Lesson Learned #1 - So, you know when you are tuning up some drums and it seems like a never-ending struggle as you trying all kinds of things to find that ever so elusive good sound? It's enough to drive you batty and send you off to the looney-bin! Well, I have been trying to tune my snare for like 2 hours now. I had noticed that the wires were not centered, but did not think it would make THAT much difference. I always knew that could be problematic, but I never realized how much! When I finally did get around to it, it made all the difference in the world and I believe it was the guilty culprit. Just for clarification - not centered left and right, but how far each end of the wire end is to the rim/outside of the head - adjustable by remounting the position of the string / plastic strips. WOW - so much better now!

Lesson Learned #2 - So I am using brushes on this gig coming up and I usually use studio rings on my toms. Well, I decided on the songs that I will use brushes, I will take the studio rings off. The resulting sound is proving to be on the thin side lacking bottom end. I noticed that when I hit the toms catching some rim (rim shot) then it brings out the low end of the drum. How cool is that!

Just thought I would share these with you all in case you don't know these already.

John