Another Drum tuning "technique"?

I've recently tried something a bit different, where I push on the head and look for wrinkles method of tuning my drums...

Outline:

Put the head on, pre-tension rods with fingers until they are reasonably evenly tensioned (opposite lugs) - go around and turn the key .5-1.5 turns (opposite lug) depending on the head, how well it's sitting on the bearing edge, and so on.

Then, take your hand, and with about 10lbs of pressure (I do it open handed with the base of my palm about 2" away from the edge), press in both a downward and towards center (think 45 angle), and look for wrinkles. If you see one, tighten the lug or pair of lugs next to it until it goes away. Recheck as needed.

This seems to give the "big band tuning" (maybe Bohnam?) kind of sound, but, talk about sustain...holy crap. Bright, open, lingering sustain. I'm not sure how well I'll adjust to the higher tuning, since I have an 18x16F that I expect to thunder - instead it sounds about like what my 16F sounded like before if not a touch higher in pitch, except with more sustain - a lot more sustain.

I'm also now reconsidering my decision to use Remo Clear Emperor/Ambassador - they're too bright and too much overtone! I stuck a moongel on there, but it kills the sustain and volume a bit...lol

I've also been playing my snare without any ring control - that's some ear-assault, when you're not used to it...lol

Anyhow, I previously tuned until I started getting a decent tone out of the head. This is a good step above that, but the results so far are more even than what I was achieving. Seems there are times when a lug sounds higher than the one next to it, but, in reality, it needs to be tightend!

interesting man. ive used a version of this technique when tuning my kick, and i love the results i get.

This is the Technique Outlined in the Yamaha Drum DVD that comes w/ new sets... I've used it... it works... But I prefer the DD, then fine-tune by ear.

It's more consistant....

Bob Gatzen outlines this technique in his videos you can find on the Evans website, or on you tube. I'm pretty sure they're the same ones Jarrick has linked in his signature. Seems pretty cool, I'm going to try it.

I do the exact same thing. Get out all wrinkles. Then I tune up a little to seat the head - but not the overnight thing that I've seen recommended. I just then put more pressure on the head to break it in a little. Then I even out the tunings at each lug by ear. After that I bring each lug down a bit below the tone I'm looking for and then tune up to my desired pitch.

I do that to get a really fat sound with a lot of punch. You almost have to tune it up a bit higher just to get the low end to audible pitch.

I've been using the wrinkle technique for a couple of years now and it has served me well but usually only as a rough starting point as it is a flawed system. The main problem with it is that it doesn't take any of the real world variables involved in tuning drums into account such as crap hoops/rims. This is particularly relevant for your kick as the hoop should have been replaced instead of

I tune like that. I guess I just use my hand like a drum dial to *feel* the tension. From there, I use my ear. And I hear ya about the drum dial circle-jerk. I hate that.