Old Steve

Originally posted by rhino bucket i set mine to 7 for both sides of toms, 7 1/2 for both sides of kick drum and snare. fuck the naysayers, the thing works for me. So I guess I need to go fuck myself then. Hell, if I could do that, I'd have saved myself a ton of money over the course of a lifetime, not to mention I'd probably still be single and wouldn't get out of the house much. Easier said than done, I guess.

Originally posted by Lysakoski Dude I'm being an asshole, sorry. Check your PM box - I've left you a surprise. Lysakowski! Have you been pooping in PM boxes again??? Shame on you!

Originally posted by gcdrummer The problem w/ a torque key is that just becasue a lug is torqed to a specific number, that doesn't mean the head is going to be the same tension all the way around. If the lug isn't as lubed as the others, it will give you a different reading. Exactly. In addition, minor variations between lugs (one thread is lubed better than the another, one rod is ever-so-slightly bent, etc.) will also throw the "number" thing out. Finally, if memory serves (my Evans torque key is also sitting in the bottom of some "unused" pile at the moment) the torque setting can be rotated several times before it's set. So "6" or "4" or whatever doesn't account for how many times the torque dial has been fully rotated. If you don't want to take the time to learn to tune, or read the drum tuning bible, do the following to get a 'close' tuning: 1.) put the head on the drum. 2.) use your fingers to tighten the lugs until they're just touching the hoop. 3.) Tighten each lug 2 or 3 turns...be sure to never go directly from one lug to the next...always skip lugs or work back and forth across the drum so that the head tunes evenly. 4.) Now, tap the head at each lug about 1"- 2" in from the rim. Find the lug with the highest note and tune the rest to that pitch. Now the head's in tune. 5.) If you want the head higher, tune all the lugs (doing the alternating lug thing) up a half turn at a time until you get what you want. If you want the head lower, tune all the lugs down 3/4 of a turn and back up 1/4 of a turn (net -1/2 turn...always tune "up") until you get the pitch you want. 6.) follow the same procedure on the bottom heads and try to match the tension of the top heads. Seriously, this "basic" tuning isn't that hard to do and will give you better results than a torque key ever could.

I still like the Munsters Theme.....

Originally posted by OneArmedScissors Steve, don't worry. You're normal. Thanks, I'm very relieved. My drool bucket and and the fact that I'm required to wear a helmet everywhere you go had me wondering.

Just to show you how braindead I am, I saw this post and immediately thought the same thing I thought a year ago...."How about the Theme to the Munsters...great tune!" If I were retarded, would you guys tell me, or would you just be nice to me and let me think I'm normal? Just wondering.

Originally posted by Ernie ...as long as all parties are intelligent and mature. Good luck to you. Well, I think I can vouch for Rumble based on his posts here, but we're talking about guys who play STRINGED INSTRUMENTS here, so you never know... 3x a week is a pretty big commitment. I assume that it ain't for just 15 minutes each time, either. Then again, big goals take more work than little ones. The only thing I'll add is that commitments do change, like it or not. Maybe something has changed in his life (work, health issues, wife/girlfriend, kids...etc.) and now he can't make the same commitment as he could before. Maybe he was just being overly optimistic when he committed to the 3x per week schedule. The point is, you need to have the conversation again to make sure everybody is in the same boat. If the guy feels pressured to agree to 3x per week, but deep down knows that he can only do 1x per week, wouldn't you rather have the issue out in the open and deal with it (one way or another) than to have him string you along with false promises? The last band I was in turned into a nightmare for me. It got to the point where I hated reheasing with them (one guy in particular) and was embarrassed to be seen with them on stage. It took me a looooong time to finally realize that I needed to quit..even though I didn't have another gig lined up. I used to think that a bad gig was better than no gig. I learned that some gigs are so bad that NO gig is an improvement. Don't let fear of not progressing keep you stuck in a bad gig. It's like ripping a band aid off...do it quick and you'll feel better afterward. I'm not necessarily saying to dump the guy or quit, but don't be afraid of doing one or the other if it's apparent that you're not going to be compatible. The longer you stay in a bad gig, the longer it will take for you to find a good one.

Sadly, this is the same story all over again. The problem is that it can be extremely difficult to get people to prioritize their lives the same way. The more people you add to the mix, the harder it becomes, so the fact that you're a trio is actually a good thing. Even in a trio, however, there will usually be one person who wants to play more than the other two, one person who wants to play the least, and one person in the middle. If the gap between the 'most' person and the 'least' person gets too wide, then you're in for problems. There really is no 'right' or 'wrong' either...because people are entitled to living their own lives the way they want to. There are, however, some basic things that everyone needs to agree on. Each member should only commit to what they can actually fulfill, and then once they commit to something they're obligated to come through. If I can only rehearse once a week, then I shouldn't commit to more than that...if I can get an extra rehearsal scheduled in once in a while that way, it's a bonus. By the same token, if I say I can make once a week, then I damn well better show up on time and ready to go. Sounds like the three of you need to have a meeting (no instuments, no noodling). Each member needs to be able to freely express what their goal is musically (world tours or garage band?) and what they're willing to COMMIT to time wise (no, "well maybe i can squeeze in..." stuff). If the level of commitment doesn't match the goals, you need to discuss that and adjust either the goal or the commitment level. Also, you need to try to adjust your goals and commitment levels so that they're aligned. Overall, it'll probably come down to the lowest common denominator...you'll have to adjust downward to the person with the most time constraints. If that adjusment is too painful, then you need to make personel changes.

Originally posted by mikeellis 1000. So, who played drums on 'Monster Mash'? LOL! Hal Blaine would be the high percentage guess...he played on everything. Hell, I used to find him playing my drums in my basement!!! Had to throw him out of the house...he was everywhere!!!!! Another great rockin Halloween tune is the theme from the Munsters TV show. Kind of that 1960's beach music sound, awesome guitar lead, big horn blasts....that song rocks hard.