FAST drum sizes

[mfrzrdrum]

I'm looking for the theory behind FAST sized drum shell depths. I know they were started by DW, but there is no info on their site. And what are the FAST sizes for each depth? I've seen 11 x 14 and 12 x 14, for example. There is plenty of mis-information on the web - I'm looking for some real information.

Or any opinions regarding maximum "punch" at minimum volume.

Thanks

[chamberlainwannabe]

most of the one's i've seen are 1 inch less deep than the diamter of the head. i.e., depth 13 x 14 diameter.
Also, i've heard their louder than "power" tom sizes, because there is less distance between the batter head and the resonant head.

[MPCman]

Originally posted by chamberlainwannabe
Also, i've heard their louder than "power" tom sizes, because there is less distance between the batter head and the resonant head.

Perhaps the sound cuts through better with some music, because the sound is clearer, as opposed to power toms. But a power tom is bigger, so there is more space for the sound to resonate, so the sound level might be higher?

Fast toms are ok, but I think I wouldn't go without normal square floortoms.

[mfrzrdrum]

Well I discovered that FAST stands for Fundamentally Accurate Sized Tom. Also that the shallower the shell, the more of a "pure" tone you can get out of it. The deeper the shell, the more depth (wadayaknow) you can get out of it.

Thinking about building a set after reading MD's series of articles on "building your own".

[puttenvr]

another dw hype ..

[OldGuy_E2P]

DW hype?

Whattaya mean hype? I bet there's some serious math behind the FAST concept. I'll bet the best numbers-cruncher in the marketing department came up with it.

Has to do with dimensional ratios, and shell construction, head tensions and and and and and lots of other important stuff. No hype. Yeah baby!

Or maybe, "Hey, we're losing market share with these square size toms. We have done saturated the market. I have an idea, let's shave a couple of inches off the depth, give 'em a cool high tech concept name, and start a new trend."

Actually, I'm a DW owner, and I really like them. BS walks and well made/sounds great talks. They can call it whatever they like, as long as the product works for me.

Later dudes (and dudettes)
E2P

[chamberlainwannabe]

i don't think it's hype necessarily. when you think about it there is less distance between two heads and less distance for the sound waves to travel and such. I guess it gets into physics or something...

[puttenvr]

Re: DW hype?

Originally posted by OldGuy_E2P
Has to do with dimensional ratios, and shell construction, head tensions and and and and and lots of other important stuff.

Exactly: all these things are far more important than 1 inch shell depth more or less

Originally posted by OldGuy_E2P
Hey, we're losing market share with these square size toms. We have done saturated the market. I have an idea, let's shave a couple of inches off the depth, give 'em a cool high tech concept name, and start a new trend."

Right. That's what I meant to say. DW is capable of introducing things, which have been done so many times before. But they make us believe it must be new or different. And all those drummer endorsers who say "wow, this is the first time in my life I heard a drum sound like that "
**** up. Drums already sounded good in the 1930s.
Since that time only Gauger Percussion's Rims is the only serious addition to a tree trunk with two plastic heads on it that a drum is.


Happy X-mas to you all

[OldGuy_E2P]

[gingerbaker]

The Cynic's Math

F inancially
A dvantageous
S elling
T echnique

[gingerbaker]

Actually, although I have not heard the FAST toms, it would not surprize me if DW was on to something. I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt, as they have been innovative in the past, and it would be stupid to risk their reputation for a marketing gimmick.

What makes a drum, or a speaker, sound good - or bad- is a very complicated matter from what I have heard. Each change one makes to one perameter changes the others somewhat.

BOSE developed a system to enhance the bass output of their speakers using a very small space, ( Acoustimass - kinda like a folded horn?) and the engineering was dependent on all the components being "tuned" to each other.

Perhaps DW is doing something along those lines? The physical dimensions of each drum are perhaps optimized for a specific resonant frequency - the shell note? Perhaps the wavelength of each particular note needs a specific depth in order to be a perfect multiple, and have "perfect" resonance? Perhaps this is why they claim the tones are more pure? Perhaps I am completely full of it? ( more likely )

[mfrzrdrum]

Heres a link with a pretty good explanation of what makes a drum sound the way it does. Not sure of the credentials of "Prof. Sound"...........

http://www.drumweb.com/profsound.shtml