Stressing the lift of your bass drum...

[jversluis88]

Now I've always thought I was pretty good at tuning. I'm able to achieve the sounds I desire from my drum, and I know the process I used to get there (i.e. the properties of batter and resonant heads, etc.).

However, I've always been pretty bad with bass drums. They've always been quiet, and just not very bassy to put it simply.

I do understand the importance of your bass drum's buffer between itself and the ground, as the ground inevitably sucks resonance and volume from the drum when stricken (a reason why I'm very happy to have a floating "floor" tom).

During a rearrangement of my basement the other day I was - for no particular reason - inspired to lift my drum a couple more inches. Wow. Did that ever make a world of difference.

So, the moral of the story fellow MX drummers is not to take your bass drum's hoist lightly!

That is all. :)

[Moon Flavor]

Hmmm...maybe I'll try this eventually although I'm already loving the sound I get from my bass atm

[Sponer]

Actually, if you lift it too much you could choke it as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCqSgrw_2M
(skip to 5:45)

[LoneStarDrummer]

if your're talking about lifting the front end of the bass drum, then i disagree. keeping it parallel to the floor will get you the best sound imo.

also that vid. backs my claim.

[Carn]

a little bit above the ground does the trick for me. That, plus the Aquarian Superkick II.

[an_original_name]

i don't think it will make a huge amount of difference whether its parallel with the ground or if the reso end is as high as it can go (unless its at a 30 degree angle or something silly), as long as the shell isn't in contact with the floor. i usually think of it like a tripod. only the bassplate of the pedal and the spurs should be in contact with the ground.

[jversluis88]

My bass drum is parallel, it's just less close to the ground than it was. And right away I noticed more resonance and volume.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

if your're talking about lifting the front end of the bass drum, then i disagree. keeping it parallel to the floor will get you the best sound imo.

also that vid. backs my claim.

This.

And yes indeed, Bob knows what hes talkin about in those vids

[GooseFilms.net]

absolutely. I always keep my reso hoop suspended a 1/2"-1" off the ground. I dont necessarily want angle on the kick, but it definitely needs to get off the ground! especially if youre playing unmiced

[LoneStarDrummer]

if you keep the drum parallel to the floor and you use any sort of bass pedal, then the reso is going to be off the ground. i've never seen a bass pedal that doesn't elevate the drum.

[Aaron]

Depends on the room and the flooring material whether it gives it a good or bad effect.

[Artyr]

I just lifted the resonant side of my bass today (thanks to this thread) and it really has made a big difference. For me, my pedal was lifting the front, so the beater had to travel a bit farther to actually hit it. Since I lifted it, it actually made it parallel to the floor and the tone is better since it's not resting on carpet.

[Det_Nosnip]

Totally. I've made adjustments like that and noticed the difference as well...gotta let those puppies sing!

[trysthedrummer]

Definately. You will get better projection when it's raised up and you don't get problems with your pedals attatched to the hoop. Unless you get extenders on your spurs and have it at a 20 degree angle!

Ted, I'd say it was the big dad pup!