Bringing back the Concert toms

[RushDrums24]

Love the flashback, especially the old Premier lugs. It looks well maintained too.

Why do I always see dotted heads on concert toms?

Because they sound great!

It was a toss up between those and pinstripes, for punch and tone, but I really fell for the sound of the black dot heads. Really bright and sharp, with lots of projection, and then the rumble from the 15" and 16" which just blends beautifully. Its very Simon Phillips for sure!

You don't ALWAYS see that...

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But seriously, I almost always used CS heads on my 6" concert toms; it was my only chance at being able to strike them in the middle. For me, the dot catches my eye, and gives me a target to aim for. Otherwise, when I have a drum that small, and off to my side, it's difficult to hit it in the center, especially when you turn quickly to the side to play them. 8" and larger, I don't seem to have that trouble. I like the plain clear heads for concert toms otherwise, they allow the small concert toms to sing more.

I'm with you there Matt, the dot is definitely a target to aim for on the teeny little 6"! As I know you'll appreciate, I wanted matching batters top to bottom on the toms (though I did debate doing the Phil Collins trick of clear ambassadors on all the toms except the 8" (and in my case 6") )which has a diplomat for more resonance). Though i'm satisfied with the dots, they have enough resonance without it needing any muffling to just tame it a bit.

[Drumming-4-Life]

Because they sound great!

It was a toss up between those and pinstripes, for punch and tone, but I really fell for the sound of the black dot heads. Really bright and sharp, with lots of projection, and then the rumble from the 15" and 16" which just blends beautifully. Its very Simon Phillips for sure!



I'm with you there Matt, the dot is definitely a target to aim for on the teeny little 6"! As I know you'll appreciate, I wanted matching batters top to bottom on the toms (though I did debate doing the Phil Collins trick of clear ambassadors on all the toms except the 8" (and in my case 6") )which has a diplomat for more resonance). Though i'm satisfied with the dots, they have enough resonance without it needing any muffling to just tame it a bit.

For about a year, I tried thinner, Diplomat-style clear heads on my concerts. They were Evans Genera Resonants, made to be bottom side heads, but they work fine as batters. I didn't find them to be more resonant, but thinner sounding. As soon as I changed to the Aquarian Classic Clear (thanks Mike Foreman), the concerts toms had a new life and tone that was very noticeable. Also, Diplomat weight heads seems to dent up when I play them. Now that I've changed from 7A oak to 5A oak, it's even more pronounced. Side note: I love the Pro-Mark 5A oak Rebound sticks. I tried about 4 or 5 other models before I switched, and that model really feels good to me.

[RushDrums24]

For about a year, I tried thinner, Diplomat-style clear heads on my concerts. They were Evans Genera Resonants, made to be bottom side heads, but they work fine as batters. I didn't find them to be more resonant, but thinner sounding. As soon as I changed to the Aquarian Classic Clear (thanks Mike Foreman), the concerts toms had a new life and tone that was very noticeable. Also, Diplomat weight heads seems to dent up when I play them. Now that I've changed from 7A oak to 5A oak, it's even more pronounced. Side note: I love the Pro-Mark 5A oak Rebound sticks. I tried about 4 or 5 other models before I switched, and that model really feels good to me.

Its definitely worth experimenting with. I've just put a few sound examples, just from my iPhone, on my Instagram. @charliesmithdrummer

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDd6cBNAv5b/

https://www.facebook.com/charliesmit...8612185363660/

[PDeGroff]

Joe Franco with the Good Rats (for all of you from upstate and LI NY) played a Premier concert tom kit through the 70s to early 80s.

His drum solo from the Live at Last album is one of my all time favs. Here's a bit of that solo from 1980 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni3miAyrn2o