Stop Session Bass Drum Claw Damage for < $1.00

[Dman]

Alright guys, I recently injured my wrist so I'm chilling from the new Dusk Blue babbies for a little while. Tinkering around with the sound getting it just right and replaced the bass head again. Still not happy with the marks left by the claws on the wood hoops. Didn't have $300 to buy new claws and lugs (Master's style) so I've got a alternate.

DISCLAIMER -- Somebody else posted about doing this, can't rember his name, but I blew it off, now I've tried it and like it. So I'm expanding on his idea. Check it out:

Micheal's arts and crafts stores sell "Darice Foamies".
9X12 sheets of foam rubber, 2mm thick.
I'm going to post a couple of photos after this to show you how I did it. Let me know what you think.

First you need a helper.......................

[Dman]

That's my main man, just giving me a hand, couldn't help myself. Anyway, I cut a paper template, used a full 9X12 sheet of black 2mm foam, used a razor knife and scissors to cut 16 gaskets out.

[Dman]

Here's the gasket and the claw upside down, just for size.

[Dman]

As you can see the gasket works, and is very unobtrusive.

[Dman]

Alright you get the idea. Now this last .gif file is NOT TO SCALE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
DON'T PRINT IT OUT AND TRACE GASKETS FROM THIS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Just print it out for info.

[Dman]

Yeah baby, yeah, (Austin Powers).
Just thought for less than a dollar, it's alot cheaper than upgrading all the lugs/claws. If I had the cash I'd upgrade because I like the recessed look of the rods. Passing it on because that's what this forum is about.

Drum On..........................................
Dman

[Charlie]

good job sir!

[DrumYoda]

Great Tip!!!

Perhaps there should be an area that serves as a repository for all the useful tips that are posted in the various threads.

Any thoughts Gene, Hook, Raymond, et. al.?

[Dman]

Thanks Charlie and DrumYoda. Crazy thing is it took me less time to figure out the gasket dimensions then it did to Photoshop it up. Thanks again. Hope it helps for any who try it out.

[PADman]

Dman, I think all of us 'Session folk' owe you a REAL foamie (or any other beverage of your choice) when and if we ever have the forum get-together! :D

[Dman]

Thanks alot PAD, I'm at alot of different forums and can say that this one is by far the best. I read a couple of posts at another forum (nameless) which were basically bashing the Pearl forum and calling it a "free for all" and "out of control". I fell that those statements are entirely false. Long story short, I get some good info. here as well as funny anicdotes. People, can post any ideas thoughts they have with little or no bashing. I feel that this encourages "drummers to help drummers".

Thanks again.
Dman

[Dman]

:cool: :cool: bump:cool: :cool:

[biodrumr]

Dman, did you use anything to attach the foamie gasket to the claw, or did you just kinda wedge it in their and tighten it down?

[Dman]

Wookie, I thought long and hard about that. Finally I decided NOT to use contact cement or anything because I didn't want any fumes, vapors, finish detiorating "stuff" eating at the finish. I just lined up the gasket with the claw, kind of curling it in the claw. The cool thing is that since it's foamy, and it's 2mm, once I had the gasket in the claw and straight I just pushed in on the hoop and it's nice and snug, not in a damaging way but holds it quite nicely, then I just threaded the rods in and tunned up. The only thing I noticed is that because the claw is now snug on the hoop it's possible to have the claw no perfectly inline with the rod/lug. What I mean by this is if you get them on and it seems that the rod won't screw in then you just need to make sure the claw and lug are in line with each other. No biggie. Before you use the gaskets the claws are free to move back and forth (alot of the problem) as you thread the rods so alignment doesn't have to be considered. Let me know if you dig it, or not, or if you have any problems.

Dman'

[Genius Switch]

I know I'm contradicting myself by posting this reply, but I had to say that this is the most relavent, helpful, innovative, and coolest threads I've read. So far people have just been tootin' their own horns about what they play, who the like, and what they wish for. This thread has substance. ME LIKES IT A LOT! Well done.

[Drummer1]

Good job. This is what a forum is for! Did you consider a rubber cement to "glue" the foam to the casing? Very good job indeed.

[Dman]

Ironcobra thanks alot, and Drummer1 thanks.
Ironcobra, I dig where you're coming from about certain posts. This has got to be one of the better forums that I post on. People generally are much more into being helpful and suggestive than on some of the other forums. I wish I had other good ideas like this one, but I'm working on it.

Drummer, I thought long and hard about using rubber cement or contact cement but decided against it. Some of them emit finish eating fumes and others are not supposed to be used with polys and foams. I probably could have looked around but I got lazy and wanted to put them on. Took just a littler effort to get them centered when I first put them on, but now for head changes (still trying to get that perfect sound), the gaskets stay in the claws.

Dman:cool:

[Monday317]

Dman, you are seriously talented. Take care of that wrist!

[ElectroQTed]

Dman, thanks for the great tip. I have actually made myself some gaskets according to your instructions. I picked up my new SRXs a few weeks ago, and started reading the forum at the same time. I'm glad I read your post before removing the paper between the claws and the hoop. I purchased the foam at a Michaels store but it had a different name - Flexi-foam - but I think it is exactly the same stuff. To get the right shape, I traced the outline of the claw onto the paper between the claw and the hoop. I then cut out the shape to use as a template, which I placed on top of the foam and cut very carefully around the edge with an exacto knife. At this point, I was finding it difficult to get the shape cut perfectly every time and I remarked to my wife that this would be much easier if I had a metal template to cut around. Being the brilliant woman she is, she asked if a glass template would work (she is a stained glass worker). I traced another claw outline onto another piece of paper, which she used to cut and grind the proper shape and Voila! ... a perfect bass drum claw gasket template. This now made short work of cutting out 20 gaskets. As Dman said, the claws fit nice and snug onto the hoop and you have to get them aligned perfectly with the lugs on the drum shell. I also found that I had to reposition a few of the claws when the foam shifted a bit as I was pressing the claw onto the hoop, but this was no big deal.

I would recommend this gasket installation to anyone. It is well worth the effort. Kudos to you, Dman, for an excellent idea and for passing it on to the masses!:cool:

[Dman]

Ted thanks alot and I'm glad that you read about it BEFORE changing the head a couple of times like I did. Nothing major but of course I wish I'd thought of it sooner. Wish my fiancee did stained glass as well.

Happy drumming and enjoy those Sessions.

Dman
:cool:

[232 thumper]

Here is the original post. I started doing this to my kits several years ago. It holds up great, and that is after a zillion head changes. I do not stick them to the shell as over a very short amount of time the material is a royal ***** to remove.
Also, if you should scratch your hoop from loading in/out/etc of a show, not sticking the material down will not limit your hoop placement if you need to rotate it to hide something.

http://66.40.220.17/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1563&highlight=foam+rubber

[Dman]

Ah there you are thumper, I couldn't remember where I read about the foam. Tried to give anonymous credit at the begining of the post. Liked your idea so much just made pics. of it. Good deal. My hoops thank you.

Dman
:cool:
DISCLAIMER -- Somebody else posted about doing this, can't rember his name, but I blew it off, now I've tried it and like it. So I'm expanding on his idea. Check it out:

[232 thumper]

I am just glad you were able to help so many folks - kudos to you.

[EHSsnare03]

excellent idea! one of the most innovative plans I've seen in awhile. I just wanted to add that I have an srx of the same color and i am going to try that out because i have scratches too. Thanks!:D

[SKiezws]

Dude...sweet idea! Was the guy that origonally did it a masters owner who bought his kit used...and there was a pic of him and his band playing?

Anyways, I'm going to do that with our barchong bass drums at school. The hardware on them is all rusted and junky, so this will really help the rims.

[cpchonga07]

do you guys think this same idea would work for attaching the bass pedal?:)

[Avantasia]

Mmmmmmmmmarrine blue fade! :cool:

Hehe, I've added this thread to favourites for when I get my SMX in MBF in May :D

[Dman]

cpchonga07, yes it'll work fine for your bass drum pedals as well. On my Sessions my hoops came with the thin metal protector, but adding some (thin) foam would def. help. You may still get some residual damage (unavoidable) as the bass pedal, unlike the claws, actually squeeze down on the hoop. Hell, more protection the better.

Dman
:cool:

[Avantasia]

Dman...do you have any full pics of your kit? :D

[weps]

Originally posted by cpchonga07
do you guys think this same idea would work for attaching the bass pedal?:)

NOT as well as the metal hoop protector that is supplied with Masters and now Sessions.

I THINK it's the HPP1. It's in the accessories hardware catalog on the main site. It only runs about $6 in the USA and worth more than that!

weps

[pearldrummer8]

How about some new pictures of your set?!:D

[Dman]

Avantasia here's the setup and the link to the old thread wit all the Dusk Blue Pics.

Dman
Please note the cymbal setup is current and some of the pics show an out of date cymbal setup.


Dusk Blue Pics. (http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2455&highlight=dusk+blue+pics)

[Dman]

Here's a couple I found.

Dman

[Dman]

AAX Fusion Brilliants and my fav. PS III head.

[Dman]

Lefty pedal setup

[Dman]

Just another shot.

[Rob Hoek]

None of the pictures seem to work. And the dusk blue link doesnt either. I'd like to see pics of the rubber claw solution, and the blue finish aswell. Maybe sum1 could repost those? Thank you.

[isaacledley]

Sounds good...but I can't see it:| Good idea tho.

[Dman]

Wow, hadn't been here in a bit, and it seems the pics and links are no longer here. I'll dump them again.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/what_you_need.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/Session_Gasket.gif

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/claw_gasket.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/bass_gasket.jpg

Now onto some out of date pictures. Have added another 22X18 bass, a 8X7 tom, and some new brass. Will post those later:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/19778Drum_Cymbal_Layout_new.gif

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/bass.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/toms.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/Overhead1_1024.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/pedals.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/Overhead2_1024.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/brass1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/brass2.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/snare1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/exg_Pun1sher/Session/19778SRX_DieCast1024.jpg

[Big King]

I had the same problem when I owned a Sessions custom. I first fixed it by doing what you did but I used paper. Then I spent $60 and got a full set of masters style claws. The claws were worth it.

[Radical1]

I had the same problem when I owned a Sessions custom. I first fixed it by doing what you did but I used paper. Then I spent $60 and got a full set of masters style claws. The claws were worth it.

I have an SRX and also bought the masters claws. Well worth it.

[TWH]

Yep, the D-054 Masters/sessions (SMX) claws will work just fine without having to buy new lugs. The D-050 claws were used on the older SMX's and SRX's with the (non-bridge style) lugs. The D-054 were used on SMX's when Pearl updated the sessions and Exports to the newer "bridge masters type" lugs. I purchased some D-054 claws from Massmusic.net and they work just fine on my EX which uses the same lugs. However, using the foam is allot cheaper. I paid $80 for 16.