Assembling your drumset

(Courtesy of CB Drums)

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Download pdf part2

Cymbals "To clean or not to clean"

If you like a dark Jazz sound, you should let your cymbals get dirty, and age. I know some drummers who will even leave them outside to age them quicker. If you like that new bright crisp sound clean them as needed. There are good polishes on the market that will keep your cymbals looking new and even leave the stamped black label.

Drum Tuning

Tune the lugs even so the pitch remains consistent by each lug. Tune the bottom heads (resonator heads) to a higher pitch than the top heads (batter heads). If you want a Jazz sound tune them high so they ring. If you want a rock sound you may want to use batter heads that are two ply and something to prevent ring like Zero Rings, Drum Muffle, Dead Ringers and maybe Remo Power Stroke Heads.

Guitar Strings

You should change your string at least once a month even if you don't play because the strings oxidize and loose their tone. If you play everyday you will probably change them once a week to once every two weeks. A good indication is when they start changing color. One of the most common questions asked a music retailer is "Why are some strings more expensive than others?" A simple answer is that the more expensive strings usually apply further steps to make them last longer. Like freezing them, wrapping them with Gortex, or even gold plating them. Phosphor Bronze tend to last longer than just bronze (acoustic strings) and nickel plated tend to out live just steel (electric). As far as what brands are better, . . that's all preference, you just have to try a few to find what works for you.