Dialtune PRO TIPS - May Edition

Welcome to our May Edition of PRO TIPS. Here we're digging into some of our most frequently asked questions - and the team has put together some videos to make your life easier. Whether you need to replace a drum head, change a cable, or mount a drum trigger, we have you covered!

How to Easily Remove and Replace a Drum Head

Are you having issues removing the quick-release hoop?? Couple things to check:

Step 1: As you turn the dial to remove tension, keep turning until the drumhead is flat out and sounds dead

Step 2: If the quick-release hoop is still snug, keep turning the dial to pull out more tension. Using your finger, gently tug straight DOWN on the cable between lugs to help the springs around the drum adjust to the new tension. Make sure you don't pull the cable off the pulleys, you'll end up having to restring the cable on the drum. 

Step 3: Try twisting the rim, it should easily unlock from the shoulder bolts. Again, if the rim is still tight, turn the dial more :) 

Step 4: Once the quick-release hoop is off, swap out the drum head, and reverse the process to place the hoop back on aligned with the shoulder bolts, and dial to tune!

How to Change a Cable Easily

Easiest to watch this video:

To change a cable, first follow the directions to remove your drum head.

Then, using a 2.5mm hex/allen wrench (Note* Maker Series uses 2mm), loosen the set screw in the hole to the right of the Dialtune logo on the dial. Be sure to remove both dials (even if you're only replacing one cable). DO NOT remove the set screw, just loosen enough so you can pull the dial out and off. With the dial removed, unwind the gear with your finger until you can easily remove the cable from the pulleys around the system.

With the cable removed, start by threading the new cable on the right side of the dial into the hole closest to the center of the dial. Push the cable through until you can pull it from the other side. Then bend it in a U-shape to push it back through the adjacent hole until it just sticks out. This will help lock the cable in place as you turn the dial.

Now you can begin to thread the cable through the pulleys around the drum. It's important to keep a little tension on the cable at all times to keep it from slipping off the previous pulley. Make sure the cable seats cleanly, all the way into the channel of the pulley housing. Use the hex/allen wrench to help guide the cable in if you're having issues with your fingers. Repeat this process all the way around the drum until you get to the lug just before dial housing you started with.

Here, skip the final two pulleys and go straight to the spool and affix the rubber coated ends of the cable in the same way you did at the beginning. Then loop the cable around final two pulleys, compressing the springs on the inner hoop if needed.

Replace the dials, then replace the drum head, and dial it back to tension.

How to Mount a Drum Trigger to Our Snare Rim

We've had a few drummers ask whether you can mount a drum trigger on our quick-release hoops. Good news! You can! S-flange hoops are a little different than traditional snare hoops, but with a little practice, you'll find it pretty easy to mount a trigger to the hoop. Check out our video here:

Got any questions? Want to see more tips? Let us know and we'll cover that in a future episode! Stay tuned for more expert advice and product updates from Dialtune!