Re-Heading Your Drums

Putting on new drum heads is a truly a paradox; it is pretty easy to do, but tough to get right. There is more to this art than just slapping the head on the shell and the hoop on the head. If you follow these simple steps, you can re-head your drums with confidence.

STEP ONE: REMOVAL OF OLD HEADS

Before removing the heads, first mark the position of the hoops relative to a reference point on the shell (such as a mounting flange or the trademark badge). This is best done with an electric engraving tool, but can be done with paint, nail polish, stickers, or a Sharpie. Be sure to mark each hoop as fitting on the top or bottom of the shell.

I like to kill two birds with one stone by using a "T" and a "B" to mark the positions of the TOP and BOTTOM hoops (I use the mounting flange on the rack toms, the throw-off on the snare, and the trademark badge on the bass and floor toms as reference points).

Next, loosen all the tension rods, one hoop at a time, but DO NOT REMOVE THEM. When they're all loose, pick up the hoop, leaving the rods hanging from their holes, and carefully place the hoop down somewhere safe, preferably over a raised surface that will allow the rods to dangle from the hoop.

Discard the old heads if they are broken or worn out so bad they buzz or cannot be tuned right. Save them to use as spares if they are still usable.

STEP TWO: SHELL PREPARATION

First, tighten all loose screws inside the shell, but be careful not to over-tighten. Replace any screws with stripped or worn threads. If the female fittings of the lugs are stripped, then the entire lug assembly will have to be replaced, which can be pretty expensive, even for one, which is a very good reason to watch how tightly you turn your screws.

When every screw has been tightened, clean the entire shell, inside and out, of any debris, dust, grit, or other foreign bodies. Pay special attention to the bearing edge, making sure it is perfectly clean and free of nicks.