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Bass Drum Muffling

Over the decades there have been many variations on bass muffling, but only a few have really stuck. The two most common types of bass muffling today are "On-Shell" or "On-Head." Both have their own benefits in tuning and overall sound, however that is to the opinion of the "ear of the beholder." 

Our bass muffling is intended for "On-Shell" use because we believe in consistency and efficiency. What we mean by that is, with on-shell muffling you only have to do it once for the drum. Every head change you have is simple and quick, no worrying about needing more muffling and going through the install process every time. Plus, with on-shell muffling you get true graduated sizes for each drum so the amount of muffling is consistent drum to drum. 

Save time, save money, and get a product that was specifically designed for marching bass drums... by marching bass drummers. 

Advanced Bass Muffling System

The Advanced Bass Muffling System (sold in pairs) gives you that Top 12 Drum Corps sound more easily, and quicker, than ever before... right out of the box. The included self adhesive makes it possible to install the foam and get back to playing immediately. No waiting for any extra purchased adhesive to dry.

These strips of foam remove the high overtones from your marching bass drum while focusing the fundamental tone and enhancing clarity out on the field or indoors. The Advanced Bass Muffling System is used by some of the biggest marching ensembles out there, including RCC Indoor, Blue Devils, Bluecoats, Phantom Regiment, Blue Stars, Spirit of Atlanta, Stryke, Matrix and many more.

The foam is cut to cover the entire inner circumference of your drum, attaching immediately with a professional-grade adhesive that sets instantly (no more waiting time to put new heads on).

We brainstormed with the biggest names in marching percussion to make sure the thickness of the foam corresponds to the size of the drum to give you exactly the right amount of muffling. A specially-designed angle on the side that touches the head ensures the foam remains completely in contact with the head when you add tension, unlike squared/flat foam that can leave gaps (potential tuning issues & uneven overtones).

This product includes two strips (excluding Single Tenor Drums - single piece only) to fully dampen both sides of any marching bass drum. ***The exact inner diameter of the drum can vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. We give you enough to cover any brand's drum, so there may be a little too much foam. The excess can be easily trimmed off.

Foam thickness:

14" - 5/8"
16" - 5/8"
18" - 3/4"
20" - 7/8"
22" - 1"		24" - 1 1/8" 
26" - 1 3/8"
28" - 1 5/8"
30" - 2"
32" - 2 1/4"
ST - 14" Single Tom (Single Piece Only) - 2"

Standard Bass Muffling

Our Standard Bass Muffling is the same foam and same cut as the Advanced Bass Muffling System, however, there is no self-adhesive included. This is a preference for the experienced bass tech that knows how to use spray adhesive well and has the patience to get it done right. 

The real benefit here is using your adhesive of choice. 3M90 or 3M77 is the most recommended adhesive to use but some others prefer construction adhesive or caulking (however, spray adhesive has a tighter bond and gets more even coverage between the shell and foam). 

Things to consider: (1) This is ideal for brand new drums that have never been internally muffled before. (2) You will need to let your adhesive set for at least 24 hours before putting the heads back on. (3) Once set there is no adjusting the muffling, this is why we suggest this for experienced instructors only. 

Why Use Our Muffling?

Using foam for muffling marching bass drums has been the go-to method for drumline's around the world for quite some time now. With over 50 years of experience in playing, tuning and muffling bass drums, our experts have all agreed that this is the formula that works. This system has the right density of foam, the optimal amount of contact with both the head (to reduce overtones) and the shell (to keep shell tone quality) and, best of all, the easiest and most accurate installation. The angle cut of the foam is a proprietary design that is incredibly effective and you cannot get with any other drum muffling. The adhesive (on the Advanced Bass Muffling System) is immediate yet adjustable during installation and holds strong so you can put your heads on and get back to what we all love the most, playing bass drum.