The bass drum is surely one of the most-used pieces of equipment in every drum set. You need to play it the whole time, which makes the drum beater just as essential as a set of drum sticks. When you go on shopping for a drum beater, you will notice that there are various options and types available. So, in order to make the decision-making process a lot easier for you, we have created this buyer's guide. Be sure to bear with us until the end because we will go through all of the important things you need to consider before purchasing a drum beater.
What Should You Consider Before Buying A Bass Drum Beater?
Shape
The most crucial thing that you should pay attention to when buying a bass drum beater is the shape. The shape can greatly impact how much contact your drum beater makes with the bass drum head. There are 3 popular shapes that you can pick from, including round, line, and flat.
The flat-faced will produce the loudest sound because it will make the most contact with the drum head's surface. On the other hand, the round beater makes the least contact; therefore, it will produce less sound. The line-shaped bass drum beat is somewhere in between the flat-faced and round beater.
Size
Choosing the size of the bass drum beater will strictly depend on your needs. By getting a bigger-sized bass drum beater, you will receive a louder punch and depth to your bass drum sound, while getting a smaller size bass drum beater will lead to a lighter depth.
Adjustable
Another thing that you should certainly consider when buying a bass drum beater is adjustability. Be sure to look for one that will allow you to manually adjust the head angle so that you will be able to get a flat hit to the bass drum head every time.
How Much Will A Bass Drum Beater Cost?
Most of the bass drum beaters will cost you from $20 and all up to $120, and the price will vary depending on the brand, type, and shape of the bass drum beater. Be sure to have a deep look at your budget before you start purchasing bass drum beaters because this will help you eliminate many options that are maybe just too expensive for you.
How Did We Pick The Best Bass Drum Beaters?
There are a large number of brands out there, so in order to select only the best bass drum beaters, we have adopted the following criteria:
Customer Ratings
We've gone through various products and managed to pick out only bass drum beaters that have the most positive customer ratings.
Value
When we were picking the best drum beaters, we also wanted to ensure that all of the products offered the best value. So, this means that you will receive what you paid for and then some.
Brand
Lastly, we only mentioned the top-notch brands on our list because they will always do their best to deliver the best quality to their loyal customers.
After we've made the best bass drum beaters list, we then tested out every product on the list to see their performance in real life.
What Are The Several Types Of Bass Drum Beaters?
Plastic
The plastic bass drum beaters possess a determined attack; they are clear and have excellent articulation. This type of bass drum beater is ideal for double bass playing.
Rubber
Rubber bass drum beaters produce a midrange tone and sound a little deeper when comparing them to the plastic ones. They are mostly suitable for all the drummers that want a richer sound for their bass drum.
Felt
The most popular type of bass drum beaters is felt. They deliver a deep thud and possess a balanced quantity of rebound and stroke definition. This type of bass drum beater is mostly used by the drummers who don't want the bright attack from the plastic and rubber ones.
Wood
Wood bass drum beaters will definitely stand out by producing a hard punch sound. Therefore, these types of bass drum beaters are ideal for music styles concentrated on the bass drum, such as disco and funk.
Fluffy
Last but not least, we have the fully bass drum beaters that will deliver a smooth and low-end noise. They are mainly used for soft conditions and will cause you to feel the kick rather than only hearing it. Most of the time they work best for jazz, but you can also use them for other soft styles without any problems.
Conclusion
Hopefully, with our buyer's guide, you will be able to make a more informed and reasonable buying decision when it comes to bass drum beaters. Good Luck!
Bass Drum Beater FAQ
Q: What are the drum beaters?
A: The bass drum beater is the part of your drum pedal that is hitting the drum head, which makes it one of the most important elements in defining the sound and quality of the bass drum.
Q: Will bass drum beaters make a difference to the sound?
A: Yes, absolutely. There are different types of drum beaters that provide various tones and each one of them will surely make a noticeable difference to your sound. You'll certainly receive more punch, attack, and depth to the bass drum tone with some beaters more than others.
Q: How much do bass drum beaters last?
A: The lifespan of the drum beaters will depend on the amount of time you use them. However, if you buy a quality bass drum beater, you can expect it to last for a couple of years with ease.
Q: Where should I position the bass drum beater?
A: We suggest that you place the bass drum beater close to the middle of the bass drum. This way, you will get the most correct tone and attack from your drum beater. For the electronic drums, placing them in the center will provide you with a more consistent triggering too.