Wow, techs at a drum shop thought lithium grease was a weird move?!? Hopefully they’re not of the mindset we referenced regarding the promotion of rust to keep tension rods from backing out... ☠️
I do the opposite and do everything possible to make the tension rods sticky so that they don't turn easily, helps keep them from backing out so easily.
Hey Cody! I've been following Sounds Like A Drum since the beginning, but this is the first time I thought I could put my two cents of knowledge into a comment! So, here it goes... I am a really heavy hitter, and to me this has always been the top number one issue regarding tuning/playing. I own quite a few snares, and it doesn't matter which one I choose for the gig, I always encounter the same problem with lugs backing out on me. Let me tell you, honestly, I just gave up. I've had a Pearl Ian Paice Signature snare with what they call "tension locks", and those helped, but didn't eliminate the problem... I have a couple of DW and PDP snares with the TruePitch tension rods, they say those will stay in tune for a longer time, it didn't help... I've tried putting some Teflon plumbing tape onto the tip of the tension rod, something I heard a roadie tell me once, that actually helped, but didn't solve the problem and it made quite a mess once it was time to replace the heads, with the tension rods getting all sticky and whatnot... One thing that actually was quite surprisingly helpful was putting some graphite grease into the receiving part of the drum lug. This particular grease lubricate both the drum lug and the bolt, but it also has a "gripping" effect of sorts, and they keep the lug in tune a lot longer as I've found out. I've tried numerous brands of lug locks, like Gibraltar, Pearl, etc... and found out that the Tuner Fish Lug Locks are the only ones that really keep the lugs in position, but they are not perfect, and let me tell you why. They come with little rubber bands that are supposed to keep them "attached" to the drum even in the unlikely event of them coming out of the lug head, but these rubber bands are fragile as hell, and even placing the drum inside the case or gig bag has broken them on me. And being perfectly honest, this "unlikely" event of a Tuner Fish Lug Lock snapping out of a lug has happened to me at least a half dozen times, and in two of them I lost both the Tuner Fish Lug Lock and the lug it was "locking". They snapped out of the drum, fell on the floor, and poof... they were gone. Just like you said, the ones that actually snapped out were actually the ones from the bottom side, specifically the ones next to the strainer/throw-off. No idea as to why that happens on this part either. So, in short, when I have a gig that I know I will be BANGING THE HELL OUT of the drum, this is what I do: I combine a lot of the techniques I found most useful, which are: 1 - Put some graphite grease into each receptacle casing of each drum lug, and a little bit on the tip of the bolt doesn't hurt either; 2 - Install the Pearl Tension Locks (original to the Ian Paice Signature snare) on ALL tension rods; 3 - Install the Tuner Fish Lug Lock with its whimsy rubber band on ALL tension rods just a little before the gig, because if I do it at home and put the drum in its case/gig bag the rubber bands will definetely break; 4 - Pound away; 5 - Once the gig is done, double-check to see if all the Tuner Fish Log Locks are still there. If they are, great success. If not, get on your hands and knees and start looking (a flashlight will help). So, basically, this is it, at least for me. I forgot to mention, I always carry two snares with me. If the first one starts backing out a lot, I pop the backup on the stand and that is that. I don't have two of each drum, but I do have a Ludwig Supraphonic 14"x6.5 and its "replica" of sorts, which is the Pearl Sensitone Beaded Seamless Aluminum 14"x6.5". Doing all of that helps A LOT, but I have really given up on finding a perfect fix for this problem. Like you said, it's just something about the mechanics of drums. Sorry for the long essay, but I got really excited when I thought I could actually add to the debate! Keep rocking, dudes! I'm a huge fan of your work! Best regards from Brazil! P.S.: If you want to check out my playing, look for Diablo Motor on CZcams or any streaming service! Peace!
Thiago Sabino I haven't done it personally but it might be worth trying what Crazy 8s Drums said in the comments. He said he puts nuts on the tension rods and tightens them down against the lug inserts. It sounds like it'd work just like the lock nut that keeps the tie rods on your car. You could even take it a step further with nyloc nuts or locking washers if they fit
You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me
@Bishop Cullen thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I've found the little plastic lug locks sometimes pop off, and I've broken a few of those fish thingies by inadvertently striking them (I use Ahead sticks though -- could be "a thing"). What's worked really well for me is a trip to my local hardware store. Bring a tension rod and find nuts that will thread onto the rod properly and are small enough in diameter that you'll be able to turn them with a small wrench when the tension rod is installed; they'll need to clear the shell, AND the drum head's collar. Also get a nylon spacer. (I use spacers that are about 5/16ths tall.) I put the tension rod through the hoop, slip a nylon spacer onto the rod on the underside of the hoop, then thread on TWO nuts, on at a time, keeping everything loose. I then thread the tension rod into the lug and tune. Once tuned, I tighten the nylon spacer against the bottom of the hoop with the first nut and lock it in place by tightening the second nut against the first. (Buy a small open ended wrench for the nuts if you don't have one). This essentially renders that lug absolutely immovable. You might need to experiment with the height of the spacer, depending on how much room there is between the bottom of the drum's hoop and it's lugs, but it works amazingly well.
Awesome video! I've had this issue on my snares for years as well, and came across the best product/solution I've ever found: Gauger Percussion Lockerz. They are a game-changer. The tension rods will never come loose. The only reason you'd need to tune is due to wear and tear on the drum head itself. They also work perfectly on the snare side. You can tune while they are installed as well. Only downside: once installed, the tension rod can only be turned with a drum key (no finger tightening) and can only turn in 90 degree increments. Overall, a small price to pay for the effectiveness of the product!
Agree. I use these and they are the best. I only put them on the 4 lugs facing me and an additional 2 at 10 and 2. You can turn the drum key to any position though not just 90 deg increments. I just changed a head now and had no issues turning at any angle.
Awesome video, Thanks! I put lug locks on all ten lugs.... Now I know with your help. It’s not necessary to have one on each lugs! Thanks! That supraphonic sounds awesome! Really like it!
I have an old Tama Swingstar 14"x 5" - 8 lug snare drum that sounds real nice and fat with low to medium tuning. The left side lug where I do rim-shots can work it's way out in between every couple of songs. I purchased a heap of those Tuner Fish lug locks, but should have only purchased a few, as I found they're not necessary all around the drum. Oh and don't bother getting the rubber bands that they sell that are supposed to stop the tuner fish from falling off. I found they fall off in transport, so I physically take them off and keep them in a plastic bag when not in use. Also there is a small compromise with the lug locks, because the lug heads are square, the tuner fish lug locks won't go on at any position, there is a little play. Meaning you have to back it off or tighten slightly or else the lug locks are not firmly against the side of the snare drum. I always like to tighten as opposed to loosening, this helps to keep the tension on.
You could also use a nut with the same threads as the rods, tightening the nut down to the lug. You can see something similar to this on the Pearl Ian Paice signature snare.
the cheap plastic lug locks are def the best solution in my opinion. Ive tried tension rods with a nylon insert notched in the thread. They def work but its very hard to decipher the correct tension when tuning because they get very tight once the nylon starts to touch the threads
BEWARE OF THE BOLTS THAT ARE STEPPED AND MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND WHEN TIGHTENING! Ive tried them, I’m an objective guy and tried them many ways and with different tunings, they never worked as well as the cheap ol lug locks. Great info here, good job guys! B
I own the Pearl Ian Paice signature, sold with a blocker for each bolt, batter and bottom! As it has to be mounted with the thread, it makes tuning so annoying that I removed all except the 2 ones closest to my hands. This way I have some spare for other snares.
I bought lug locks especially for my last recording session. We used my Yamaha Recording Custom brass snare, and the drummer that was using the drum kept managing to have the lug locks fly off the drum mid take, and the tuning lowered anyway (pretty much every take). He was exclusively doing rim shots when hitting the drum, and also hitting hard. It was pretty disappointing to think the lug locks would help, but I found that they didn't do a whole lot. It won't help with the drum detuning, but I saw a video where Rdavidr drew a line on each of the tension rods and the hoop of the drum, so that when the drum does detune, you can visually see how much it's detuned by and quickly tune it back to where it was, matching the line on the tension rod with the straight line drawn on the hoop... although, I wouldn't want to draw on the tension rods or hoop, and if it detunes by a whole turn, it's not very helpful.
I hit hard rimshots all the time. I have tension rods fall out of the bottom of the snare as well as the usual top rods loosening. Here is my experience with the various things I've tried: Lug Locks (white plastic squares) - work but only very briefly Tuner Fish - they do stop the lugs from turning, but a misplaced hit will either smash them or send them flying off Lug Lockerz (nuts for reverse tensioning under the hoop) - these work the best for keeping the tuning, but I would prefer the kind that are hexagonal so I can make them tighter The next thing to try is PTFE tape on the rod threads. Apparently, it has a similar effect loctite or thread locker but without the permanence.
LugLocks! I believe the inventor's name is Phil, and he has come up with a bunch of cool tools that I've used for years. DW claims that the fine threads on their drums prevents back out.
That’s a great option as long as they’re easily adjustable for retuning and you don’t plan on needing to move them to other drums. That’s one of the reasons we like the simple nylon squares, as they take a second to install or remove.
Paul Swanson it works very well. I used beat the lug almost all the way off. One night it actually popped out! Hasn’t happened since I put the nuts on.
I've found that those little plastic locks are prone to fail - either the hole deforms, or the flat edge doesn't stay put. I'm using a more "permanent" lug lock from Gauger Percussion. Tip: the Ludwig Atlas drum key works pretty well in combination with the Gauger lug locks. It has a thin socket and is a little bit longer.
What a great video Cody. Very interesting topic again. I've used rubber flat washers to provide more friction between the metal pieces. Seems to work for me
never thought about the 10 lug vs. 8 lug thing... but it makes total sense! it totally matches my experiences with 10 lug snares. seems like i found yet another reason why i personally like 8 lug snares better
Season two Ep 32 and still making kick ass content. Amazing. For the "cheap bastards club" and broke teenagers, a bread bag clip and a nail file or some emery cloth might be able to get you by for a gig or two until you can buy the real deal. Not sure. But it won't cost anything besides time.
+soundslikeadrum *Yamaha Corporation engineers observed the lug back-out issue,* then developed nylock nuts for the lugs on the Tour Custom, Absolute, and PNX; these insert nuts work identically to the nylon-insert hex locknuts available at any hardware store.
Guys, try out some plumber's thread tape. Wrap it around the tuning rod a few timess so it's pretty thick. This seems to work for me. I hope this helps!
Glad this situation of lugs slipping are finally understood so thank you. All this time I thought two to three keys slipping out would put the other lugs out as well. So only the few (2-3) lugs that being hit hardest needs a lug lock. Question; would rims bending be cause from uneven tuning tension or the down force of over-hitting (power rim shots) be cause(s) of rim bending or batter heads stretching at its seams? Thanks
I used the Tunerfish ones a while ago, but they kept going missing until I realized (looking back at drum cam footage) that during certain snare fills, they just flew off the snare. Now I use a small cardboard tab with a hole drilled through it. Works like the basic ones you showed off, but they're practically free.
I used to have that problem with my Vinnie Paul Snare (Pearl), after one song the lug was totally loose... I will find those lock lugs... Thanks a lot 😀
It's only an issue on the bottom if the lugs go all the way through like on your Ludwig, since the trauma from hitting the rim gets distributed through the top rod and into the lug. That is why I only use single lug snare drums. I simply got tired of unpacking my snare on tour only to realize that I lost a bottom tension rod the day before.
Very timely episode! I just bought a pack of Gibraltar Tension Lock rods for my snare (Tama SLP Black Brass 6.5) due to this exact issue. Haven't even had the chance to put them on yet, so I can let you know if they work okay. I've also had issues with my other snare (Tama SLP Bronze 5.5) having the snare-side rods back out and falling out and onto the floor (I am a heavy hitter, and even more so back when the Broze was my main snare). My solution has been simply to tune higher to get the tuning stability. But I want to achieve stability on lower tunings, especially because the Black Brass sounds so beefy and open at low tunings.
I was about to print some of these. I used to have a pearl export snare in the early 2000s that never stayed in tune for a whole song. This totally would have been useful.
I don’t like the external locks just for the fact that it’s one more thing to keep track of. I have aftermarket lug screws which have a channel routed out and a plastic insert is moulded in, so there is consistent friction all the way down the threads. I use it on the 4 lugs right under my rim shots (12 lug snare) and underneath on the two opposing screws next to the snare beds on the player side of the wires. Haven’t had a mid-gig detuning problem since I grabbed these.
Thanks for another great video! Your next video should about the snare wires rattling loose while playing. You use an old Supra, which is my favorite snare as well, and I have to gaffa tape my snare throw off, for it not to rattle loose in the middle of the song!
great video had that problem with one of my snare drum my noble & cooley , put wood hoops on it sound great but would go out of tune , put a new and difference snare on and she sound great and stay in tune
I have quite a lot of detuning issues with most of my toms, even though I rarely rim click at any significant volume. I'm thinking about buying a Gretsch bell brass, and if I do, I will surely buy some locks, as I hit hard enough where snares I hit often go out of tune after only a few bars.
I've had the snare side tension rod fall out before. I have my throw-off at 6 o'clock, and I think it was the tension rod next to the wires/throw-off on the side I rimshot. It's only happened once, but now I check every day the four tension rods (top and bottom) on either side of where I rimshot. The snare is a Noble & Cooley Classic SS. My Ayotte drums have lug locks built into the lugs. They seem to work well, although I wonder how you're able to re-tune the drums without first backing them off. Vibrations can cause them to fall out if they're not tightened too, which is annoying.
The lugs closest to my seat always seem to go loose and detune my snare. I wrapped the 2 lugs in Teflon Tape around the threads and it seems to be working so far.
I use the lugs with the ball bearing due to natural de-tuning from temperature fluctuations. It pays to replace all your lugs with these. Tune 'em and forget 'em.
I changed my snare head and the detuning lug problem went away for a bit, but now it's back with a vengeance. It's backing off so quickly that I can hear the difference between hits and it's way out of tune in under a minute of playing. I ordered lug locks, so I'll be seeing if that helps!
Had this happen to me on both batter and snare side...a solution I've used is a little - and you only need a dab - of an off the shelf Threadlock (you can find this in the auto dept or any hardware store and is inexpensive)....just have to make sure it is "medium strength" , typically color coded as the BLUE.... *DO NOT USE THE RED* The BLUE is removable so you can still tune and change your drum heads at some point. If you use the red you are basically using super glue and your lugs will never come off again....you DON'T want that. LOL!!
The only snare this happened to me on was a Yamaha 10x5 stage custom birch popcorn snare. I knew it happened to others but never realized it was so prevalent, judging by the comments everyone seems to struggle with this. I thought it was mainly because my snare at the time was so small haha.
Thanks for this one. I had a lug that kept falling out, but now I tune higher plus lug locks which are still in the mail actually. But a couple weeks ago I decided to learn Bonzo's Rock and Roll outro fill, and popped my right eardrum. So . . . no drumming for a couple months :( Finally gonna start wearing earplugs I guess
@@SoundsLikeADrum Yes I caught it and stopped. Thought I was having a stroke bc the right side of my vision was all chaos in either eye. Synesthesia, turns out. But thanks, yes healing fast and eager to play.
A request: maybe a video for single tension drums? I've got a single tension kit, would be great to better understand it. Any inside info would be nice!
Huge generalization of course but I've found this to be a big problem with powder coated hardware and have known many a drummer who found the same. Hasn't happened to me in a long time but I've been fortunate to be mic'ed over the last few years and have been making a conscious effort to work on my technique to be able to achieve volume when needed without bashing. Not knocking you or anyone else, some people have need to push the volume limits of their gear through forceful playing and I too used to play that type of music.
I tried to post a Amazon link but can't for whatever reason. But you just plug it in the search function on Amazon and it will pull it up. It's a product called Vibra-TITE VC-3 It's a reusable threadlocker. It will lock the threads but you can still adjust the lugs if needed with reapplication and it also lubricates the threads. It's a great product with many different uses besides just drum lugs. This might be something you want to try and do a video about. Most people have never heard of it but I use it all the time.
Very interesting! Sounds like something to experiment with on a beater drum to see how it works out. I'm definitely a bit apprehensive about anything that coats the threads to prevent movement but if it doesn't inhibit normal tuning, that could be an excellent option. Cheers! -Ben
Hi! I couldn’t help but to comment on this video by saying that almost everything that was mentioned in the video has happened to me at some point or another during my performances as well. LugLocks are very useful. Great insight and acknowledgement of these problems! An interest that was touched on briefly in the video was corrosion of lugs, hoops and metal on drums. Asides from making sure to always lubricate drum gear where there is any metal to metal contact or friction where there should not be, regarding general corrosion on drums, what can be done to prevent corrosion on metal snare shells, lugs and hoops without damaging or hindering the sound of the drum?
Thanks for watching and glad to hear that you enjoyed the episode! As far as maintenance goes, keeping metal clean and dry will make a world of difference. Cheers!
I've been looking for a good solution to this problem for a long time. What do you guys think of the Canopus leather washers or the Hendrix drums sleeved washers?
10 lugs, 8 lugs,.... how about 6 lugs?))) I have a 12” snare with 6 lugs and if one it’s off ?....))) the beginning of the song is a funky sound, in the end- deep fat snare)))) I’m using the Ian Paice method
I tried Tightscrew tension rods on a couple of snares. They made tuning the drum a little more difficult (yes, they are a little harder to turn once they meet the lug nut), but they stay put once you're there. It's almost like they attacked the problem from the source. www.tightscrew.com But...when will someone invent a lug insert with a nylon ring inside to prevent the rod from backing out? Great video as always, Cody.
As I watched, I wondered about the nylon washers that sometimes come on drums and whether that was supposed to be their purpose as well? By providing a bit of give between the rim and the flat of the bolt, it might save on tuning? I've just recently purchased an OC Drums 13x7 maple which has diecast hoops and can confirm that the detuning tends to be all-around with it. Worse by far, actually. I hadn't really made the connection until I watched this, but the difference is unmistakable. I'm a very rim-heavy player, though, so your mileage may vary.
Nylon washers are actually just to prevent wear on the hoops/tension rod. My old Rama kit had the steel washers and almost rubbed through on the snare. Needless to say they’ve been long replaced by nylon washers.
interesting 🤔 i've never really noticed this... probably because i'm not a clean drum tuner 😂 ( although i do try to tune toms to their closest pitch note value )
i have wanted to say this from the first episode and going to say it now due to i really want to know what you said when you said your SPONSOR OF THE EPISODE I definitely could not hear what you said so I turned on the close caption, and this is who it said your sponsor was “perm our prided area” is our sponsor for the video last, when you’re talking about the two lug locks, the little rectangle ones with the off centered hole which I already own those but the second set the weird long, clear pieces of plastic > when you said who made those I couldn’t hear it and the CC didn’t say it THIS TYPE of thing happens on every single video I don’t know if you could maybe take a still shot of the packaging when you talk about it or throw up the spelling on the screen when you talk about a product or a sponsor or even slow down and actually say what it is a few times so we can hear it but every single video every sponsor any product you’re talking about it just flies right out of your mouth and I have no idea what you’re saying nor does the closed captioning have any clue what you’re talking about so why even say it . I’m saying why even say who your sponsor is why even talk about a product if we’re not even gonna hear it just don’t even mention it because we can’t tell what you’re saying anyway OK 👍🏼 i hope maybe this gets cleared up for people who couldn’t understand who your sponsors are and what you’re talking about. I love this channel and only want to see things get better. KEEP UP THE GREAT CONTENT. ☮️PEACE❤️LOVE🌎UNiTY 🥁🦆💨
@@SoundsLikeADrum I didn't notice they popped off until after the song, but yes they did loosen. I put them back on, it happened again, so then I just gave up. At this point I'm so used to having to check those tuning rods that I'm just dealing with it now.
@@SoundsLikeADrum It’s not really messy provided you dab it into the hole sparingly rather than on the bolt, excess is easily wiped off too, I use it on my basses saddle height screws to stop them backing out with hard playing and it never makes a mess on my hand while palm muting over the bridge or anything. Doesn’t impede adjustments at all 🙂
I've been using TightScrew’s Drum Tension Rods for over ten years. Easy to install and will keep your drums in tune. I've included their website so you can check them out. www.tightscrew.com. I hope this helps.
Je pense que vous pourriez manquer l'intention de cette série. Si vous recherchez plus de musique, nous serions heureux de vous recommander des enregistrements.
Awesome as always!... Btw, can someone help me? In this video, is he playing rimshots or is he just "burying" the stick on the first 10 sec? 🤔 m.czcams.com/video/iQYNt_PPrDc/video.html
Yeah, I'm going to need to buy some lug locks, thought they were a snake oil thing. Also, funny how you look so forced when you're hitting hard lol. It's obvious that you're not a pop punk drummer. ;)
That's so funny, I've had a few drum shop techs look at me funny when I mentioned I put Lithium Grease on the tension rods. I knew I wasn't crazy!
Wow, techs at a drum shop thought lithium grease was a weird move?!? Hopefully they’re not of the mindset we referenced regarding the promotion of rust to keep tension rods from backing out... ☠️
@@SoundsLikeADrum That was his exact reason. I won't out the shop, but let's say they are nationally known... Kind of caught me off guard.
Lithium grease? I'd actually like to test synthetic brake caliper grease (available at auto-parts stores) for the role, quite tacky and quite viscous.
I do the opposite and do everything possible to make the tension rods sticky so that they don't turn easily, helps keep them from backing out so easily.
Hey Cody! I've been following Sounds Like A Drum since the beginning, but this is the first time I thought I could put my two cents of knowledge into a comment! So, here it goes... I am a really heavy hitter, and to me this has always been the top number one issue regarding tuning/playing. I own quite a few snares, and it doesn't matter which one I choose for the gig, I always encounter the same problem with lugs backing out on me. Let me tell you, honestly, I just gave up.
I've had a Pearl Ian Paice Signature snare with what they call "tension locks", and those helped, but didn't eliminate the problem...
I have a couple of DW and PDP snares with the TruePitch tension rods, they say those will stay in tune for a longer time, it didn't help...
I've tried putting some Teflon plumbing tape onto the tip of the tension rod, something I heard a roadie tell me once, that actually helped, but didn't solve the problem and it made quite a mess once it was time to replace the heads, with the tension rods getting all sticky and whatnot...
One thing that actually was quite surprisingly helpful was putting some graphite grease into the receiving part of the drum lug. This particular grease lubricate both the drum lug and the bolt, but it also has a "gripping" effect of sorts, and they keep the lug in tune a lot longer as I've found out.
I've tried numerous brands of lug locks, like Gibraltar, Pearl, etc... and found out that the Tuner Fish Lug Locks are the only ones that really keep the lugs in position, but they are not perfect, and let me tell you why. They come with little rubber bands that are supposed to keep them "attached" to the drum even in the unlikely event of them coming out of the lug head, but these rubber bands are fragile as hell, and even placing the drum inside the case or gig bag has broken them on me. And being perfectly honest, this "unlikely" event of a Tuner Fish Lug Lock snapping out of a lug has happened to me at least a half dozen times, and in two of them I lost both the Tuner Fish Lug Lock and the lug it was "locking". They snapped out of the drum, fell on the floor, and poof... they were gone. Just like you said, the ones that actually snapped out were actually the ones from the bottom side, specifically the ones next to the strainer/throw-off. No idea as to why that happens on this part either.
So, in short, when I have a gig that I know I will be BANGING THE HELL OUT of the drum, this is what I do: I combine a lot of the techniques I found most useful, which are:
1 - Put some graphite grease into each receptacle casing of each drum lug, and a little bit on the tip of the bolt doesn't hurt either;
2 - Install the Pearl Tension Locks (original to the Ian Paice Signature snare) on ALL tension rods;
3 - Install the Tuner Fish Lug Lock with its whimsy rubber band on ALL tension rods just a little before the gig, because if I do it at home and put the drum in its case/gig bag the rubber bands will definetely break;
4 - Pound away;
5 - Once the gig is done, double-check to see if all the Tuner Fish Log Locks are still there. If they are, great success. If not, get on your hands and knees and start looking (a flashlight will help).
So, basically, this is it, at least for me. I forgot to mention, I always carry two snares with me. If the first one starts backing out a lot, I pop the backup on the stand and that is that. I don't have two of each drum, but I do have a Ludwig Supraphonic 14"x6.5 and its "replica" of sorts, which is the Pearl Sensitone Beaded Seamless Aluminum 14"x6.5". Doing all of that helps A LOT, but I have really given up on finding a perfect fix for this problem. Like you said, it's just something about the mechanics of drums.
Sorry for the long essay, but I got really excited when I thought I could actually add to the debate!
Keep rocking, dudes! I'm a huge fan of your work! Best regards from Brazil!
P.S.: If you want to check out my playing, look for Diablo Motor on CZcams or any streaming service! Peace!
Thiago Sabino I haven't done it personally but it might be worth trying what Crazy 8s Drums said in the comments. He said he puts nuts on the tension rods and tightens them down against the lug inserts. It sounds like it'd work just like the lock nut that keeps the tie rods on your car. You could even take it a step further with nyloc nuts or locking washers if they fit
Tama TTL10 Tension Lock. Easy, sustainable, cheap, doin their job perfectly. And you are able to turn the rod even when they are installed.
You all probably dont give a damn but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me
@Ezekiel Seth Instablaster :)
@Bishop Cullen thanks for your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I've found the little plastic lug locks sometimes pop off, and I've broken a few of those fish thingies by inadvertently striking them (I use Ahead sticks though -- could be "a thing"). What's worked really well for me is a trip to my local hardware store. Bring a tension rod and find nuts that will thread onto the rod properly and are small enough in diameter that you'll be able to turn them with a small wrench when the tension rod is installed; they'll need to clear the shell, AND the drum head's collar. Also get a nylon spacer. (I use spacers that are about 5/16ths tall.)
I put the tension rod through the hoop, slip a nylon spacer onto the rod on the underside of the hoop, then thread on TWO nuts, on at a time, keeping everything loose. I then thread the tension rod into the lug and tune. Once tuned, I tighten the nylon spacer against the bottom of the hoop with the first nut and lock it in place by tightening the second nut against the first. (Buy a small open ended wrench for the nuts if you don't have one). This essentially renders that lug absolutely immovable.
You might need to experiment with the height of the spacer, depending on how much room there is between the bottom of the drum's hoop and it's lugs, but it works amazingly well.
Awesome video! I've had this issue on my snares for years as well, and came across the best product/solution I've ever found: Gauger Percussion Lockerz. They are a game-changer. The tension rods will never come loose. The only reason you'd need to tune is due to wear and tear on the drum head itself. They also work perfectly on the snare side. You can tune while they are installed as well. Only downside: once installed, the tension rod can only be turned with a drum key (no finger tightening) and can only turn in 90 degree increments. Overall, a small price to pay for the effectiveness of the product!
Agree. I use these and they are the best. I only put them on the 4 lugs facing me and an additional 2 at 10 and 2. You can turn the drum key to any position though not just 90 deg increments. I just changed a head now and had no issues turning at any angle.
Awesome video, Thanks! I put lug locks on all ten lugs.... Now I know with your help. It’s not necessary to have one on each lugs! Thanks!
That supraphonic sounds awesome! Really like it!
Had the worst loosening problem with my custom curly maple/brass 12x6 DW Edge. The plastic lug locks were my savior. Can't live without them now.
I have an old Tama Swingstar 14"x 5" - 8 lug snare drum that sounds real nice and fat with low to medium tuning. The left side lug where I do rim-shots can work it's way out in between every couple of songs. I purchased a heap of those Tuner Fish lug locks, but should have only purchased a few, as I found they're not necessary all around the drum. Oh and don't bother getting the rubber bands that they sell that are supposed to stop the tuner fish from falling off. I found they fall off in transport, so I physically take them off and keep them in a plastic bag when not in use. Also there is a small compromise with the lug locks, because the lug heads are square, the tuner fish lug locks won't go on at any position, there is a little play. Meaning you have to back it off or tighten slightly or else the lug locks are not firmly against the side of the snare drum. I always like to tighten as opposed to loosening, this helps to keep the tension on.
You could also use a nut with the same threads as the rods, tightening the nut down to the lug. You can see something similar to this on the Pearl Ian Paice signature snare.
10-24 thread nuts from Ace Hardware or your local hardware store.
Yep! A bit least convenient that simply placing something on top of the tension rod but potentially more reliable.
Christopher Rogalski the size depends on the drum manufacturer, I know DW / PDP uses 12-24"
I’m using this method!)))
the cheap plastic lug locks are def the best solution in my opinion. Ive tried tension rods with a nylon insert notched in the thread. They def work but its very hard to decipher the correct tension when tuning because they get very tight once the nylon starts to touch the threads
BEWARE OF THE BOLTS THAT ARE STEPPED AND MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND WHEN TIGHTENING! Ive tried them, I’m an objective guy and tried them many ways and with different tunings, they never worked as well as the cheap ol lug locks. Great info here, good job guys! B
When I played really heavy music, I used to put nuts on the tension rods that I used like lock nuts against the lugs.
Good workaround.
This invention is absolutely amazing. I got this problem very, very often. Such a simple solution, probably really cheap.
I had just put Tight Screws on my practice snare. They are a bit more expensive than lug locks but still affordable.
I own the Pearl Ian Paice signature, sold with a blocker for each bolt, batter and bottom! As it has to be mounted with the thread, it makes tuning so annoying that I removed all except the 2 ones closest to my hands. This way I have some spare for other snares.
I bought lug locks especially for my last recording session. We used my Yamaha Recording Custom brass snare, and the drummer that was using the drum kept managing to have the lug locks fly off the drum mid take, and the tuning lowered anyway (pretty much every take). He was exclusively doing rim shots when hitting the drum, and also hitting hard. It was pretty disappointing to think the lug locks would help, but I found that they didn't do a whole lot.
It won't help with the drum detuning, but I saw a video where Rdavidr drew a line on each of the tension rods and the hoop of the drum, so that when the drum does detune, you can visually see how much it's detuned by and quickly tune it back to where it was, matching the line on the tension rod with the straight line drawn on the hoop... although, I wouldn't want to draw on the tension rods or hoop, and if it detunes by a whole turn, it's not very helpful.
I hit hard rimshots all the time. I have tension rods fall out of the bottom of the snare as well as the usual top rods loosening.
Here is my experience with the various things I've tried:
Lug Locks (white plastic squares) - work but only very briefly
Tuner Fish - they do stop the lugs from turning, but a misplaced hit will either smash them or send them flying off
Lug Lockerz (nuts for reverse tensioning under the hoop) - these work the best for keeping the tuning, but I would prefer the kind that are hexagonal so I can make them tighter
The next thing to try is PTFE tape on the rod threads. Apparently, it has a similar effect loctite or thread locker but without the permanence.
LugLocks! I believe the inventor's name is Phil, and he has come up with a bunch of cool tools that I've used for years.
DW claims that the fine threads on their drums prevents back out.
I used a few 10-24 nuts from Ace Hardware as a locking nut under the rim. Very cheap and easy to use.
That’s a great option as long as they’re easily adjustable for retuning and you don’t plan on needing to move them to other drums. That’s one of the reasons we like the simple nylon squares, as they take a second to install or remove.
Sounds Like A Drum they back off easily and I got enough to to do a couple dozen drums for less than $5
Paul Swanson it works very well. I used beat the lug almost all the way off. One night it actually popped out! Hasn’t happened since I put the nuts on.
I've found that those little plastic locks are prone to fail - either the hole deforms, or the flat edge doesn't stay put. I'm using a more "permanent" lug lock from Gauger Percussion. Tip: the Ludwig Atlas drum key works pretty well in combination with the Gauger lug locks. It has a thin socket and is a little bit longer.
I second this. Gauger Percussion "Lockerz" are the best product/solution around.
i just ordered gauger lug locks. seems like the best solution also for some bottom rods.
What a great video Cody. Very interesting topic again. I've used rubber flat washers to provide more friction between the metal pieces. Seems to work for me
never thought about the 10 lug vs. 8 lug thing... but it makes total sense! it totally matches my experiences with 10 lug snares. seems like i found yet another reason why i personally like 8 lug snares better
Season two Ep 32 and still making kick ass content. Amazing.
For the "cheap bastards club" and broke teenagers, a bread bag clip and a nail file or some emery cloth might be able to get you by for a gig or two until you can buy the real deal. Not sure. But it won't cost anything besides time.
+soundslikeadrum *Yamaha Corporation engineers observed the lug back-out issue,* then developed nylock nuts for the lugs on the Tour Custom, Absolute, and PNX; these insert nuts work identically to the nylon-insert hex locknuts available at any hardware store.
Guys, try out some plumber's thread tape. Wrap it around the tuning rod a few timess so it's pretty thick. This seems to work for me. I hope this helps!
Glad this situation of lugs slipping are finally understood so thank you. All this time I thought two to three keys slipping out would put the other lugs out as well. So only the few (2-3) lugs that being hit hardest needs a lug lock. Question; would rims bending be cause from uneven tuning tension or the down force of over-hitting (power rim shots) be cause(s) of rim bending or batter heads stretching at its seams? Thanks
I used the Tunerfish ones a while ago, but they kept going missing until I realized (looking back at drum cam footage) that during certain snare fills, they just flew off the snare. Now I use a small cardboard tab with a hole drilled through it. Works like the basic ones you showed off, but they're practically free.
I used to have that problem with my Vinnie Paul Snare (Pearl), after one song the lug was totally loose... I will find those lock lugs... Thanks a lot 😀
It's only an issue on the bottom if the lugs go all the way through like on your Ludwig, since the trauma from hitting the rim gets distributed through the top rod and into the lug.
That is why I only use single lug snare drums. I simply got tired of unpacking my snare on tour only to realize that I lost a bottom tension rod the day before.
Very timely episode! I just bought a pack of Gibraltar Tension Lock rods for my snare (Tama SLP Black Brass 6.5) due to this exact issue. Haven't even had the chance to put them on yet, so I can let you know if they work okay.
I've also had issues with my other snare (Tama SLP Bronze 5.5) having the snare-side rods back out and falling out and onto the floor (I am a heavy hitter, and even more so back when the Broze was my main snare). My solution has been simply to tune higher to get the tuning stability. But I want to achieve stability on lower tunings, especially because the Black Brass sounds so beefy and open at low tunings.
I was about to print some of these. I used to have a pearl export snare in the early 2000s that never stayed in tune for a whole song. This totally would have been useful.
Good practical information, that as usual, is well presented..... See you in a week.
I don’t like the external locks just for the fact that it’s one more thing to keep track of. I have aftermarket lug screws which have a channel routed out and a plastic insert is moulded in, so there is consistent friction all the way down the threads. I use it on the 4 lugs right under my rim shots (12 lug snare) and underneath on the two opposing screws next to the snare beds on the player side of the wires. Haven’t had a mid-gig detuning problem since I grabbed these.
Thanks for another great video! Your next video should about the snare wires rattling loose while playing. You use an old Supra, which is my favorite snare as well, and I have to gaffa tape my snare throw off, for it not to rattle loose in the middle of the song!
Yes!!! I have a hack for that, we’ll get to it :) -Cody
great video had that problem with one of my snare drum my noble & cooley , put wood hoops on it sound great but would go out of tune , put a new and difference snare on and she sound great and stay in tune
I have quite a lot of detuning issues with most of my toms, even though I rarely rim click at any significant volume. I'm thinking about buying a Gretsch bell brass, and if I do, I will surely buy some locks, as I hit hard enough where snares I hit often go out of tune after only a few bars.
I've had the snare side tension rod fall out before. I have my throw-off at 6 o'clock, and I think it was the tension rod next to the wires/throw-off on the side I rimshot. It's only happened once, but now I check every day the four tension rods (top and bottom) on either side of where I rimshot. The snare is a Noble & Cooley Classic SS.
My Ayotte drums have lug locks built into the lugs. They seem to work well, although I wonder how you're able to re-tune the drums without first backing them off. Vibrations can cause them to fall out if they're not tightened too, which is annoying.
Nice!
The lugs closest to my seat always seem to go loose and detune my snare. I wrapped the 2 lugs in Teflon Tape around the threads and it seems to be working so far.
I use the lugs with the ball bearing due to natural de-tuning from temperature fluctuations. It pays to replace all your lugs with these. Tune 'em and forget 'em.
I really like the tuner fish for my locks because the little rubber bands keep them from swimming away during a gig
I changed my snare head and the detuning lug problem went away for a bit, but now it's back with a vengeance. It's backing off so quickly that I can hear the difference between hits and it's way out of tune in under a minute of playing. I ordered lug locks, so I'll be seeing if that helps!
Had this happen to me on both batter and snare side...a solution I've used is a little - and you only need a dab - of an off the shelf Threadlock (you can find this in the auto dept or any hardware store and is inexpensive)....just have to make sure it is "medium strength"
, typically color coded as the BLUE....
*DO NOT USE THE RED*
The BLUE is removable so you can still tune and change your drum heads at some point. If you use the red you are basically using super glue and your lugs will never come off again....you DON'T want that.
LOL!!
Great Timing! I was just looking into this stuff? Have you tried the tight screw lugs with the plastic insert and If so, would you recommend them?
The only snare this happened to me on was a Yamaha 10x5 stage custom birch popcorn snare. I knew it happened to others but never realized it was so prevalent, judging by the comments everyone seems to struggle with this. I thought it was mainly because my snare at the time was so small haha.
I do the same for my snare and rack, I use Gauger Rock Lockerz
Thanks for this one. I had a lug that kept falling out, but now I tune higher plus lug locks which are still in the mail actually. But a couple weeks ago I decided to learn Bonzo's Rock and Roll outro fill, and popped my right eardrum. So . . . no drumming for a couple months :( Finally gonna start wearing earplugs I guess
Oh man! Definitely take care of your ears. You can literally destroy your hearing. Hope you’re okay!
@@SoundsLikeADrum Yes I caught it and stopped. Thought I was having a stroke bc the right side of my vision was all chaos in either eye. Synesthesia, turns out. But thanks, yes healing fast and eager to play.
A request: maybe a video for single tension drums? I've got a single tension kit, would be great to better understand it. Any inside info would be nice!
Huge generalization of course but I've found this to be a big problem with powder coated hardware and have known many a drummer who found the same. Hasn't happened to me in a long time but I've been fortunate to be mic'ed over the last few years and have been making a conscious effort to work on my technique to be able to achieve volume when needed without bashing. Not knocking you or anyone else, some people have need to push the volume limits of their gear through forceful playing and I too used to play that type of music.
Great channel !!
I tried to post a Amazon link but can't for whatever reason. But you just plug it in the search function on Amazon and it will pull it up.
It's a product called Vibra-TITE VC-3
It's a reusable threadlocker. It will lock the threads but you can still adjust the lugs if needed with reapplication and it also lubricates the threads. It's a great product with many different uses besides just drum lugs.
This might be something you want to try and do a video about. Most people have never heard of it but I use it all the time.
Very interesting! Sounds like something to experiment with on a beater drum to see how it works out. I'm definitely a bit apprehensive about anything that coats the threads to prevent movement but if it doesn't inhibit normal tuning, that could be an excellent option. Cheers! -Ben
This kind of thing is used all the time in industrial and automotive applications. Just make sure to use one that is removable.
Invest on Hendrix Drum Sleeves & Tight Screws! My personal life savers.
Hi! I couldn’t help but to comment on this video by saying that almost everything that was mentioned in the video has happened to me at some point or another during my performances as well. LugLocks are very useful. Great insight and acknowledgement of these problems!
An interest that was touched on briefly in the video was corrosion of lugs, hoops and metal on drums. Asides from making sure to always lubricate drum gear where there is any metal to metal contact or friction where there should not be, regarding general corrosion on drums, what can be done to prevent corrosion on metal snare shells, lugs and hoops without damaging or hindering the sound of the drum?
Thanks for watching and glad to hear that you enjoyed the episode! As far as maintenance goes, keeping metal clean and dry will make a world of difference. Cheers!
I use Rimshot-Locs. They’re great
Interesting how I run into this video right after answering a comment on a video of mine in regards to why I messed with a snare lug.
I've been looking for a good solution to this problem for a long time. What do you guys think of the Canopus leather washers or the Hendrix drums sleeved washers?
10 lugs, 8 lugs,.... how about 6 lugs?))) I have a 12” snare with 6 lugs and if one it’s off ?....))) the beginning of the song is a funky sound, in the end- deep fat snare)))) I’m using the Ian Paice method
I tried Tightscrew tension rods on a couple of snares. They made tuning the drum a little more difficult (yes, they are a little harder to turn once they meet the lug nut), but they stay put once you're there. It's almost like they attacked the problem from the source.
www.tightscrew.com
But...when will someone invent a lug insert with a nylon ring inside to prevent the rod from backing out?
Great video as always, Cody.
As I watched, I wondered about the nylon washers that sometimes come on drums and whether that was supposed to be their purpose as well? By providing a bit of give between the rim and the flat of the bolt, it might save on tuning?
I've just recently purchased an OC Drums 13x7 maple which has diecast hoops and can confirm that the detuning tends to be all-around with it. Worse by far, actually. I hadn't really made the connection until I watched this, but the difference is unmistakable. I'm a very rim-heavy player, though, so your mileage may vary.
Nylon washers are actually just to prevent wear on the hoops/tension rod. My old Rama kit had the steel washers and almost rubbed through on the snare. Needless to say they’ve been long replaced by nylon washers.
I'm just now struggling with drums going out of tune when recording. Couldn't be a better timing!
Could it also be an issue with changing hoops? I switched from flanged hoops to die cast hoops on my ludwig black magic snare.
Theoretically it could be, but I’ve experienced lugs loosening with every kind of hoop imaginable at one time or another.-Cody
interesting 🤔 i've never really noticed this... probably because i'm not a clean drum tuner 😂 ( although i do try to tune toms to their closest pitch note value )
i have wanted to say this from the first episode and going to say it now due to i really want to know what you said
when you said your SPONSOR OF THE EPISODE I definitely could not hear what you said so I turned on the close caption, and this is who it said your sponsor was “perm our prided area” is our sponsor for the video
last, when you’re talking about the two lug locks, the little rectangle ones with the off centered hole which I already own those but the second set the weird long, clear pieces of plastic >
when you said who made those I couldn’t hear it and the CC didn’t say it
THIS TYPE of thing happens on every single video I don’t know if you could maybe take a still shot of the packaging when you talk about it or throw up the spelling on the screen when you talk about a product or a sponsor or even slow down and actually say what it is a few times so we can hear it but every single video every sponsor any product you’re talking about it just flies right out of your mouth and I have no idea what you’re saying nor does the closed captioning have any clue what you’re talking about so why even say it .
I’m saying why even say who your sponsor is why even talk about a product if we’re not even gonna hear it just don’t even mention it because we can’t tell what you’re saying anyway
OK 👍🏼 i hope maybe this gets cleared up for people who couldn’t understand who your sponsors are and what you’re talking about. I love this channel and only want to see things get better.
KEEP UP THE GREAT CONTENT.
☮️PEACE❤️LOVE🌎UNiTY
🥁🦆💨
One of the biggest factors is actually the thread on the lugs( more thread the better..
That can certainly affect the outcome but I've still had DW tension rods back out in the midst of a video shoot. -Ben
@@SoundsLikeADrum I've never had that issue with my tama but I'm also a light player
You’re talking about “going out of tune.” My issue is that I have one lug that comes ALL the way loose, not even finger tight…
That’s precisely what we’re talking about here.
YOI HEARD MY PRAYERS!!!! XD
Nice
If you listen to isolated drums from "Smells Like Teen Spirit", you can hear Dave Grohl's snare going out of tune by the end.
its a major issue on my floor tom
I recently put lug locks on my supraphonic and after one song 2 of the 3 popped off! Do you know why? I've never had that happen before
Were they at all loose? Any chance you may have hit them? Did the tuning change on the lugs you were using them with?
@@SoundsLikeADrum I didn't notice they popped off until after the song, but yes they did loosen. I put them back on, it happened again, so then I just gave up. At this point I'm so used to having to check those tuning rods that I'm just dealing with it now.
DW lugs back out worse than any I've ever encountered... like snare reso lugs falling on the floor and your not smashing the drum
Lithium grease.. nice..
# Rdavidr approves.
thread seal tape?
Not if you want to be able to keep retuning your drums without a hassle.
Isn't lithium grease a messy, pasty white?
Yes, but you only need a very little bit of it. It shouldn’t end up being very messy at all.
The kind I have is like a translucent copper, but it's grease, it all turns black in the end.
If you play a lot of gigs they don't stay on, they end up on the floor of the stage.
What year supra you have?
This is my 70’s (I’d have to double check the specific year) and then Cody just recently got a 60’s Supra that I believe is a ‘68 or ‘69. -Ben
Try purple (adjustable) loctite.
We’d rather not put stuff like that on tension rods if we can avoid it.
@@SoundsLikeADrum It’s not really messy provided you dab it into the hole sparingly rather than on the bolt, excess is easily wiped off too, I use it on my basses saddle height screws to stop them backing out with hard playing and it never makes a mess on my hand while palm muting over the bridge or anything.
Doesn’t impede adjustments at all 🙂
I've been using TightScrew’s Drum Tension Rods for over ten years. Easy to install and will keep your drums in tune. I've included their website so you can check them out. www.tightscrew.com. I hope this helps.
trop de paroles,et pas assez de musique.
Je pense que vous pourriez manquer l'intention de cette série. Si vous recherchez plus de musique, nous serions heureux de vous recommander des enregistrements.
i use these:
www.gaugerpercussion.com/lockerztrade-tension-rod-locks.html
Awesome as always!... Btw, can someone help me? In this video, is he playing rimshots or is he just "burying" the stick on the first 10 sec? 🤔
m.czcams.com/video/iQYNt_PPrDc/video.html
Yeah, I'm going to need to buy some lug locks, thought they were a snake oil thing.
Also, funny how you look so forced when you're hitting hard lol. It's obvious that you're not a pop punk drummer. ;)