Are Single Point Lugs a Bad Idea?

[D. B. Cooper]

And I'm speaking about single-point single-ended, like this:

With just one mounting screw and attaching point to the shell, are these things likely to damage the shell? Only at high tunings? What is your opinion? Anybody have any experience with these?

It seems like if you had a decent gasket and big washer, you could be fine. But I would imagine that they would dent the shell, at the very least.

I've always assumed that they were not the best idea, but I'm revisiting the concept for a project I'm working on and wondering if they could be the ticket.

Thanks!

 

[Redbeard77]

Pearl offers a single point lug (STL100) on their Masterworks drums, so unless they come with a disclaimer warning against high tuning, I would assume any issues are theoretical.

 

[Sequimite]

I would never use two single ends on a snare drum but, as a low tuner, I wouldn't hesitate on toms and bass drums.

Single point double end is my preference on snares, especially since I don't tune the heads that far apart.

 

[Beefsurgeon]

From firsthand experience:

It's generally a bad idea on snares. I haven't seen them bend the shell, but they dig into the finish at the top edge and I've actually seen the inserts (the vertical tube that the tension rod screws into) break off due to tension.

They work fine on toms and bass drums.

 

[Fat Drummer]

I would never use two single ends on a snare drum but, as a low tuner, I wouldn't hesitate on toms and bass drums.

Single point double end is my preference on snares, especially since I don't tune the heads that far apart.

I'm with Sequimite, would use on a tom or base in a second. While I don't care for the aesthetics of a single lug ( just not my cup of tea), I have no concern on lower tunings at all. I do not trust MOST single, single post on snares however, even the beloved N&C will dent the shell with its small footprint. The Pearl is larger and makes more sense but still not for me.

 

[tnsquint]

I agree with the above. Spaun drums uses a very attractive, custom single point lug on toms and bass drums. Their snare drums all have double ended single lugs or similar configuration. I’ve got two kits here from 2007 that have held up really well.

 

[trynberg]

A gazillion Yamaha sets show your fears are (mostly) unfounded...including on snare drums. But then I'm not the kind of person who needs to use a drill to tension their snare drum.

 

[Rich K.]

I agree with the above. Spaun drums uses a very attractive, custom single point lug on toms and bass drums. Their snare drums all have double ended single lugs or similar configuration. I’ve got two kits here from 2007 that have held up really well.

My Spauns have held up beautifully. Their lugs are brass. The only really minor drawback is if you remove them to clean the shells, you have to be careful to line them straight up.
The Mapex one with one screw and one guide are a good idea.

 

[tnsquint]

My Spauns have held up beautifully. Their lugs are brass. The only really minor drawback is if you remove them to clean the shells, you have to be careful to line them straight up.
The Mapex one with one screw and one guide are a good idea.

Interesting. I agree, the solid brass lugs are quite nice and aesthetically pleasing. Apparently Evans likes them enough to use for all their drum head beauty shots. I say “interesting” as mine do have a tiny alignment pin adjacent To the mounting screw to make installing accurate.

 

[Deafmoon]

Never use on a snare? Why Noble & Cooley does this all the time on their SS Snare drums. It has nothing to do with the drum you use it on and everything to do with the shells thickness.

 

[Rich K.]

Interesting. I agree, the solid brass lugs are quite nice and aesthetically pleasing. Apparently Evans likes them enough to use for all their drum head beauty shots. I say “interesting” as mine do have a tiny alignment pin adjacent To the mounting screw to make installing accurate.

Wow...didn't know they changed that. I got mine a long time ago, possibly in the '90s.

 

[hsosdrum]

Never use on a snare? Why Noble & Cooley does this all the time on their SS Snare drums. It has nothing to do with the drum you use it on and everything to do with the shells thickness.

It's all about handling the forces created by drumhead tension.

A single "single-point" lug with two threaded inserts (one for batter and one for snare head, as in the Noble & Cooley solid-shell snare drums) places minimal stress on the shell because the forces of the batter and snare heads cancel each other out by pulling that single lug equally (or nearly equally) in opposite directions. This is why Ludwig began using tube lugs on their metal snare drums in the 1910s even though the "Tom Mills" snare that inspired Wm F. Ludwig Sr. to build metal-shell snare drums had separate single-post lugs for batter and snare heads. Ludwig realized that by connecting those posts with a tube the forces of the two heads would pull against each other, minimizing stress on the shell.

That's why high-tension parade drums use long lugs that run almost the entire length of the shell: they distribute the stress of extreme head tension along the length of the shell rather than concentrating it only at the points where smaller lugs would attach to the shell.

To get back to the OP's original question, IMHO, the more tension that will be applied to the drumheads the less of a good idea it is to use a single-point lug for the batter head and a separate single-point lug for the reso head. Rock bass drums and toms — shouldn't be a problem. Bop bass drums and toms — could be a problem. Snare drums — more likely to be a problem.

 

[NathanielMela]

single point lugs are (generally) fine on plied shells, not solid shells. I don’t much like them long term on segmented or stave shells either.

Have you ever tensioned up side A of a N&C SS while side B has its head off, and then gone to put a head on side B and not been able to thread side B tension rods easily & by hand, while side A threaded by hand no problem?

Or ever noticed the distortions / chipping in the finish of a N&C where the lug’s post meet the shell?

Or on Reverb there is a DW 25th anniversary snare with a Craviotto shell. In the pictures you can clearly see the lugs splay in such a fashion you can tell the lugs are distorting the shell?

In N&C’s case it’s fine once you understand to work with it / compensate for it because as someone else pointed out, once you tension it up A & B largely cancel each other out.

There’s also the question of how the single point lug is engineered. Just look at that Yamaha 493 people love so much. While it’s not actually a single point lug, it’s the same principle- and those lugs distort like crazy over time.

 

[BennyK]

As long as the base of the plynth is offset and wider than the top, I don't have a problem on lower tension shells . Snares ? Over time bad things can happen .

 

[D. B. Cooper]

Thanks for the replies everybody! They helped!

 

[audiochurch]

Wow. I never thought of this. I use a Black Magic Stainless steel snare on all gigs and it has tube lugs. Never really checked for damage/bending/etc. Have used it on most gigs since 2010, but will definitely be keeping an eye on things.

 

[mydadisjr]

These are single screw lugs...
got 'em cranked for concert snare. No problems whatsoever...
(although I would worry about small footprint mini-lugs)

 

[jlzisk]

Noble and Cooley actually has a sort of warning in their new drum info packet, with instructions to NOT tension one head first, but instead to loosely thread both heads and then ease into your tuning.

 

[DanRH]

Personally, I'm not a fan of the look, but I'm sure they're OK functionally.

 

[iruderman]

I've been playing a Tempus Fiberglass kit with Adonis single point lugs for about 18 years now. Never been an issue. (knocking on wood).
I would assume the potential to be an issue would be much higher on FG than wood.