You say the 12" tom is the worst. (They're usually the best.) Just a few things that come to my mind:*Are the heads that came with the kit played out?* Are the hoops round? (They usually will slide off the head, if real bad.) Do the hoops slide over the drum easily?* You say the diameter fluctuates around the tom. By how much? (I would imagine 1/16" or even 1/8" wouldn't cause much havoc.)* Are the hoops original equipment? (Might be insignificant.)* I can only presume you are tightening the heads evenly.* Is this a wrapped kit? Rewrapped kit?Just some points I'm pondering. Not sure if slight out of roundness would affect tuning too much. Out of square and by how much, I'd imagine would affect it somewhat; may be overcome by adjusting the turns for the affected rods. Interesting dilemma. Usually only hear about this kind of issue with older drums and new heads.Hmpf!B
Well I took some time today to really inspect the drums. I removed the hoops and heads on the 12 and 13. I measured at 12/6, 2/8 and 4/10 on the 13" and the 12" is a 5 lug drum so I measured at right angles to each lug.
The 12" is only 2/32 of an inch out, and the 13" is only 1/32 of inch out. That seems pretty in round to me.
The 12" was measuring 11" 28/32 across and the 13" is measuring 12" 15/16 across. This fluctuated slightly at each measurement but no more than 1/32.
I took several heads and measured the flat part of the head before the head starts to bend into the collar. The flat part of the heads seem to be about 4/32 to 6/32 smaller that the shell. So when I put the heads on the collar does not sit flat on the bearing edge, but hits the portion of the head just above the collar. This makes it seem a little tight... I can put the hoop on and crank the head down, but this didn't work with an earlier head I tried.
I pulled out my Tama Starclassic 12" tom and measured it and the width of the shell is the same, but the bearing edge is a 45 degree moved a little in from the edge and the heads sit on this and spin around flat.
Maybe I am just dealing with the Gretsch round over bearing edge.
I tested out the square of the 12" tom on the glass flat top of my stove (flatest thing I could find) and a tiny, tiny bit of light shines through around a good portion of the edge, but ever so slightly making me think it is pretty square.
So I wonder why I can't get that 12" to tune to a nice fat sound.....
To answer Azbill's questions in hope of finding an answer:
1. The heads that came with it are played out, I have tried some used heads in good condition and purchased a new one today which fits tight but might work OK once it's stretched out.
2. The hoops seem round, they are diecast and in great shape.
3. As mentioned above the diameter does not fluctuate as much as I thought. Well within reason.
4. Hoops are original
5. I assume I'm tensioning the heads evenly. Never had problems over the past 20 years, but I will try once again and be certain for even tension. The 5 lug is new to me though so anything is possible.
6. It is a wrapped kit and I noticed that the wrap comes right up to the edge of the bearing edge and since the Gretsch edge is more gradual I wonder if the thickness is what's binding the head a bit. I have ordered wrap to re-wrap them and maybe that is the solution?
Maybe i will just start over, put new heads on the drums, tension them evenly and try again. If nothing else I am learning a ton about the structure of a drum.