Are you new to our WTS drums? Have you been debating whether to order your own? Are you curious about certain features of WTS products? No matter your background or goals, you may have some of the same questions drummers and music industry professionals have been asking us for the last few years.
We have compiled a list of the most common questions regarding our WTS drums, including our Welch Tuning System™ hardware, WTS Artistry Series™ shell packs and snare drum, WTS Epiphany Series™ shell packs and snare drums, and WTS Steve Pruitt Signature Snare. Throughout this article, get answers to these popular questions!
1) How can I buy the WTS Drums shell packs and snares?
We offer a variety of products that include shell packs, snare drums, hardware kits, drum accessories, apparel, and more. Explore the full collection.
No dealer in your area? Tell your local shop you want them to carry WTS drums! We're happy to work with them.
Are you a retailer? Apply to become an authorized dealer today!
If you are a drum manufacturer interested in integrating the Welch Tuning System into your product line, please contact us directly: sales@welchtuningsystems.com.
2) How easy is it to change drum heads?
Very easy and quick! The whole process is a cross between changing a guitar string and replacing a shoelace.
Release both heads and hoops by simply unwinding the tuning knob (the worm gear) and unstringing the cable from the pulleys. After replacing your heads, thread the cable through the pulleys and re-attach the cable to the tuning knob.
Watch the full instructional video and find our product manuals here!
3) How strong is the cable?
Our system uses high tensile strength braided stainless steel cable.
Normal drum tension will range from 10-30% of the rated tensile strength of the cable. The drum will choke up, the hoops will deform, and the tuning knob will become immobile long before the tension of the cable reaches its maximum allowance.
Over-tensioning could cause damage to your hoops or heads, so be kind to your drums and tune just like you would with any other stringed instrument! Never use any tool to assist turning the tuning knob handle. This is designed to be turned by hand only.
4) I'm a professional drummer - how can the WTS drums benefit me?
Our drums open up a multitude of musical possibilities for you! Now you can change tuning mid-performance or mid-studio session, no matter what the space is like or what temperature changes your drums have experienced. If a particular drum is flat or sharp, you can make adjustments in seconds instead of trying to hunt down a problem tension rod on stage. You can even tune your drums to the key of a song!
WTS drums have been used as a backline with the Relix Studio in NYC and The 5 Spot in Nashville for years now, and we are constantly getting great feedback from both the musicians and engineers. Explore our huge collection of reviews and live performances with WTS drums!
Plus, check out the review from world-renowned drummer Steve Pruitt! Steve is a highly sought after musician by many of today's top artists including grammy-winning Snarky Puppy, Bernard Wright, Oz Noy, Youngjoo Song, Yoon Jong Shin, Yoonseung Cho, and many others.
We offer a variety of shell packs and snares for the professional drummer, including the WTS Artistry Series, the WTS Epiphany Series, and the WTS Steve Pruitt Signature Snare. Explore the full collection in the WTS shop here!
5) What if I want to tune the top head differently than the bottom head?
A difference in fundamental tone can be achieved by using a thicker or thinner combination of heads.
Under the same tension (as achieved with the WTS drums featuring the Welch Tuning System (WTS)), a thinner head can give you a higher note than a thicker head. The even tension from WTS will provide a consistent, clear note at any pitch.
When you find the combination of heads that produce your desired sound, your drums will always maintain this relationship of tone.
6) Why do the WTS drums sound so good?
Every WTS drum features the revolutionary Welch Tuning System™ (WTS). WTS evenly tensions all points around both drum heads by utilizing self-adjusting pulley assemblies which allow the tension to equalize. As a result, both heads are always in tune with each other.
We use the best materials and the highest standards of craftsmanship to manufacture instruments and hardware to be the finest in quality, style, appearance, and playing performance.
Finally, the WTS drums have up to 90% fewer holes and hardware drilled in the shell compared to any other tuning system, creating an essentially free-floating system. Our shells are not choked up with excessive hardware bolted to the shell; with WTS pulleys attached to the hoops and only 4 holes drilled into each shell for the tuning knob, the drums are able to freely resonate.
Learn more about the Welch Tuning System here.
7) Why would I want both heads to be at the same 'tension'?
Tensioning both heads at the same time allows the drum to be tuned as a whole, providing a clean and clear note at any pitch.
As stated in Prof. Sound’s Drum Tuning Bible: "To create an ‘open, resonant’ sound, both heads should be of equal pitch….you'll reach a point where the drum evens out, the Doppler is gone and the drum becomes open and even in sound. This is the point where both heads are or are close to being identical in pitch.”
Alternatively, to create an open and resonant sound, both heads should have the same amount of tension. This allows the batter head, resonate head, and shell to all vibrate at the same frequency, resulting in a true resonance of the drum as a whole.
Watch our videos to hear how great these drums sound!
Please reach out to us with any questions or comments. We'd love to discuss our drums, the drum tuning system, the company, and our plans moving forward. We look forward to hearing from you!