drum sound question

11
Great guys thanks for the feedback.

I'm not sure if the option of turning down would be available..

Rolling with a P.A. is absolutely an option but it kinda sucks having to go out and purchase a sound setup just to play drums.

Any suggestions about drum heads?

Someone also has recommended a Vistalite kit saying that they are naturally "louder" than regular sets.

drum sound question

12
You do have pretty big drums, are they tuned quite low? You say the band play deep, if you mean the band tune down maybe you could try experimenting with your drum tuning, taking them up slightly so they cut through better. But like Steve V said, drums will only get so loud.

Having said that, Lightning Bolt play really loud and I've never had any trouble hearing the kit. Don't ever think I've seen a mic on it either, correct me if I'm wrong. Think his kit is smaller and tuned fairly high though.

drum sound question

13
That was me recomending the vistalites. That helped with Bear Claw but it was the fact that I was trying to cut through two bass guitars and the extra attack helped. The volume was part of the equation but the attack was the real help. I totally know where you are coming from. After 5 years I can sometimes get the other two guys to turn down just a bit if we are in a vocal only PA situation. It does help a bit but its a tricky thing.

The one thing I've realized over the years being in a pretty loud band is that if it is past a certain critical point, I'll start overplaying and hence fucking up. Same with vocals, we'll blow our voices for sure if its past this critical point. Maybe try to find this and get everyone to compromise a bit.

drum sound question

17
Yeah the guy from Lightning Bolt has his kit tuned way higher than mine, Ive seen them a bunch and they have never been running with any sound system. Tuning up is worth a shot, but were going for that low detuned sound so Im not sure it would match.

As far as the Vistalites.. how do they ring out? Do they have tons of sustain or is it more of an upfront attack without much "low end".

Im going to go out and get a couple sledgehammers later tonight.

drum sound question

18
you are a drummer and you get drowned out of the mix? please join my band. you are going about this the wrong way. the bass player and guitarist need to throw away their plectrums and start using some feathers. thats right good ol' feathers. you guys have been to lightning bolt gigs and never noticed the feathers in use?

drum sound question

19
I think your bandmates should turn down unless you get a decent P.A the drum will not sound so good... cheap p.a don't respond so well to transient and have muddy bass in general.... not sure you want to spend 10k on that... they should add a gain control between their head and the cabinet if they crank it up for "sound purpose". If they are wearing earplugs maybe they shouldn't !!!.... and if they never did maybe they should have !!
Sebastien Fournier

drum sound question

20
definitely tell your bandmates to turn down.
come on guys, bands who turn it all the way up is passe.

Im kidding. but seriously, as a bass player, I never needed to turn my amp all the way up in order to get a good or "certain" sound. The only reason I ever turned up was to fight the guitar player.
But then I realized that I should tell the guitar player to turn it down, because this fight of volume is endless and when playing without PA, it's hard for the drummer to keep up with the volume.
If the guitar player is turning all the way up, then he should be getting some device which is put between the amp and speaker, so he could still get the distortion he wants but in a lower volume.

another way is that the other two players will place their amps as far as possible from the drums, and/or that they will stand next to their amps, so they can't really hear you and then they will naturally be forced to turn it down or play softer.

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