08/27/2026
The Rhythm X Battery Sound πΌ
SNARES
β Drums: FFXCC Championship CarbonCore
β Heads: Evans Hybrid Snare Drumhead (top) + MX5 (bottom)
β Sticks: Promark DCPM1
β Tune the bottom head to a D
β Keep the tops lower than a D, typically around a C-C #
β The gut tension should be around a C
β Make sure the guts are flush with the bottom head (no downward bend past the shell)
β Apply lithium grease inside the lug casings
β βWe hadnβt taped the bottom heads in years. This year, parts of the book were so dense that we wanted to shorten the sound.β
β Josh Brickey, Battery Caption Head
QUADS
β Drums: Pearl Championship CarbonCore deep shell (6-8-10-12-13-14β)
β Heads: Evans TCX
β Sticks: Promark Tim Jackson signature sticks
β Tuning (low to high): B-D-E-G # | We tune to the main overtone because thatβs the main pitch we hear. If you hear the fundamental, itβs F #-A-B-D #
β Spocks: high and a fourth below high
β Apply lithium grease inside the lug casings
BASSES
β Drums: Pearl Championship Maple Series (16-18-20-24-28β)
β Heads: Evans MS1s custom printed
β Mallets: Promark Performer Series Bass Drum Mallets (PSMB) 1, 2, 2, 3, 4
β Foam: from foamonline.com, 2β depth into the shell, and increasing height by 1/4 of an inch: 0.75β, 1β, 1.25β, 1.5β, 1.75β (top to bottom). We eyeball it for amount sticking out past the bearing edge.
β Tuning (low to high): E-B-E-A-C #
β Apply lithium grease inside the lug
CYMBALS
β SABIAN AVX Seavine Series (18β)
β Seavine Cymbal Gloves, Cymbal Straps, Pads, and Pad Straps
β Taped knots
β Pearl Cymbal Cradle with Base (Orchestral Cymbal Stand)
