Re: Bonham tuning
Once you do find the problem and get the drum happening, please let us know. I would be very interested to find out what the solution ends up being. I know the dilemna you have in that you want to have all of the toms exhibit the same characteristics (punchy, round, equal sustain, etc.). If you go messing with muffling or a different tuning on the 16" tom, it will stick out like a sore thumb and won't sound like it's part of the kit. If it was me, I would start over by cranking up the top head and then slowly de-tune it until I found a pitch and feel that fit in with the top heads of the other drums you tuned. Then I would tune the bottom head up 3 to 4 notes higher, like I said in the prior post, to see if that did the trick. If that still doesn't reduce the sustain, then I would probably try replacing the batter head and try again. How much tighter do you have the bottom heads on the other two toms? The same amount? You probably have already done this, but if there is say 4 notes seperating the top and bottom heads on the other two toms, that should give you an idea that the 16" tom heads should be seperated by 4 notes as well. Do you know what I mean? I'm all out of suggestions and possible solutions, good luck and please let us know how you make out.