[Drum Animal]

I just brought this question up in my Tuning Help and Tips Thread, but thought I'd make a thread out of it. Is the hole in the front bass head just for adding a mic, or does it help with the sound as well? And if so, how do you determine where to put it and how big it should be? My bass drum is what I'm having a hard time getting to feel and sound the way I'd like right now. I did the wrinkle thing to get the lowest possible tone and then ended up putting a pillow inside, but it just doesn't have a solid feel to it. Kinda rubbery so to speak. Especially when I'm on the double pedal. Thats when I really start to feel the rubbery rebound. I want the beaters to hit the head, go thud and stop. Not feel rubbery! lol I really don't want to put a hole in my nice new head and ruin it if it isn't going to be an advantage in sound.

[Der Trommler]

The port in the bass drum reso does a couple of things for you. First it allows you to put a microphone inside for gigging and studio work and also allows the air inside the bass drum to escape when it is struck. Allowing the air to escape removes the bounce (spongie feeling you describe) which in turn removes the overtone and improves your low end thump.

Here is a post that covers this in detail:
Bass drum resonance

[Drum Animal]

Awesome! Thanks Der. For some reason thats the answer I thought I was going to get. Anybody ever think about heating up a glass, can, or metal ring of some sort so you can just kinda melt and push it through, or has that been proven to be a bad way to go? Seems like it would make for even edges all the way around. Or maybe a hole saw and a power drill!? LOL Maybe thats TOO Barbaric!?

[Der Trommler]

Someone here has actually used the heated tin can method and said it work well for him, can't recall exactly who but, thought it was Shazaam.

regardless of the method you use it is very important to make sure the port doesn't have a ragged edge as this will change the sound for the worst and will make it easier for the head to develop a tear from the port hole.

[Jim Stanek]

Animal,
I use a Hole cutter made by the HOLZ company, it works like a compass. They also have plastic rings that snap in to the hole after you cut it so it doesn't rip.

Jim

[Buddy]

Ya heres what I would do man. u dont have to buy one but try to use someone elses. 1. Use a hole cutter to cut the hole. 2. Buy a hole protecter (This wil keep the head from ripping in half if their are any edeges in it.) 3. ROCK OUT!!

[Drum Animal]

Ok, can't wait to get home and put one in. Only two more questions. How far off the edge, and should the head be on or off. I'm thinkin if ya do it when its off it might rip when tension is applied. or does it stand more of a chance ripping when putting it in while under tension?

[Der Trommler]

I cut my 5" port 5 1/2" in from the edge. This will give you 3" from the edge of the port to the edge of the head. It is going to be alot easier if you remove the head to cut it.

[Buddy]

Ya I went for a 5" hole also. its probabaly better to take the head off of the drum first. make sure their arent any ridges in it or u could tear your head when you hit it. good luck man!

[Drum Animal]

Thanks a Lot for the info guys. Can't wait to get one in there. Just tryin to figure out the best way to do it without ruining my head. Here's another question. I got my brand new Tama set Friday and put Pin Stripes on it right out of the box. Didn't use any of the manufacture's heads that came with it other than the resonant heads. The batter head that came with it for the bass drum is a self muffling head with what looks like a second and seperate layer of head about 3" in from the edge all the way around. Do you think that head would give me a better sound than the Pinstripe due to the self muffling strip around the edge?

	Tama Drums Shop for Tama Drums at Musician's Friend