Any secrets to tuning vintage drums?

[count_me_in]

I've finally gotten around to cleaning up and restoring a 3-ply '67 Ludwig Hollywood kit and replaced the batter heads which were in poor condition when I got them. The reso heads are still all original Ludwig Medium heads.

I put coated Emperors on the batters but I'm struggling to dial them in to a point where the drums are actually singing and don't sound lifeless (especially the 12"). I'm going for a classic rock sound that will sound good mic'd up. I know it's common to have the resos tuned higher than the batters, but I feel like they have a such a small range before they start sounding choked.

Any tips on getting them to project some more tone? I'm starting to wonder if I've put the wrong heads on them, or if maybe I'll need to have the bearing edges re-cut (they appear to be in good shape though).

 

[RIDDIM]

The issue may not be the heads. If you haven't already done so, verify the shells are in round. Then verify the bearing edges are flat and consistent. If they aren't, and you are more concerned with how well the drum sounds than if a future buyer may want an unmodified, bad sounding drum rather than an old drum that sounds terrific, you might want to reach out to someone who does great edgework. With the exception of Rogers, most US drum makers back then didn't pay much attention to bearing edges.

 

[trynberg]

I mean if the resonant heads are actually 56 years old, they will be pretty dead. I would replace them, but check the factors RIDDIM mentioned first.

 

[Beefsurgeon]

Check that the hoops are both flat and round enough (you shouldn't have to squeeze the head to fit it in the hoop). Warped hoops can really affect tunability.

 

[AtlantaDrumGuy]

Personally I’d try a one ply head on top. The Emperor is going to be a little more muted sounding. Still those should work, but I find the one ply heads sing a little more.

 

[Seb77]

Do the drums sound better when you hold them by your hand? Then it might be the tom mounts/legs choking the sound.

 

[Skeet6]

I mean if the resonant heads are actually 56 years old, they will be pretty dead. I would replace them, but check the factors RIDDIM mentioned first.

Yup, that's my thought as well. Get some new heads!!
Similar to people trying to set intonation on a guitar with old strings.

Mike B

 

[EyeByTwoMuchGeer]

I never liked Emperors on the smaller-diameter 3-ply Ludwigs. I never liked the Emperors on 12s and its 50/50 on 13s. I think they end up focusing the sound even more than the shell/size already does. You get a lot of attack, and sometimes it really overtakes the body of the drum.

In addition to trying new reso heads as well, I'd suggest getting the heads on there, and then tuning the drum a tiny bit higher than you'd normally like. Then I'd leave it there for a few days. I don't know why, but with older 3-ply Ludwigs, it always seems to help to let the heads sit on there for a bit to get acclimated, sort of like how home-made soup always tastes better the next day. Something happens where all the flavors sort of just meld together.

 

[bon viesta]

single ply heads!! and i recently had a run in with a 12 inch tom tom in a hollywood configuration too and it gave me trouble. the solution was tuning the bottom head up a ton, and tuning the top head to taste depending on how dingy vs thuddy you want it. and of course in relation to each other drum. i think it’s smart to always tune your bottom heads pretty dang tight. my kit is pretty “low tuned” right now and sounds fantastic yet the bottom heads are cranked. it helps project the tone of the drums.

 

[Downbeat]

As long as everything is straight, in my experience coated Ambassadors on top and clear Diplomats on the bottom will make those shells sing.

 

[shuffle]

Change those old heads out,mylar lasts just so long.
Coated Ambas work great

 

[happyshump]

Yup, that's my thought as well. Get some new heads!!
Similar to people trying to set intonation on a guitar with old strings.

Mike B

Not true. I had a mid 60s Rogers kit with the original bottom heads on the toms, and they sounded great. If the heads haven’t been played to death or damaged, they are basically like new.

 

[patrickwitherow]

My first vintage kit (‘68 Ludwig) had coated Emperors that it came with. I swapped them out for coated Ambassadors and took the 13” tom off the bass drum rail and placed it on a snare stand. It really opened up the tom to another level. I also replaced the reso tom heads with coated Ambassadors as well and they sing. Two of my three vintage kits have coated Ambassadors top/bottom on the toms. My WFL kit has coated Ambassador X on top with clear Ambassadors on reso. The kicks use Remo PS3 batter - each is different with one using coated, one has clear and one has ebony. All sound great. Bass reso is smooth white Remo Ambassador tuned a little tight. The WFL reso is a Fiberskyn Ambassador weight. No muffing inside the bass drums (22x14, 22x12 and 24x14).

 

[RIDDIM]

Check that the hoops are both flat and round enough (you shouldn't have to squeeze the head to fit it in the hoop). Warped hoops can really affect tunability.

Great point.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

My '68 13/16/22 has toms with coated Emperors over clear ambs. Big thick vintage sound! Just a single thuddy tone.

My 69 12/15/20 has toms with coated Ambs over clear Ambs. Definitely the classic Ludwig Sound! Little more tone and sustain.

 

[ThomFloor]

I know it's common to have the resos tuned higher than the batters, but I feel like they have a such a small range before they start sounding choked.

I love vintage drums but beware the tuning range of 3 ply drums with lower angle bearing edges will be less than say 6 ply straight shells with a higher angle cut.

 

[1988fxlr]

Try removing the batter heads for the time being and see if you can get the resonant heads singing. Sometimes old heads sound great, sometimes they’ve been tuned up and down enough that they are kind of dead no matter how they are tuned. If the resonants sound good then throw the batters back on and keep trying

 

[Stephen.DeBoard]

I don't tune my reso heads higher.

 

[guyinsocal]

Great suggestions above, hope this works out for you count me in. I would try reso heads 1 whole step lower than batter heads. This may solve the projection issue. Good luck!

 

[Pat A Flafla]

I love vintage drums but beware the tuning range of 3 ply drums with lower angle bearing edges will be less than say 6 ply straight shells with a higher angle cut.

Yes, it's been my personal experience that older drums tend to choose the heads and tuning pitches, not the owner, and they can only notify you via trial and error.