Air vent sizes on RFP drums

[Tommy_D]

So it looks like Pearl makes two different vent sizes for their drums. The AH-01 for 6 and 8 ply shells, and the AH-03 for 4 ply shells. However, Pearl uses varying thickness in their plys depending on the series of the drum.

As an example, the RFP toms are 6 plys of .9mm thickness making for a 5.4mm shell. The Reference series will alternate 1.6mm and .9mm plys making that same 6 ply shell 7.5mm thick. An 8ply Reference Series bass drum would be 10mm thick in the alternating ply layup vs. a RFP at 7.2mm.

So is this one AH-01 air vent designed to work on shells ranging in thickness from 5.4mm to 10mm because its designed for 6 and 8 ply drums? That's a pretty huge thickness difference. I would imaging a thin shell like a 6ply RFP tom would have part of the vent protruding through the inside if the AH-01 vent is used. My RFP drums don't have any protrusions on the inside, so am I to assume they use the AH-03 vent (designed for 4 ply shells which are 5mm according to Pearl's website) on the RFP toms, and maybe the AH-01 on the 8 ply bass drum?

Can anyone confirm what size vents Pearl uses on the varying thickness shells they offer?

[MusicMan]

So it looks like Pearl makes two different vent sizes for their drums. The AH-01 for 6 and 8 ply shells, and the AH-03 for 4 ply shells. However, Pearl uses varying thickness in their plys depending on the series of the drum.

As an example, the RFP toms are 6 plys of .9mm thickness making for a 5.4mm shell. The Reference series will alternate 1.6mm and .9mm plys making that same 6 ply shell 7.5mm thick. An 8ply Reference Series bass drum would be 10mm thick in the alternating ply layup vs. a RFP at 7.2mm.

So is this one AH-01 air vent designed to work on shells ranging in thickness from 5.4mm to 10mm because its designed for 6 and 8 ply drums? That's a pretty huge thickness difference. I would imaging a thin shell like a 6ply RFP tom would have part of the vent protruding through the inside if the AH-01 vent is used. My RFP drums don't have any protrusions on the inside, so am I to assume they use the AH-03 vent (designed for 4 ply shells which are 5mm according to Pearl's website) on the RFP toms, and maybe the AH-01 on the 8 ply bass drum?

Can anyone confirm what size vents Pearl uses on the varying thickness shells they offer?

Tommy,

No. You have to go by the thickness of the shell. The difference between the two air vents is the depth. Thus, if you try to use the AH-01 on a thicker shell, it will be to short and won't clamp together.

The AH-01 won't work with a 10mm shell. It is only good up to 7.5mm.

[Tommy_D]

So the AH-01 is for shells between 5.4mm and 7.5mm thick. The AH-03 is strictly for thinner than 5.4, aka 4 ply shells?

So what air vent does a standard Reference series bass drum get?

[MusicMan]

So the AH-01 is for shells between 5.4mm and 7.5mm thick. The AH-03 is strictly for thinner than 5.4, aka 4 ply shells?

So what air vent does a standard Reference series bass drum get?

The AH-01 is the shallower one. The AH-03 is for thicker shells.

A 6-ply RFP kick drum would have the AH-01 wheras the 8-ply or 10-ply version would have the AH-03.

Standard RFP 18"- 20" kick drums are 6-ply and standard RFP 22"-26" kick drums are 8-ply.

Hope this helps

[AL PERCIVAL]

So the AH-01 is for shells between 5.4mm and 7.5mm thick. The AH-03 is strictly for thinner than 5.4, aka 4 ply shells?

So what air vent does a standard Reference series bass drum get?

AH01 - 5.4mm - 7.5mm
AH03 - Cast 3mm - and old style Masters MMX 4-ply & MBX
AH04 - 1mm - 1.2mm (metal snares)
AH20 - 20-ply 25mm (reference 20-ply wood snare)

Reference Pure (5.4mm shell thickness) and Standard Reference bass drum (shell thickness 7.5mm) both use the AH01 air-hole.

[MusicMan]

Reference Pure (5.4mm shell thickness) and Standard Reference bass drum (shell thickness 7.5mm) both use the AH01 air-hole.

Thanks, Al. I stand corrected on the AH-03.

[AL PERCIVAL]

Thanks, Al. I stand corrected on the AH-03.

.... don't even get me started on MW air holes.....

[Drumming-4-Life]

Al is gradually developing into Gene Okamoto's star prodigy! Thanks for all your help Al!

[AL PERCIVAL]

Al is gradually developing into Gene Okamoto's star prodigy! Thanks for all your help Al!

I'm still not even worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence with Gene Okamoto, he has forgot more than I'll ever know

[MusicMan]

.... don't even get me started on MW air holes.....

Ahh ... maybe that's where I was getting confused between MW and RFP.

[Mike Foreman]

AH01 - 5.4mm - 7.5mm
AH03 - Cast 3mm - and old style Masters MMX 4-ply & MBX
AH04 - 1mm - 1.2mm (metal snares)
AH20 - 20-ply 25mm (reference 20-ply wood snare)

Reference Pure (5.4mm shell thickness) and Standard Reference bass drum (shell thickness 7.5mm) both use the AH01 air-hole.

Not to bore you with details, but I will just say that my life would have been so much easier & stress-free had I known the AH-04 even existed. This is the first I've ever heard of it & now so many things make much more sense!

[Tommy_D]

AH01 - 5.4mm - 7.5mm
AH03 - Cast 3mm - and old style Masters MMX 4-ply & MBX
AH04 - 1mm - 1.2mm (metal snares)
AH20 - 20-ply 25mm (reference 20-ply wood snare)

Reference Pure (5.4mm shell thickness) and Standard Reference bass drum (shell thickness 7.5mm) both use the AH01 air-hole.

This is great info. Thank you Mr. Percival.

I'm assuming that Pearl does not make an air vent that fits 7.5 - 10mm thick drums. Or do they???

[AL PERCIVAL]

This is great info. Thank you Mr. Percival.

I'm assuming that Pearl does not make an air vent that fits 7.5 - 10mm thick drums. Or do they???

I'm fairly sure an AH02 would work. We use that on our firecracker FCP1250 snare 8-ply poplar (10mm shell thickness)

[MusicMan]

Not to bore you with details, but I will just say that my life would have been so much easier & stress-free had I known the AH-04 even existed. This is the first I've ever heard of it & now so many things make much more sense!

Hmmm ... I agree ... I might have to pick up a couple of the AH-04 and see what I can use them for

[Tommy_D]

I'm fairly sure an AH02 would work. We use that on our firecracker FCP1250 snare 8-ply poplar (10mm shell thickness)

Ahh, okay. So no diecast vents like the AH-01 or AH-03. Well, maybe I can cut down an AH-20 to work with shells thicker than 7.5mm. I just dont know where to buy AH-20 air vents. I can find the 01 and the 03 models, but no 20's.