DRUM DIAL Precision Drum Tuner Drum Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)For initial and maintenance tuning I use both the Evans Torque Drum Key (ASIN B0002D0HZI) and the Rhythm Tech Memo Key (ASIN B0002E2EOE). Both of those devices use a torque setting to attain even tensioning around drum heads. However, for final tuning I use this dial, which uses actual head tension instead of lug torque. The head tension method is not only a more accurate indication of how well your drums are tuned, but is also more accurate when attaining a setting. Here's why - the torque type tuners can be thrown off by uneven lug resistance, even when you pre-lube the lugs. When you are measuring actual head tension you are not dependent upon the mechanical parts, such as lug screws, lug float, etc. You are measuring directly off the head.
Using this dial does consume time. First, you need to have each drum on a flat surface (you cannot tune them in place on your kit). This means that you need to do an initial tuning, lift the drum to test the sound, and repeat until you attain the sound you are seeking. Once you do, however, you can be assured that the tuning will be uniform across the drum head.
There is an edge gage built into this device that allows you to test head tension at any point on the drum's head diameter with the assurance that you are measuring precisely from the edge of the diameter. This, like the head tension itself, is important to getting the tune setting you want and makes it repeatable.
Among the more time consuming aspects of using this versus the torque type tuning tools is the fact that each drum is vastly different and will take a lot of trial and error to get them where you want them with respect to sound. For example, when tuning my toms using the torque tools I mentioned above I could use the same setting on the batter sides of each tom, and an offset setting on the resonant sides and then tweak them to get half an octave difference when going from my 8x10, 8x12, 9x12 and 14x14. It is not as easy when using the dial for the first time because the acoustic properties of each drum requires more attention to myraid details, such as a tension ratio between the batter and resonant heads on the toms, and the actual tension settings for each drum. If you work through each drum, though, you will be rewarded with a kit that is perfectly tuned. Even the cheapest drum kit will sound like a high-end kit after taking the time to tune them with this dial.
Since there is a learning curve, expect to spend at least 30 minutes per drum the first time you use this, then an additional hour after you get each drum tuned tweaking the entire kit to obtain the octave separation you want. If you write down the settings for each drum the next time you do a tuning it will take a fraction of the time.
Do be aware that if you change head types you will need to go through the entire process again because heads can completely change the dynamics of your kit. For example, settings for toms using Evans Hydraulic heads will probably not work well if you switch to Remo Pinstripes or Remo Fiberskyn heads because of the vastly different sound qualities of these heads when compared to one another.

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