Anybody else find these drums tricky to tune?

[IMF1]

Because I do, despite having owned my kit for almost 5 years. Compared to my Sonor maple gigging kit, I find it tough to dial in the right balance between the fundamental note or pitch that I like for each drum versus the amount of sustain that I want. Maybe it's because I have 4 toms (10/12/14/16) and it's always harder tuning more drums relative to each other.

I can eventually find the sound I want but it takes some time. These drums are quite punchy and low but getting the right amount of sustain can be tough. Reason I'm asking is because I'm changing all my tom batter heads right now. I use Evans EC2 clears on all batters and EC Resos on the rack toms and clear G1s on the floor toms.

Curious if anybody has any tuning tips/tricks for these drums. Thanks in advance.

[MattKeaton]

Which drums are you talking about?

[scooterdavis]

Have to tell us which drums you're talking about my friend!

[Josh Conover]

Which drums are you talking about?

Have to tell us which drums you're talking about my friend!

This is the Session Studio Classic thread.

I'm finding the same to be true. I only have a rack and a floor but I did put Mastercast hoops on both. I think this is actually making it harder for me to dial them in.

I play for myself, mostly by myself, for fun nowadays. So I've recently reverted to how I'd play when I was younger with a little muffing and JAW tuning. I do tune the reso side a little higher than I did as a kid but I find the Session Studio Classic series like a lower tuning anyway.

I currently have some NOS Remo white suede emperors on the batters with some BFSD donut XL's to get rid of the resonance... it might not sound great to my neighbors or if I were playing live but it sounds good from the driver's seat and that's all that matters right now.

But to get back to your question, yeah, they aren't the hardest to tune but they are a little particular.

[IMF1]

Thought it was obvious since I'm posting on the SSC thread, but yes, I'm talking about the SSCs. I agree with you Tasty808 that these drums like a lower tuning. I find that they sound choked or thin if you crank them up too much.

[Andy H]

I used to own a single SSC tom (12x14). It was a breeze to tune and sounded every bit as good as Pearl's finest offerings. Great drum.

I will say that when playing with three or more toms I find it more difficult to tune ANY kit. It's some much easier to tune a kit with just two toms. One goes high. One goes low and there's not inbetween spacing to worry about.

[MattKeaton]

This is the Session Studio Classic thread. I'm finding the same to be true. I only have a rack and a floor but I did put Mastercast hoops on both. I think this is actually making it harder for me to dial them in. I play for myself, mostly by myself, for fun nowadays. So I've recently reverted to how I'd play when I was younger with a little muffing and JAW tuning. I do tune the reso side a little higher than I did as a kid but I find the Session Studio Classic series like a lower tuning anyway. I currently have some NOS Remo white suede emperors on the batters with some BFSD donut XL's to get rid of the resonance... it might not sound great to my neighbors or if I were playing live but it sounds good from the driver's seat and that's all that matters right now. But to get back to your question, yeah, they aren't the hardest to tune but they are a little particular.

Valid point. I'm used to people referring to all kinds of Session series kits here, old and new and in between...

[Drumming-4-Life]

I tinkered with a newer SSC kit at Guitar Center. I was able to get the toms and floor toms sounding sweet within a couple minutes. The guy working the counter asked "Hey man, what did you do? That kit sounds so much better now..." With no sarcastic tone (which can be difficult for me sometimes) I said, I tuned them. Then he said, "they sound great!" I think the heads were stock Pinstripes... isn't that what they come with?

[2 basses4life]

Thought it was obvious since I'm posting on the SSC thread, but yes, I'm talking about the SSCs. I agree with you Tasty808 that these drums like a lower tuning. I find that they sound choked or thin if you crank them up too much.

you gotta realize ALL new threads end up the new threads section , so where the thread comes from isnt exactly in bold italics ..lol

[2 basses4life]

i know some will disagree, but ... i sometimes feel tom depths sometimes aren't factored in as much as they should for example, my idea kit would have the drums cut at the same intervals ....like toms depths 4 inches off the head diameter (so, 10x6, 12x8 , 14x10) i believe you have to tune a little differently if say you have a10x7 and a 12x8 ...not in big way ,but just enough , that it might stick out in the mix for some of us ....i'm probably full of crap on this ...but take it how ya like like it ..lol

[StickS707]

I had no problem tuning them when I worked at GC...high or low (I normally had them tuned to and "all-purpose", but sometimes would get a "jazz guy" that wanted to hear them with a higher tuning and then a hard rock/metal dude that wanted to hear them low)..had no problem getting them there.

[scooterdavis]

I owned a set of SSCs awhile back. I had a terrible time with the kick; couldn't get the thump that I wanted out of it.

[IMF1]

I owned a set of SSCs awhile back. I had a terrible time with the kick; couldn't get the thump that I wanted out of it.

Charging the front head helps a LOT. Couldn't get the sound I wanted until I replaced it.

I have the hardest time with the two rack toms. I feel like the 10" almost sounds better tuned to a lower note than the 12"

[Django]

I recently picked up a SSC kit (10" 12" 13" 14" floor 16"floor 22" kick) I think it has to do with the Bering edge. The Bering edges on this kit are relatively sharp, as opposed to the vintage kits which are rounded. My friend Joe Montineri concurs as well, the sharp 45 degree Bering edge inherent to the SSC series gives them superlative "attack", but are less forgiving then a rounded Bering edge. I'll go with the sharp Bering edge and deal with the extra attention because sound is everything... I'm using Clear Vintage Emps on top and Clear Ambi's on the bottom.

[IMF1]

I recently picked up a SSC kit (10" 12" 13" 14" floor 16"floor 22" kick) I think it has to do with the Bering edge. The Bering edges on this kit are relatively sharp, as opposed to the vintage kits which are rounded. My friend Joe Montineri concurs as well, the sharp 45 degree Bering edge inherent to the SSC series gives them superlative "attack", but are less forgiving then a rounded Bering edge. I'll go with the sharp Bering edge and deal with the extra attention because sound is everything... I'm using Clear Vintage Emps on top and Clear Ambi's on the bottom.

I think you're on to something. I've noticed that they're very sensitive to being tuned just so or you can get some wonky overtones