Bearing edges???

[RedDrum]

What is the best cut in degree for the bearing edge? I see many companies with different cuts. If there is one best, than how come they all don't cut the edge the same??? 30, 45 , 60 etc... Also is it more expensive to do different edges??

[pitchfork]

Theres no best cut, its all preference.
30 will be less resonant than 45 and 60 will be more.

45 is the standard in most companies though.

No it doesn't cost different to do different edges as they will most likely just have to reprogram the machine (or change the router bit)

[dairyairman]

i believe the way it work with edges is the less of an angle, the more muffling effect you get from the edge. a shallow angle tends to cut down on high pitched ringing, but also cuts down on resonance. i think a rounded edge also cuts down on ringing and resonance. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[Josiah]

Round edges provide rounder tones. The "edge" doesn't matter much, cause it's rounded! Though most round start as double 45's. There is 'slight' rounded, where the edges angles matter a bit more.

Then there's a lot on edge theory, etc. So much in fact..

It effects sound, so it's about what sound you want. Many like different sounds, so there are different edges and so forth they like.

There is prob a very strong argument for the nesscity of a counter cut on the edge however.


Some drum makers now, namely DW, have been doing drum proportiante edging. So the edge on the 8" top is different then the one on the 16" tom.
The concept is to get the drums to sound more "alike" as one unit, then several seperate drums.
Another way to put it is, they want the 8" tom to ring out like the 16" floor tom, within their own personalities of course.
From the drums I've heard, this concept seems to work perfect. Wonder it took so long for somebody to do it.. anyway..

Additionally changing the edges on the bottom of the toms is being done more now a days, again namely DW. The idea is to create more reasonance for the drum. Since the bottom head is not struck, the same principles need not be applied and more lee-way can be taken to change the bottom head setup to be more in tune with it's job.

Newer DW drums with these additions it really shows. The sound is absurd, and toms just create so much sound. They really scream gaint 8th note rock fills.

*sigh*

Additionally here is some stuff you can read for your own research. Also some interesting things about the drum dial in there -
Physics paper on bearing edge effects on drums.

http://online.physics.uiuc.edu/courses/phys199pom/NSF_REU_Reports/2003_reu/Eric_Macaulay_Final_Paper.pdf

[maniac0796]

My tama rockstars have varying bearing edges as you go down the set

30 on my 12 and 13", 45 on my 16, and a rounded 30 on my bass drum.

[Josiah]

Ya, that's not super uncommon. Though what I'm talkign about is very specific changes to each drum, considerably different (and more costly).

[Ollie The Drumming Legend]

I looked at the physics paper. It very long and a bit complicated:S

[Josiah]

Yes, but who doesn't want to know every working finite detail about their instrument....

[maniac0796]

someone who has a drum tech to know it all for them?

[Josiah]

Unrelated. Most guys only setup, soundcheck, tune and maintain. The drummer is the guy who buys the drums and defines what he wants in sound.

Some people are like "duh i want da boom" and some people just love to know about their instruments. Aparently, the threadstarter is of the latter...

[santi3hg]

Thanks a lot for the information Jos! Very helpful, especially the link.

+rep

[maniac0796]

I was joking but meh.

[RedDrum]

Josiah thanks for the reply. All the rest as well, very good info that I have been wanting to know:thumb:

[raz0r]

someone who has a drum tech to know it all for them?

pfft.

The first step towards mastery is knowledge.
Without it, there's only so far you can go.

[maniac0796]

See 2 posts above yours.