drum dial

drummachick · Not So Newbie Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

ok I have heard from one end to the other about the greatness of a drumd dial. I have never used one, but I am thinking about buying one to have if I need it. Just let me know what you think about it or is it just apiece of useless drum stuff???

scrubs · Little Hamster Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 77

If you're relatively new to drums, tuning can be a daunting task. While the drum dial doesn't tune the drums for you, it gives you ballpark figures and helps you get equal tension on the head (i.e. - so the head is in tune with itself). You just have to play around with it and find settings that work for your heads on your kit. Then, you write down the drum dial settings and have them handy the next time you change heads - makes life simpler.

TRIB · Lion King Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: AZ

Although I'm sure it could make changing heads slightly easier, the only application I see for it would be if you, for example, broke a snare head during a show and needed to replace it quickly in a loud environment. Being that it measures the head's pressure, so you don't really need to hear anything, you could effectively change a head at a crowded venue.

SketcHyRollin564 · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:35 pm Post subject:

So i guess drumdials are good learning tools to help you develop a better ear for tuning? I could have sworn there was another thread on this.

But anyways, even with my experience, im horrible at tuning, and i think after a new snare head (mine broke, so i had to use the clear PDP 14" tom head for now), and a new crash, because the crack in mine is HUGE now, i think i might be getting a drum dial.

What sucks is that being 14, and having to wait two more years to get a job makes it really hard to earn the money for this kinda stuff
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TRIB · Lion King Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: AZ

SketcHyRollin564 · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject:

well, after breaking it, i had to think on the bright side.

The first one, it would give me an excuse for my dad to take me to guitar center. And the second:, since both the stock snare, and stock tom heads on the PDP were just cheaper versions of the ambassador, i now know the sound difference between coated and clear toms. The snare doesnt sound too bad, but now i know what the coating is for

it looks pretty cool too:

theres more in the pictures thread
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TRIB · Lion King Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Posts: 1242 Location: AZ

Hey yeah that does look kinda cool, haha. Razz

At least your kit came with decent stock heads. That is, they were actually Remo made, not the cheapest of the el cheapo.

Hmm... In any case, I'll probably just stick to my Aquarian Satin Finish, ha.

plixplixpdp · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:

Heh, looks sweet. I'm not thinking about changing my heads though...
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w00th00t

Dustin07 · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

the drum dial has a lot of VERY good reviews pretty much every where I have seen it. A drummer friend of mine used it. He said it worked, pretty much as mentioned above, but then you still have to 'fine tune' it (no pun intended) to find your desired pitch.

For $70, there are other things I'd spend the money on. More heads, sticks, a new rack for my toms/cymbal.

metal head · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject:

i got my drumdial for $60 at musiciansfriend.com.
having a drumdial is essential for every1, beginners to pros, except for those who have that "perfect ear".
if i didnt have 1, i think i would still be trying to make my set sound better and get angry about it and give up.
i have stock heads on my set cuz i've only had it a week. they are crappy heads, but they sounded as best as they could. the only thing wrong with the sound was the sustain being too long.
for something so small, it's heavy.

Dustin07 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 7:42 am Post subject:

LOL @ the sustain.

to get my floor tom where I wanted it, the bottom head is soooo lose that the screws have come off before....

Dustin07 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

HUH. maybe I should remove the bottom head altogether and see how that sounds. Confused

metal head · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 9:55 am Post subject:

hey now, no need to make fun. i'm new to drums. i got my first set may 3rd, so i dont really know much about tuning. i simply just know how to get it tuned to where it sounds decent because i have the drumdial, but it's not quite to where i want it.

sfauts · Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 11:52 am Post subject:

Metal head

Have you tried just above or below the scales?

Also try adjusting the resonant heads as well.

Even with budget kits, you can get sounds similar to how you'd like.

Dustin07 · Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject:

I actually did end up taking the resonate head off my floor tom this weekend LOL. Iike the way it sounds more now.