[geoffws6]

My Rockstars generally sound good but I have one drum giving me fits. My 12w x 11d tom will not ring at all. It sounds like a dull thud with no ring. I bought new heads ( Pinstripe up top and Ambassador on bottom ). I tuned with a Drum Dial to about 85lbs on the batter and about 75 on the resonant. I gently sanded my bearing edges and ran some candlewax along the edge for a better seal. Still sounds dead. I have do have one issue. Years ago I removed all the lugs and polished the finish on my shells. Shortly after I lost a couple lugs. I couple years later I managed to get replacements on ebay. I put them on with one exception. One lug is only held by one screw on the bottom side because I was short a screw. I was impatient to get another because I wanted to start playing the tom again.

By comparison, my 12 x 13 tom rings freely and sounds great with all the same heads and tuning.

Anyone have a idea of what I may do?

[Pyrochazm]

I had a simular problem with my old rockstars, but it was the 13 that was dead sounding, and not the 12. A lot of times two different size drums will respond drasticly apart to the same tuning. Try cranking it a little tighter on both the top and bottom heads.

[givemethebeat]

The one screw issue is a problem as is the pinstripes. I bet if you put a second screw in there and put coated ambassador on the top you will have more ring than a wealthy woman...

Adjust accordingly....

[skinslapper]

I personally think the pinstripes and rockstars are both a recipe for dull thuds. Try not to rely on the tension of the lug to gauge tuning. Go for the tapping of the head and getting all the points to have the same tension by ear. This helps me to make them sound how I want.

I also tend to tune the reso head to a slightly higher pitch than the batter. I rejected doing this for a long time, but now that I've got the hang of it, my drums sound ten times better.

[mouse]

After sanding the bearing edge did you check it,s trueness? A flat surface such as marble or granite (glass is not even enough) and shine a light from the inside, check the outside for light coming through.
Tend to agree with Skinslapper re head choice and tuning tips, the torque key will only get you in ballpark.
Replace the screw, not a difficult or time consuming task.
If it is still dull it could be a dud drum head, they are not all perfect. Substitution is only way to find out.

[givemethebeat]

Originally Posted by mouse

If it is still dull it could be a dud drum head

.

Could also be the actual hoop out of round. Not seating correctly. Are you "bedding" the head.

Do you lubricate the tension rod with something equivalent to vaseline?.

[mouse]

Valid point, if it's a flanged hoop (likely) you can check same way as bearing edge. Place on a true surface and see if it is distorted. If so, you can try bend back into shape, get a professional drum repairer to do it, or buy a new hoop. If you get a new one check it too.
I use white petroleum jelly for tension screw lube, it is basically un- perfumed vaseline.

[geoffws6]

Thanks for all the hints, guys. I got a replacement lug with screws and put it on. I also checked the others for tightness. I re-tuned the top and botton heads to roughly 80 lbs each. Still sounds dead. Also, I mentioned before that the other two toms both use pistripes too and both ring freely no matter how they are tuned. The only answer I can come up with is maybe to put another head on. I think Mouse might be right on with his answer. Maybe the one head is defective. I didn't sand the shell much so it shouldnt be warped but I dont have a true surface nearby to check it with. Im going to try a old head and see what happens.

Geoff

[mind_drummer]

Have you tried to hit the tom while it was not held by the tom mounting system, the best example is to try it on you snare stand. Maybe the TMS is choking the shell resonance. I second the fact that pinstripe remove all life in a drum some better get ambs or emps. Also have you tried to loose the batter head, maybe the is defect and choke the drum. Dunno !