Hi! I'm new to this form :) Was looking for some xpert advice! This is my first branded drum kit (I've been playing on a POS 5-piece TKO drum set for 15 years :( anyway..).

I got my Silverstars yesterday and set them all up. They sound really good! I tuned them up as best I could by ear this morning and they sound much better. I'll have to get the Tension Watch for sure though. But the bass drum is WAY WAY boomy. I know it's the nature of the best, but is there a way to dampen the bass drum without it sounding different? On my old set, I had stuck big piece of foam in the drum and it made it sound pretty good (for a POS drum that is). I don't want to change the tone on this kit, it sounds great!!

Thanks for your time! I love these drums!!

I agree with sandman. Let that sucker breathe! I play a birch Starclassic kit and use the Evans GMAD (single ply 12mil) My kick has some boom to it...but not over the top.

Thanks for the replies! I'll definately check out those heads.

Looks like the EMAD is what I'm looking for! I want good punch with very fast delay, looks like that will work.

Thanks again!

Cool, I was on Evans website and they have sound clip examples of what each head sounds like! Exactly what I was looking for! You guys rule!

I ordered the EMAD2 and a 5" port for the resonant head :) I'll let you know how I make out.

Anyone ever used a drum dial tuner thing? Getting all 7 pieces to sing to eachother is far more intense than I imagined lol. I'd better order one of the drum tuners to!

Good advise from everybody here. I have an ooolldd Imperialstar set. I also used to place pillows in the kicks. Went to the EMAD heads last year and never have been happier. No more pillows and they sound great now. As for the drum dial, I have one and use it to get close to the sound. I usually rely on my hearing and feel for the sound though. As TamaDude stated, look at Bob Gatzen's tuning methods. I did and learned a lot from him. He is truly a master at tuning drums. Good luck.

I have owned several different drum dials in the past couple of years. I have owned the Tama Drum Dial and Drum Dial Brand Drum Dial. Both are designed almost the same and both measure Tympanic Pressure at each lug. Quite frankly, I think they are a waste of money unless you are a drum tech or if you need the ability to tune your kit quietly before a gig. If you are relying on it to make tuning your drums easier, forget it. That's not what it is designed for. Basically, you tune each drum to that perfect pitch that you her inside your head and once you find the perfect tuning that makes up your signature sound, you take the Drum Dial and place on the head at each lug and write down the number. Once you get that info recorded, you can simply change out a head and use the tuning dial to set the head exactly to the same tuning. Very time consuming process while you try to establish and record your best results that fit your personal drum sound. I keep one in my stick bag in case I have a gig at club where the owner doesn't like bands that sound check which annoys clientelle so you can tune without a single tap on the drum heads using the drum dial. Many novices think that drum dials are a shortcut to learning how to tune but it's not. Nothing replaces developing your ears to understand the effects of tuning. Until you are consistent and versed in how to dial in your individual drums to that "Perfect Pitch" you hear in your head, don't waste money on one. There's no shortcuts to professional tuning. My 2 cents and only my personal opinion so take it with a grain of salt.

If you DO break and buy a drum dial, I really like the Tama Brand better than the Drum Dial Brand. The Tama seemed more accurate and consistent from tuning to tuning, The drum dial seemed to swing all over the place in readings.

Wheels are already in motion

Here it is, moments after I just put it together. Rough crowd lol

Very nice!

Interesting setup. LOL Seriously though, if I got some Silverstars I'd have to decide between the red & the blue sparkle. Thanks for the pic.



I hate messin with that spacer and just use a finger.