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Check out the following products on eBay. It has an enormous inventory of just about anything you could want!
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 Sonor Floor Tom Leg Boot $0.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 17:00:29 PDT |
 Ludwig Junior Chrome Floor Tom Bass Drum Lugs NEW LK $1.50 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 19:45:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 1959 TOM AND JERRY 174 DELL Drum Cover Dell Silver Age Comic Book $0.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 20:00:24 PDT |
 DDRUM Tom Drum Tension Rods With Washer 2 Pack NEW LK $1.75 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 18:42:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1.75 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 DDRUM Diablo Tom Drum Lugs White With 1 2 Mounting Screws NEW $1.95 End Date: Tuesday Jun-19-2012 17:55:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: $1.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Replacement Drum Tom Lugs Pacific PDP $3.95 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 17:54:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 Gibraltar Floor Tom Small Rubber Tips 3 Pack $3.99 End Date: Saturday Jun-16-2012 12:13:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 16 Snare Tom Drum Nylon Tension Rod Washers $4.40 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 19:01:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.40 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 1993 Turner Entertainment Tom Jerry With Drum Soft Rubber Toy $2.79 End Date: Tuesday Jun-19-2012 15:30:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $2.79 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Gibraltar 3 Piece Small Rubber Tip Floor Tom Drum Accessory Replacement SCRTS $4.99 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 17:17:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 10 Smooth White Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $5.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 18:43:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 6 NEW REPLACEMENT SCREWS FOR SNARE DRUM TOM 5 INCH NIB $5.00 End Date: Thursday Jun-21-2012 14:50:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 2 TWO RED TOM TOM DRUMS Hat Lapel Tie Tack Pin NEW $2.50 End Date: Wednesday Jun-13-2012 20:15:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $2.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 20 Snare Tom Drum Nylon Tension Rod Washers $5.50 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 19:01:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 THE DRUM TOM WRENN ROB CLEVELAND PAPERBACK NEW $5.73 End Date: Thursday Jun-7-2012 1:07:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.73 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl MFH Mesh Tom Head for Rhythm Traveler Drum $5.99 End Date: Thursday May-31-2012 12:33:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 10 Clear Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $5.99 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 19:13:39 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 12 Clear Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $6.00 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 18:48:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 12 Smooth White Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $6.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 18:18:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Origins Tom Tom Arabesques Drums of Shell Island Senegal CD Alula ZZ BN NEW $3.74 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 15:26:46 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.74 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Carlton Logo Snare Tom Drum Head Decal $3.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 15:35:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 Vintage Slingerland Logo Snare Tom Drum Head Decal $3.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 15:48:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 Vintage Yamaha Selmer Text Logo Snare Tom Drum Head Decal $3.99 End Date: Tuesday Jun-5-2012 9:50:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 VINTAGE ROGERS HEAVY DUTY TOM DRUM LUG CASINGS $3.95 End Date: Thursday Jun-7-2012 13:59:56 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 BAD RELIGION BROOKS WACKERMAN FOR DW 9934 TOM DRUM CYMBAL STAND 8X11 AD $3.60 End Date: Sunday Jun-10-2012 20:31:09 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.60 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 HELLYEAH BOB ZILLA TOM MAXWELL VINNIE PAUL DEAN GUITARS DRUMS 8X11 AD $3.60 End Date: Tuesday Jun-12-2012 17:22:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.60 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Miniature Dollhouse Tom Tom Drum Toy $3.99 End Date: Tuesday Jun-5-2012 20:45:35 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tom and Snare Dampener $6.84 End Date: Friday Jun-22-2012 8:04:02 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.84 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl MFH Mesh Tom Head for Rhythm Traveler Drum 10 Inches $6.94 End Date: Tuesday Jun-19-2012 5:01:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.94 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 TAYE DRUMS TOM DRUM LUG CASINGS NICE $6.95 End Date: Saturday Jun-16-2012 17:25:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 DW drum workshop 12 mm 1 2 tom drum memory stop lock for tb 12 tom mount $3.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 15:46:08 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 DW drum workshop 12 mm 1 2 tom drum memory stop lock for tb 12 tom mount $3.99 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 22:19:26 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 YAMAHA RETRO HEAVY DUTY DRUM KEY snare tom $4.99 End Date: Sunday May-27-2012 19:41:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 DW drum workshop 12 mm 1 2 tom drum memory stop lock for tb 12 tom mount $3.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 15:47:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl Drum Key Old Style for Tom or Snare Drum Tension Rods $6.99 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 18:16:22 PDT |
 Tom Scott Desire with Vince Colaiuta drums 1982 Elektra Musician series sealed $2.99 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 23:48:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: $3.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl Drums R5 3 Rubber Tips Set of Three for Floor Tom New $6.99 End Date: Friday Jun-1-2012 7:51:45 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Gibraltar 3 Piece Large Rubber Tip Floor Tom Drum SCRTL New $6.99 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 6:51:43 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 14 Clear Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $7.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-6-2012 17:48:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 14 Smooth White Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $7.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 18:18:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 13 Smooth White Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $7.00 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 18:18:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 13 Clear Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $7.00 End Date: Friday Jun-22-2012 7:08:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Ludwig Modular Hardware Bass Drum Tom Mount Felt $4.95 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 9:11:23 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 New Gibraltar 3 Piece Small Rubber Tip Floor Tom Drum Replacement $4.40 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 12:17:02 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.40 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Premier Text Logo Snare Tom Drum Head Decal Red $4.99 End Date: Monday Jun-18-2012 11:48:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Premier Text Snare Tom Drum Head Decal Blue $4.99 End Date: Monday Jun-18-2012 11:49:49 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tom and Snare Drum Damper New MINEMAD $7.50 End Date: Monday Jun-11-2012 3:50:32 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tom and Snare Drum Dampers Set of 6 $7.69 End Date: Thursday Jun-14-2012 15:27:14 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.69 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl MFH Mesh Tom Head for Rhythm Traveler Drum 12 Inches $7.94 End Date: Monday Jun-4-2012 21:02:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.94 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Lot of 14 White Nylon Washers for Snare Drum Tom or Bass Drum Tension Rods $4.99 End Date: Saturday Jun-9-2012 16:32:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Import Small Tom Lug Screws MIJ Used Drum Parts $5.97 End Date: Wednesday Jun-20-2012 10:17:03 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.97 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 NEW EV PL35 Supercardioid Dynamic Snare Tom Microphone $7.98 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 11:27:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $80.98 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Rock Drums Step Two VHS 1998 with Tom Brechtlein $4.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 11:42:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans drum tuning key snare tom bass drum $4.99 End Date: Monday May-28-2012 15:47:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
 Taye Drums Accessory Clamp Boom Arm ACS 6D6M for Cymbal Snare Tom Stand $0.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 14:36:58 PDT |
 DW True Pitch Tom Tension Rod 6 pack $7.99 End Date: Friday Jun-1-2012 8:33:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: $7.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 16 Clear Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $8.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 7:08:11 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl Style Double Tom Mount Receiving Plate Drum Post 7 8 diameter $8.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 13:56:30 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Import Tom Mount Receiving Plate Drum Post hexagon posts 15 x 3 Hole $8.00 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 14:00:13 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Paco 16 Smooth White Medium Tom Tom Drumhead $8.00 End Date: Sunday Jun-3-2012 7:28:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 TOM THUMBS DRUM Novelty Fox Trot 1932 Vintage Sheet Music RUDY VALLEE $5.50 End Date: Tuesday Jun-19-2012 5:51:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 GIBRALTAR Small Rubber Tips for Floor Tom Legs SC RTS 3Pk NEW $5.10 End Date: Monday Jun-11-2012 9:59:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.10 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Ludwig Bass Drum Tom Mount Felt Ludwig Drum Part $5.95 End Date: Friday Jun-22-2012 12:17:58 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tone Dampening System for Drums Toms Snare $5.26 End Date: Wednesday May-23-2012 23:41:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.26 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tone Dampening System for Drums Toms Snare $8.25 End Date: Thursday May-24-2012 6:14:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.25 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Evans Min EMAD Tone Dampening System for Drums Toms Snare $5.26 End Date: Sunday Jun-17-2012 0:18:21 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.26 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 VINTAGE PREMIER SHARK TOOTH TOM DRUM LUG CASINGS $8.95 End Date: Wednesday Jun-6-2012 12:16:07 PDT Buy It Now for only: $8.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Premier Tom BD Mount Back Plate Vintage Drum Parts NOS $5.97 End Date: Thursday Jun-7-2012 8:35:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.97 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 HOW TO MAKE DRUMS TOM TOMS AND RATTLES BERNARD STERLING MASON PAPERBACK NEW $9.07 End Date: Friday May-25-2012 11:49:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.07 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
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 Vic Firth Tom Gauger Snare Drum Sticks $9.29 End Date: Sunday Jun-3-2012 12:19:15 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.29 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Vintage Die Cast Tom Lug Fits Kent Drum Parts $6.97 End Date: Saturday May-26-2012 16:37:41 PDT Buy It Now for only: $6.97 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Pearl MFH Mesh Tom Head for Rhythm Traveler Drum 8 Inches $5.99 End Date: Wednesday Jun-13-2012 20:06:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
 Replacement Tack for Gretsch Round Badge tom drum $6.99 End Date: Tuesday May-29-2012 10:05:00 PDT Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list |
You can also check out Amazon for information on Drum Tom.
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How To Tune Drums
So many times I hear students tell me that they need a new snare drum or that their toms are terrible. Sometimes it might be true but before they raid their parent's bank accounts I always offer to check out their existing drums. Often it's a simple case of a poorly tuned drum.
HEADS
If anything does need replacing, it is generally the drum head rather than the drum. Heads reach a point where they are impossible to tune and this will happen more quickly if you're a hard hitter.
When selecting heads, there are many on offer but discussing this in detail is for another article. As a general rule, the thinner heads resonate more freely and therefore offer more tone. These are better for recording purposes and include the likes of Evans G1, Remo Diplomat or Remo Ambassador.
Thicker heads offer more durability so if you're practising at home, or doing rock gigs and can't afford to keep replacing your split Ambassadors, these are worth checking out. For recording purposes they are less useful as they lack the tone and vibrancy of their thinner counterparts. Such options include the Evans G2, Evans EC2, Remo Emporer, and Remo pinstripe.
The bottom head is known as the resonant head. So to allow it to resonate, it is much thinner. Remo Diplomats and the like are great for toms. With the snare drum, some drummers use batter heads on the bottom but many will use the purpose made resonant heads offered by all the top brands.
TUNING
Before putting the new head on, make sure you have cleaned the debris and dust from the inside of the shell and around the bearing edges. Check that the bearing edges are in good condition as any imperfections will result in impossible tuning. If they are damaged, find a music shop that will recut them.
1. Place the head on your drum, place the rim on the head and slot the tension rods down into the lugs. Some people lubricate the tension rods with Vaseline.
2. Tighten each tension rod with your fingers. Always move across the drum and never to the tension rod next to where you started. If you begin at the 12 o'clock position, the next tension rod to be tuned is the one at 6 o'clock (see diagram above). Next you do the one at 1 o'clock, then 7 o'clock, etc. This allows the tension to be spread evenly around the drum.
3. Now, using the drum key start back at 12 o'clock and turn it 180 degrees. Now go round the drum, crisscrossing again with the half turn on each tension rod.
4. Repeat step 3 until the drum is close to the pitch that you want. You will want to do much smaller increments when it is close to the desired sound. Consider a 90 degree or 45 degree turn on each tension rod.
If it is a new head you will want to seat the drum head. Place one hand on the centre of the drum palm down. Place the other hand over it as if giving CPR. Push down fairly hard until you hear a terrifying splitting sound. Now relax, you haven't broken the head. You've just broken it in, allowing the bond between the glue and the rim to stretch to the shape of the drum. This would have happened anyway once you started smacking it with a wooden stick and it would have gone out of tune. Now tune it back up and it should stay there.
FINE TUNING
We are now close to being fully tuned but there is one more stage. To fine tune the drum you must tap the head an inch in from each tension rod. The pitch should be identical on each. That means the drum is evenly tuned. If one area is different in pitch, tweak it with the drum key and use your ear to listen until each part of the drum sounds even. Voila!
SNARE
Generally considered the most important drum of the drum kit, it is also very personal. Listen to ten great drummers and you will hear ten different snare sounds. This is affected by the snare drum shell material, snare heads, bearing edges, tuning, snare strand tension, playing style, and so on. You must find the right head combination and tuning for your own playing.
If the snare is buzzing, there are some solutions you can try:
1. Detune the lugs either side of the snares. You must then tighten the other lugs to compensate. This is the snare (bottom) head only, not the batter head.
2. Tune the batter head, or snare head to a different pitch.
3. Retune the high tom to a different pitch if that drum is causing the sympathetic frequency response.
4. Some drummers tape the snares to the drum head at either end. Experiment with this.
5. If all else fails, smash it with a sledge hammer in an uncontrolled fit of anger and then calmly begin to tune your spare snare drum and hope for better results.
TOMS
These require the same technique as above but the relationships between each tom is important here. Many drummers tune toms a fourth apart. You can use a piano to get an idea of how this interval sounds. Some drummers are very specific and tune to exact pitches whereas others are happy with the approximate sound of the fourth. At the piano, hit a C note. Then go down and hit a G and then finally the D. That is the sound you want to aim for.
The relationship between the resonant and batter head is also important and, again, down to personal preference. As a general rule, the batter head primarily affects the tone, while the resonant head affects the note length. If the batter head is tensioned differently to the resonant head, it will decrease the resonance but may cause a pitch bend effect in the note sustain, which can be undesirable. Tuned to the same tension and the resonance might be too long. It's a case of trial and error to find your preference.
BASS DRUM
In many styles, the bass drum is the easiest to tune as us drummers tend to muffle it to get that thud sound. Some drummers simply finger tighten each lug so that the wrinkles are only just taken out. Some use the drum key and go much tighter. Regarding muffling, some heads such as the Evans E-mad have their own integrated muffling systems. However, often something is placed inside the drum to achieve that dead sound depending on how much boom each drummer wishes to retain.
This might be a pillow, a towel, an EQ cushion (which is basically a more expensive pillow sold by drum head manufacturers) or a dead body (just testing if you're concentrating!). Play around and see what works for you in your particular setting.
TO TAPE OR NOT TO TAPE?
Over the years many different materials have been placed upon drums to achieve certain sounds. These range from gaffa tape, paper towels, wallets, cigarette packets, tea towels, and anything else that does the job. Purpose made solutions include the O-rings and Moon Gel, both of which should be part of any drummers tool box to help control unwanted overtones if and when they arise in different studios or concert halls.
My opinion is that you shouldn't get caught thinking that the use of such techniques are needed in reaction to your inadequacy to tune a drum. If it helps achieve the best sound which ultimately helps you to offer the best drum track that the artist, producer or client is looking for, then do it. Every room causes the drum to react differently and your combination of drums/heads might just need a little helping hand for certain styles in certain situations. Do what you can to get a great sound.
I hope this guide helps a little but there really is no substitute to learning your own way through trial and error. Put in the effort to discover what works, make your mistakes, and learn from them. Whatever you do, don't shy away from it or your drums will never sound their best.
About the Author
Matt is a professional drummer, tutor and author. He has written for many music magazines around the world as well as writing a novel titled 'Run Rabbit Run' and a non-fiction book called 'The Drum: A History' published by Scarecrow Press in Novermber 2011.
He publishes a drum blog from his website with articles, videos and other items of drumming interest.
His first novel is also available. The action thriller is titled Run Rabbit Run. More details can be viewed at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Run-Rabbit-ebook/dp/B005A7VEJY
Thanks for visiting!