What is a bearing edge?

The bearing edge of a drum is the part of the shell that the drum head rests up against. It is literally the edge of a drum shell, cut or carved in a way to let the drum head sit evenly up against it so the drum will sound the same all the way around.

How does the bearing edge affect the sound of a drum?

Sharper bearing edges produce more attack and more sustain, which results in a generally more lively, “modern” sound. A sharp 45-degree edge also produces considerably more harmonic overtones, which makes the drum sound brighter.

What is a snare bed?

Snare beds are the shallow, gradual relief cuts in the bottom bearing edge of a snare drum shell, at the area where the snare wire straps cross the bearing edge to meet the throwoff and butt end.

How do you find the edge of a bearing?

Strip the old heads and hoops off the drum to reveal both ends of the shell. The ‘bearing edges’ are the sharpened lips at the top & bottom of the shell over which the head is stretched.

Do all snares have snare beds?

All snares have beds, or should. I bet if you looked really, really hard you’d see a bed on the ones you don’t think have them.

What snare wire should I use?

Less = faster. Common snare wires range in number from 16 and 20 strands to more contemporary 30– and 42-strand options. Fewer wires generally yields a tighter, faster, snappier response. More wires is believed to create a fatter attack and greater resonance — more “fuzz” or “jangle” — but often at the cost of speed.

How deep should a snare bed be?

Some are as wide as 8 inches and as deep as a quarter inch, where others are as narrow as an inch and a half or as shallow as 4/1000ths of an inch. A deep, wide snare bed will produce a bow in the head which is fairly consistent over much of the surface.

What is a snare drum bed?

What is a roundover bearing?

Roundover. This type of bearing edge is rounded off at the peak, resulting in more head-to-shell contact. Roundover bearing edges were the standard cut until the trend shifted toward sharper edges in the 1980s.

What are the different types of bearing edges?

The Basic Types of Bearing Edges 45° angle, single— Cut into the inside edge of the shell, a single 45° angle will offer minimal shell contact, which allows the drum head to vibrate longer, thus increasing the drum’s sustain. The limited contact with the shell also provides a sharper, more “modern” sound with increased attack.

What is the best bearing edge for a kick drum?

30° full roundover— This offers the most shell contact with the head. These drums are easy to tune, offer the most control of overtones, and give that “fat” drum tone. Many kick drums and floor toms use this type of bearing edge. The disadvantages can be a loss of definition, resulting in muddier tones.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a 45 degree roundover?

The 45° roundover creates more contact between the head and the shell, providing more of an opportunity for the woody warmth of the drum to come to the fore. Many makers still use this style of bearing edge on their jazz and vintage offerings. The disadvantages include less attack, fewer overtones, and less definition.