Thanks for sharing Gvd!

That's the first time I've heard of someone tuning the bottom head lower than the top. I think each drum has a sweet spot, and for to my ears that tends to occur when the drum is in tune with itself and both heads are tuned relatively close to one another.

I can tell Bunker's sound is different than most jazz drummers--and also different than the pitch I commonly seek--but that's exactly what I like about it.

I agree--whether drums or cymbals, you always need to have another drummer play the gear, so you can balance the drummer's sound with the audience's sound.

Sorry, I agree with Poetman, I don't buy the batter higher than reso idea.

For maximum tonal purity and projection, top and bottom tuned to the same pitch with wide open b.d. and soft b.d. beater works best for me on a 12/14/20 Rb Gretsch set, as well as 12/14/18 Sonor Phonic set.

I tune my 14x14 slightly higher than Bunker.

Snare drum: reso always higher than batter.

Ron

I understand that a lot of funk players and modern fusion jazz and combo players do employ slightly higher batter heads, But I always heard old school jazz players and big band swing guys did the reso head higher and the batter lower. Not that it didn't happen both ways back then either, but just as a general rule. It doesn't take too many turns too pitch up a calf head. It happens quick. Well, with the ones I have any way...