i know little to none about bearing edges. i looked into different kinda maybe 4 years ago and have heard nothing of them until just a few weeks ago. so i have a few questions.

1. what kinda of edge do you prefer on your drums the offset edge /| or the straight up /\ and/or which one has been proven better?(like i said ive never really looked into them for a couple years)

2. ive heard putting one little dent or nick in an edge can ruin the sound of a drum. how drastic is it?








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Bearing edges can be a nightmare. There are many different edges. The most popular edge today is the double 45 degree /\. There's also the roundover,roundover with 45 degree inside. etc.

A small nick or dent can cause a drastic change in sound but not always. It usually affects the tunability of the drum because the head does not sit flush on the shell where the nick or dent is and can cause overtones and ringing.








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The most common types are these:

Double 45's they look like a Tipee or upside down V. The sound characteristics are usually boxy and dry with a very controlled focused sound, they usually track fast strokes very well (which is why a number of companies such as Spaun that cater to punk and metal drummers us them) but don't sustain as long. A lot of guys prefer these, they are very plug and play, even if the drum is poorly tuned it usually sounds pretty good.

Round over edges, the are an upside down lopsided U shape. Very round and warm, not much sustain though, a lot of wood contacts the head so it tends to dry out overtones heavily. Jazz kits of the 30's and 40's used these edges and are sought after the warm fat tones they produce.

Single 45's, very open sounding with a lot of sustain, can ring too much with thinner heads and higher tunings. These are what your larger manufacturers use for the most part. You can get some great overtones if you want them, or you can tune them out, these tend to have the best tuning range and resonance. But tuning them can be an exercise in patience.








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www.myspace.com/dahlgrenprophecy

I'm lucky enough to live close to Bill Detamore and Pork Pie Drums and I had him re-cut the edges on my Pearl Birch kit. Bill does the 45/roundover cut. It made a HUGE difference. The drums became so much easier to tune and the warmth of the drum increased. I recenty got a new PDP LX Maple kit and had Bill re-cut them first thing.

If you live anywhere close to someone that can do it I would highly recommend it.








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Jeff Porcaro - Lord of Groove

i Prefer Doulbe 45 ,
cause to me it sounds amazing. just look at my snare i built, that thing sounds amazing.








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Colten
4 piece Risen kit
dw hardware
zildjian and sabian cymbals

I prefer a single with a mild (less than 10 degree) counter cut, thats what's on my Maryland kit. I could easily head that kit up with some thinner heads and use it at a Jazz gig, re-head it and use for a death metal band, it's VERY versatile. All bearing edges have there place for different styles of music,








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www.myspace.com/dahlgrenprophecy

wow thanks for all of the great info so far. keep it coming!!!








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