Well, I have never played calf! I am not old enough...

Stick with me, kid. You'll do fine!!!

Gigging in the summer of '74. Started loading up the kit in the back of my Datsun pickup where I discovered someone had left a small pillow -- looked like something from a sofa -- in the bed. Hmm, said I. Into the kick it went that night. All the heads have all changed several times since then but the owner hasn't. And that pillow in lying in my BD right now. Looks better than I do too.

Love the story!!!!

But whats the best way to damp a base drum?

Stu,

Calfskin produces a warm tone with a natural dampening effect but is highly susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity, and is therefore difficult to keep in tune. Some vintage bass drums and timpani actually had light bulbs installed inside the shells to keep the calfskin heads warm and dry while being played. Fibreskyn is a modern plastic substitute resembling calfskin which many players now use on their vintage sets.

Welcome to the site and make sure you visit all the forums, and ask questions. There’s a lot of experts here on any drum topic you can imagine.

Now I know that calfskin heads are a bit too temperamental for a nooby like me lol fibreskin is the ticket. My kit has Remo weatherking heads I guess there plastic?

Like another poster, for me it's an Aquarian Superkick II on the back and and a Regulator in front. Smackin 'er when she's wide open, she's huge and loud (I know I know..."just like I like my women"...)

Did use bacon when I gigged in the South back in the day. Great for layin' down fatback grooves.

WARNING!!! Do NOT use turkey bacon! The sound will be a lot less fat.

So bacon is a damping material? I am confused.

No, bud. That was just a humorous option offered in the OP.

Some of us have just been running with the joke.

Before you muffle your bass drum, you need to know how you want your drum to sound to know what to do to it.

Short and sharp note? You're prob'ly gonna want something in the drum against the back head.

A rounder, fatter kinda thing? That's gonna call for less muffling like a felt strip or maybe an Aquarian Superkick head or somesuch.

My tonal preference is to go for as much depth (and also volume) as I can get. To that end, I think Roy Burns at Aquarian should get a medal for coming out with his Superkick and Resonator heads. Your bass drum can be wide open which will give you the most volume...BUT...that head combo also removes all the stuff I DON'T want, i.e., "flap" and overtones. Win-win. Just a centered, beefy thump. Obviously, along with the above, you can't leave careful tuning out of the equation, either.

Seriously...

It depends on the batter head what damping method to use.. I always vary the method according to the choice of heads fitted.

If it's a Beer batter head I use several Potato Sacks.

If an Aquarian batter head is fitted (and I don't like the bass player) I use poly bags of leftover seafood scraps.

If I am using one of the Vintage Pigskin heads then obviously bacon is the go.

Great poll... brings out the best in us.. & Bunny... I am not offended by the "Preceding Post",,, (as there wasn't one before you started this)

Cheers Y'all