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I just got a second drum kit to bang around on at home, learn some jazz licks, and maybe take to smaller venues. It's one of the new Gretsch Catalina Club kits. I haven't even tuned it up and played it yet (left my drum key with my Tama kit) It's such a tiny little kit - it's just. . . .just. . . just. . .

cute. . . .

Anyway, I'm looking at this cute little 18" kick drum, and I'm wondering how to tune it!

I'm used to my big 22", which has the Evans EMAD on the batter - small foam ring, tuned pretty tight to get some attack (82 on the DrumDial), no internal muffling, and a front head with a big hole cut in it.

I'm thinking the 18" will probably have lots of attack and no thud, which is okay.
• Do I cut a small hole in the front head, or do I need all the resonance I can get on such a small drum?
• Do I need any muffling inside?
•How tight should I tune these heads?

our drummer recently admitted it's not as big as he thought.

matter of fact, it's pretty tiny.

it's sad to see it in front of him.

he sits down and plays with it, and it's so small, we all laugh.

he beats it all night, and it's still tiny.






honestly, it depends on how you play the set, i think.
it also depends on the room you are playing....

ask sevesd93 on here what he is doing with his new Barbie Dream Kit.

he can steer you the right way.....sounds like you guys have about the same size.

(snicker)

i'd get a front head with no sound hole, no foam or muffling, and get a wooden beater. maybe tune up the front head a little higher than the beater head. that should fix ya.

Okay, I've asked around, and the consensus is no hole in the front head.

I tuned both heads to about 75 on the DrumDial, no muffling, wood beaters, and this little kick drum really thumps!

I tuned the other drums to about 70, and they sound really good. They have that vintage, coated-head ringiness and overtone.

I've gotta hand it to Gretsch Drums. This is supposed to be an entry-level kit, and it still sounds awesome!

I use an Taye Go Kit with an 18" x 6" kick drum. I have a hole in the front and the inside filled with a towel. It isn't tuned very tight with Remo Pinstripe head and mine sounds just fine. I always mike the kick though, so no matter what, I get a good thump out of it.

sevesd93 wrote:so matter what, I get a good thump out of it.

Yeah, I can attest to that. Heh. He loves to get a good thumping.