i have a drum torque key, i think it was made by Neary. i have had it about 5 months now and still have not figured out how to use it. so does anybody know how 2 use these things? i hear they could really help and i would like to be able to use it properly.








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PDP, Tama, and Pearl Drums
DW, Pearl, and Gibraltar Hardware
Sabian, Zildjian, and Saluda Cymbals

www.myspace.com/EOTEband

First and foremost, you need to clean the threads on all tension rods and lugs and then put a small amount of lug lube on them. Then you set the dial on the torque key to your desired setting and torque away. Once the key "breaks", or clicks, you've reached your desired torque.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

Buy. A. DrumDial.

Bah. Bah, I say! Develop your ears.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

SGarrett wrote:

Bah. Bah, I say! Develop your ears.

Thats like telling someone to tune a guitar string to "E" when they've never heard what a guitar string tuned to "E" sounds like. Take 20 minutes and use a DD, get a drum perfectly in tune, and then WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DRUMS SOUND LIKE PERFECTLY IN TUNE, then tuning by ear is super easy. I can tune a drum super fast, but I never would've gotten so good at it if I didnt have a DD to show me what it's supposed to sound like.

Why are you e-yelling? Kill the caps, bucko.

Drummers were able to tune long before gadgets. Can you hum? Can you hear when a note is flat or when the drum is "singing" to you? Can you hear a wobble or "wah-wah-wah" sound when you tap the head an inch in front of two different tension rods? Then you can tune a drum.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

If you are using any kind of torque key/wrench, it is important to bring up your tension evenly, like putting a wheel on a car. Using a star-like pattern is a good approach. Go round and round snugging each a little more.








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I PROUDLY ENDORSE MEDICINE MAN DRUMS AND SALUDA CYMBALS, and Bud light.

SGarrett wrote:

Bah. Bah, I say! Develop your ears.

a drum dial is not the perfect end-all to tuning but it works great WITH your ears. i tune my drums by ear until they sound the best i can get them then use the dd to fine tune each lug to perfection. i never thought after 20 years i'd use something like that but if it's available and it'll help ya ..why not?








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SHOGUNWARRIOR32 wrote:

SGarrett wrote:

Bah. Bah, I say! Develop your ears.

a drum dial is not the perfect end-all to tuning but it works great WITH your ears. i tune my drums by ear until they sound the best i can get them then use the dd to fine tune each lug to perfection. i never thought after 20 years i'd use something like that but if it's available and it'll help ya ..why not?

I've tried one a few times and just don't like it. Maybe it's the fact that I play melodic instruments that have a definite pitch, but I can hear when a drum is out of tune. Hell, I can hear one (DW) tension rod on the resonant side that's an 1/8 turn looser than the rest because the drum won't sing as well and there'll be a slight wobbling sound to the overall tone.

All in all, it was a freaking joke. You know "hahaha...good one". I don't give a damn what people what to use.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

I'm not into a lot of gadgets, but I have to admit liking the drum dial. I bought mine earlier this year. I've never really cared for spending hours tuning drums. It took a bit to get used to the DD - that spacing piece and all - but it does a nice job of getting the drums evenly tuned.








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Alden Merrill

Ford Drums
Zildjian Cymbals, Aquarian Heads
Vater, Cappella and Vic Firth Sticks
Proudly playing drums crafted in the USA.

I go by this, "if you can't get the drum sound that you want in ten minutes I don't want to work with you". (not an exact quote) I don't know, I'm not Mr. Amazing or anything but it doesn't take me more than a minute or two to tune a drum. Maybe Aquarian heads just kick that much ass.









Last edited by SGarrett on Sat Nov 03, 2007 4:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

Quote:

All in all, it was a freaking joke. You know "hahaha...good one". I don't give a damn what people what to use.

Dude.. I wasn't attackin or anything..just makin a point off your point ..that's all.. rock on!

Shogun[/quote]








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I volunteer at a local music shop and all the kids that come in just simply dont know what a well-tuned drum sounds like. I show em how to use a DD, they pick it up real fast, then in a few weeks they dont even need the thing. Its like training wheels for your ears.

Multibomber wrote:

I volunteer at a local music shop and all the kids that come in just simply dont know what a well-tuned drum sounds like. I show em how to use a DD, they pick it up real fast, then in a few weeks they dont even need the thing. Its like training wheels for your ears.

I used to be the tuning guy at a drum shop and had a side gig tuning kits for $60 a pop. There wasn't a drum on the floor or that left the shop, out of its box, that wasn't tuned up and ready for a professional to play it. It was like that long before I got there, too. If you show someone what a tuned drum sounds like, let them watch you tune it, and then explain the process... it's the same thing. Just giving someone a Drum Dial and saying "here's your magic tuning solution" isn't going to do a lot of good either. You're still going to have to show them how to tune with it. The only reason I can see needing something like this is if you're tone deaf or in such a loud environment that you can't hear your drums to tune them. But if you think you need one, more power to you. I, as well as countless other drummers, were able to learn without one.








_________________

Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

SGarrett wrote:

Multibomber wrote:

I volunteer at a local music shop and all the kids that come in just simply dont know what a well-tuned drum sounds like. I show em how to use a DD, they pick it up real fast, then in a few weeks they dont even need the thing. Its like training wheels for your ears.

I used to be the tuning guy at a drum shop and had a side gig tuning kits for $60 a pop. There wasn't a drum on the floor or that left the shop, out of its box, that wasn't tuned up and ready for a professional to play it. It was like that long before I got there, too. If you show someone what a tuned drum sounds like, let them watch you tune it, and then explain the process... it's the same thing. Just giving someone a Drum Dial and saying "here's your magic tuning solution" isn't going to do a lot of good either. You're still going to have to show them how to tune with it. The only reason I can see needing something like this is if you're tone deaf or in such a loud environment that you can't hear your drums to tune them. But if you think you need one, more power to you. I, as well as countless other drummers, were able to learn without one.

Dude....please..... a DD is just a tool to help...not "here's your magic solution"..and i don't recall seeing anyone imply that... and now your implying someone has to be tone deaf to need one?... first of all.. i could use needle nose pliers to turn each lug but i use a drum key..a tool made to make it easier and quicker.. and you say you can tune any drum on the floor to professional standards in under 2 minutes???.. I will pay you $1000 just to witness that. Ha ha. ... No matter how gifted in tuning you claim to be I would bet my paycheck that if you use a dial after one of your 2 minute tunings, you will indeed find a lug or 2 out of tune and when you address it, your drum will sound even more Godly. Try it.

Shogun








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