Drums and Percussion are characterised by complicated tuning mechanisms, pedals, clutches, clamps, stands, fittings, brackets…and the constant task of maintaining it all, keeping it clean (to prevent rust) and lubricated to prevent wear and squeaks.
The most ‘misunderstood’ items from the above list include:
- The HiHat Clutch
- The Bass Drum Pedal Spring tension, beater throw/angle, spur height, and beater to head strike angle.
- The driveshaft and universal joints in double pedals include phase and spring tension equalisation.
- The High hat spring tension, hihat cymbal gap, and height above snare drum.
- Cymbal mounting, strike angle, cup washers, felt washers, nylon bushes between cymbal and centreshaft (and to use ‘wingnuts’ or not.
- Snare wire positioning, width, tension, and the snare strainer mechanism.
- Tomtom mounting angle and ergonomics.
The list goes on….
In summary, drummers and percussionist have to be mechanically adept and able to keep their complicated and large instruments, tuned, adjusted, lublicated,and dirt/dust free. This work needs to be systematically scheduled daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. Such an approach will keep the kit consistent, predictable and reliable for decades….
Consulting someone with experience and skills in maintaining, building, modifying kits and getting in depth tuition (from them) on the setup and the engineering principles that make your kit work is as essential as tuned heads and well practised playing techniques.
At your next lesson ask about pedal alignment and phase, or about the hihat clutch assembly, or perhaps ask about the relationship between foot speed and precision and the strike angle of the beater on the head (just before the spring goes ‘overcentre’!).
Well worth the effort and the time…a good groove is about finesse and a well setup kit facilitates such subtlety , touch and texture (day in day out).
Get some spanners, screwdrivers, allen keys, drum keys, some gear oil (not WD40) and a gauge or two (inclinometer, pressure, bevel etc) and get to work!