bronze (b20 alloy) rather than brass(b8 alloy) otherwise he will be pestering you to change them again in a couple of years. Cymbals can be very (very) expensive so be warned!

The drum heads need to be tuned. It is a faff but not difficult and I taught myself and my son using an iphone app.

The loose sound you describe could be a worn head, lack of damping or he might have fiddled with the head and detuned it. The evans heads are pretty decent value and make a basic kit sound great.

His drum teacher has suggested these:

https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/P101BS314/cymbal-set...
[1]

https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/SABSBR5003G/cymbal-s...
[2]

https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/MCS/cymbal-sets/mien...
[3]

He will need an additional stand I suspect:

https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/4509/cymbal-stands/c...

[So]

Okay, so I took a good look at this over the weekend.The problem was in three parts;

1. The pedal had become detached.

2. There was nothing in the drum to stop it being boingy.

3. My son had, I think, been "tuning" it.

I have resolved points 1 & 2 and have loosened the tension both sides. I am not sure it sounds right, but it doesn't go boing anymore.

An aside - I was about to replace the entire kit at the weekend, but thought I would quiz the little chap about his plans drum-wise. His response was that he prefers piano and wants to focus on that. So we won't be getting new drums just yet.

Thanks for your advice chaps.