Drum Heads/Skins

kellybelly

Hi,I am just looking for advice from any experienced drummers out there.

I have been playing drums for about 5 years,and currently I am gigging with a fairly busy pub/wedding band.

I use Remo Pinstripe heads.I always keep a few spare skins in the van in case one breaks but I was wondering if anyone could tell me how (if there is anyway of knowing) can I tell if a skin is going to break or tear?

Luckily,up until now it hasn't happened during a gig but I would love to know a way of testing the skin to see if its on its last legs or not?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

Doctor J

If you see pits or dimples from the impact of the sticks it means the skin has stretched at points and is weaker than it was. You should be able to hear the tone change if that's the case, it should be much harder to tune if the skin surface has been stretched. You could maybe push the skin in with your hand before each gig, then tune it up. If it's gonna go it should go then.

I don't know if you can really predict when it will happen, but you can help exptend the life of the skins by making a shallower angle between the skin and the stick. Set your toms up flatter, more horizontally, so that the side of the tip hits the skin, rather than the point of the tip. It should add a huge amount to the life of the skin, since the stick will bounce off as it should, rather than being stabbed into the skin as happens if they're set up with a big angle. Think Gene Krupa instead of Dave Grohl.

kellybelly

Cheers Doctor,

I am definately going to try out those few tips,especially having the tam-tams at a more horizontal angel,although it will probably take a bit of getting used to.

Thanks for the tips!