Damping

I got my Remo Pinstripe (clear) yesterday and i'm having problems damping it- at the mo, i've got it tuned about middle (?) using a small blanket to ease off some of the 'boomyness'- i tried this with the front skin on and it sounds like doo-doo. so i'm not using a front skin currently-it sounds okay, but i don't like the look of it-with no front skin...any advice?

Ed,

Try this site...
http://people.mn.mediaone.net/sjmills/bass-tuning.html

This is only part of an overall good sight on drum tuning. After you've checked this out (this particular page is on kick drum tuning), and the other stuff it sez about drum tuning, try the major manufacturers' web pages. I recall that Pearl has an excellent tutorial on tuning.

The situation you're in at present, though, is sort of pitiful and needs rapid attention before you get other comments that are less helpful.

I'm guessing you are mainly playing rock since you bought a pinstripe. This is how I tune mine. I have a 22' Gretsch drum. What I suggest is to tune the drum a little lower. Tightening the lugs down just a little past the point that the heads stop being wrinkled. I use a front head with a small hole, about 6' in diameter. I put a sheet inside. It just barely touches both heads. This gives a very full sound and still allows for just a touch of ring. One thing to keep in mind is that you are sitting on top of that drum. The small amount of ring that you may hear will not be heard by somone 20 feet away from you especially when you are playing with a band. If you make the drum too dead the sound will not carry above some loud ass guitarist and you will kill yourself trying to compete with a Marshall stack.

good Luck

here's a suggestion what i have done with my toms is just cut a couple of rings out of some old skins to fit snug in the hoop. It cuts out heaps of ringing anf gives a really fat sound.

i used moongel pads on my drums, they are awesome and have nevr gotten in the way, and sice i have ebonies for batters, they are virtually invisible