New Sound and Feel from the Best Bass Drum Beater
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Tama Felt Cobra Bass Drum Beater -
Slug Power Head Standard Bass Beater -
Trick Pro Bass Drum Beater -
DW Black Sheep Bass Drum Beater -
Buyer's Guide
The bass drum beater is the part of the bass drum pedal actually striking the head, making it an important element in determining the sound and feel of a drummer’s bass drum. All bass drum pedals come with a beater but vary greatly in design, so purchasing a new bass drum beater is a great way to change the sound and feel of your existing pedal.
There are several different types of bass drum beaters. They mostly vary in the type of material that strikes the head with the most common options being felt, plastic, wood, wool, and metal. There’s also beaters available which have multiple surfaces on the same beater. These types are great because you can switch the surface during a gig with one simple turn of a drum key. You can also find beaters made out of a soft synthetic fur material and look like a beater for a concert bass drum.
The material the beater striking the head is what determines the sound you hear. It’s recommended you have several bass drum beaters because you’ll need to produce a different sound for each style of music you play. For example, a felt beater is good for general playing because it’s very versatile and you may usually only want to use a plastic beater when your felt beater isn’t cutting through. While plastic beaters have a “ticky” sound, they’re a bit louder than a felt beater. A wooden beater can be used for a raw, articulate, open sound that’s ideal for simulating a concert bass drum. If you’re someone who enjoys playing loud heavy metal music, look to a metal beater for your needs.
These for picks for best bass drum beaters in 2022 come available in a variety of different striking materials to suit the sound you’re looking for. They’re also all constructed to be extremely durable, meaning the surface will not wear down over years of playing with them; durability is extremely important with a felt beater because it’s the most susceptible to wear from normal use. Therefore, all of my felt picks are made with quality felt that will retain their sound over time. Lastly, these picks also all have the proper balance of size and weight to ensure consistent sound every time.
It is important to note we’re only focusing on beaters intended to play the drum set bass drum. These are often called “kick drum” beaters. Concert bass drum beaters that are used in the orchestra will not be discussed in this review.
The Best Bass Drum Beater Models of 2022 in Detail
Tama Felt Cobra Bass Drum Beater - Best Bass Drum Beater Overall
The Iron Cobra’s beater packs a big punch. There are several different options for the striking material on Tama’s Iron Cobra beater. I prefer the CB90F felt beater because it’s the most versatile for many different styles of music as it can be loud and punchy, or slow and sensitive. The beater weight is absolutely perfect, providing you with a smooth sound. My Iron Cobra pedal has the same beater that came with it, and sounds exactly the same as the day I bought it. I recently purchased a bass drum pedal that felt great, but had a horrible beater. I just bought a separate Iron Cobra felt beater as a replacement for the existing beater. When I switched out the bad beater for the Iron Cobra beater, the pedal had an even better feel and capable of making much better sounds. Any serious drummer should purchase an Iron cobra beater and try it out on every pedal they have as it will probably sound and feel better than their current beater.
Slug Power Head Standard Bass Beater - Runner Up
Slug Percussion offers some of the finest crafted bass drum beaters available, offering several different models with their standout being the Powerhead Standard. The balanced feel of this beater allows it to be very powerful when it needs to be while the beater shaft is actually tapered to feel more natural and responsive to your foot. This beater also features a dual sided head with felt and hard surfaces which can be switched up quickly by simply rotating the beater which then locks in place by hand. Now you no longer need to take out your drum key and unscrew a bolt just to change the head surface! The shaft is made of stainless steel, the whole beater is made to be extremely durable, and it’s available black or in the popular green color to suit your personal preferences.
Trick Pro Bass Drum Beater - Honorable Mention
Trick’s Pro 1-v is an aluminum beater with a strong attack and clear sound. Delivering a fat, powerful punch, this beater is a favorite of metal drummers because it’s loud enough to compete with a loud metal band. Built for speed, this beater helps any drummer produce consistent strokes at extreme volumes as well as providing necessary articulation for advanced double bass drum patterns. The beater itself is very lightweight in comparison to the full sound it produces and can also be adjusted vertically down the metal shaft for your preferred angle. The face can be changed for multiple surfaces which can completely transform its sound making this pick a very versatile beater indeed.
DW Black Sheep Bass Drum Beater - Consider
DW’s Black Sheep Beater is two beaters in one, featuring a larger wooden beater core that produces a hard sound which is a bit wider than most wooden beaters. The end result is a clear attack and almost a vintage sound. The main selling point of this beater is the included black wool cover which can be attached to the beater to completely change its sound. The wool cover is held in place by an elastic band and simply slips over the top of the wooden beater, allowing it to produce a softer “thumpy” sound. It’s a great option for drummers who like an open bass drum sound or coated heads without a mic hole. This beater is great for musical theater drummers who often have to switch from a kick drum sound to that of a concert bass drum, a task accomplished quickly and easily with this beater.
Buyer's Guide
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.
