Won't be impossible, but will be tough to squeeze out decent sounds with the stock drum heads, if you can afford it, why not get new ones? It'll be a rather long-term investment if you're not a crazy basher.
You might wanna consider some of the following points:
Heads. What kinda music are you playing?
I'm using coated remo ambs on all the toms, and a clear eq4 batter on the BD. I'm digging the way it sounds right now. A couple of months ago, I experimented with felt strips on the underside of the tom batter heads to kill some of the ring. Liked it for awhile, but now I'm back to no muffling.
I've got a small pillow in the BD, resting against the batter but not the reso.
Feels pretty versatile for pop/rock and jazz. I'd probably remove the pillow for jazz, but well, just home practice now. My neighbours prefer the bass not to resonate so much. :wink:
RudimentalDrummer has clear pinstripes on his RT, you can ask him how he likes them.
Bring out? Where?
Outdoors VS Indoors, small cafe VS medium sized pub.
If it's outdoors or a medium sized venue, you can afford to let it ring really, if you're playing with a full band, you'll find that a lot of the ring that you hear when you play alone, can't be heard out there in the crowd. RT toms, already having such a short depth, and only one head, already don't resonate much.I personally feel that letting toms ring actually allows the sound to be carried out further within the context of a band.
Amplification? Are you going to be mic'ed up?
If you are, check with the sound guy who's going to help ya out. Some of the have their own preferences, plus, they might be more familiar with the acoustics of that particular venue.
Always listen to what it sounds like "Out there"
Once you have your stuff set up, tuned, and muffled (if you want), always try to have a friend play your kit during soundcheck. First by itself, then with the band. Get out into where the audience will be hearing you from, and see if you dig the way it sounds.
*All the above constitute my personal preferences and approach, and other people will have their own. Hope you find yours
P.S. Will your performance be public? If so, I'd like to check it out, rare to hear an RT in performance, must support! :lol:
