GENERAL QUESTIONS:
1. If I’m buying drums for a school, what should I start with?
2. I’m a first time pan player, what should I start with?
3. How often should I get my pan tuned?
4. Do I need cases?
5. How long can I expect my steel drum to last?
6. Where did the Steel Pan come from?
7. What is the difference in a Steel Pan and a Steel Drum?
8. Does your company build custom pans?
9. Can I listen to your pans before I purchase one?
10. Are higher priced Steel Drums really better than mid-priced drums?
11. What should I expect in an instrument?
12. Why are there so many patterns and instruments?
13. What pattern is the best?
14. What’s the difference between a “Synchronized” pan and a “Standardized” pan?
15. What is a bore pan?
16. What are the pros and cons of the bore pan?
17. Are chrome pans brighter than painted pans?
18. Do all Pans sound the same?
19. Why do some pans “bark”?
20. Do pans go out of tune from shipping?
21. How do I clean a chrome pan?
22. How do I get rust off my pan?
23. How do I fix a buzz?
24. Should I use legs or stands for my Basses?
QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR COMPANY AND PRODUCTS:
1. Can I buy sheet music here?
2. What types of payment do you accept?
3. What kind of stand options do you have?
4. What types of cases do you carry?
5. What is the shipping time for stands, mallets, cases, apparel, etc.?
6. How long do the tips on the mallets usually last? Can they be replaced?
7. Do you have a return policy?
8. Will you retune my pan even if it’s not a Coyle Drum?
9. What should I do if my pan gets damaged?
10. Do you use new or used barrels to make your pans?
11. What colors do you offer with your painted instruments?
12. Where did you learn the craft?
13. How many people work at Coyle Drums?
14. Does Coyle Drums accept new apprentices?
15. How long does it take to learn the craft?
16. Does Coyle Drums offer different lines of pans?
17. Does Coyle Drums offer different quality levels of instruments?
18. Does Coyle Drums require deposits for instrument orders?
19. Does Coyle Drums sell used pans?
1. If I’m buying drums for a school, what should I start with?
Answer - We recommend starting with 1 Tenor,
1 Double Second, 1 Guitar and 1 Bass. If you have the budget for more, we’d suggest adding more instruments from the top down. If your budget is limited, try using a Bass Guitar in place of the Bass Pan.
2. I’m a first time pan player,what should I start with?
Answer - We recommend you start with a Tenor or Double Second. They are the most popular and versatile. The Tenor is an easier instrument to play and is good for soloing but the range can be limiting. The Double Second has a large range but takes a little longer to get proficient with.
3. How often should I get my pan tuned?
Answer - Pans need to be tuned about once a year given normal playing. A new instrument will go out of tune sooner (approx. 9 months) but they hold tune longer as they get older. The two biggest determining factors in how your pans hold tune is the quality of your instrument and how hard you play.
4. Do I need cases?
Answer - We strongly suggest purchasing cases. A good deal of pitch shifting occurs from poor handling, not playing. Cases will dramatically extend the life of your instrument.
5. How long can I expect my steel drum
to last?
Answer - With proper care and regular maintenance a good quality chrome pan can last upwards of 20 plus years. Painted instruments seem to deteriorate sooner. Bass pans tend to develop cracks and wear out after 10 to 15 years.
6. Where did the Steel Pan come from?
Answer - The Steel Pan was created on the Island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, off the coast of Venezuela, South America.
7. What is the difference in a Steel Pan
and a Steel Drum?
Answer - Nothing. Generally Trinidadians call them “Pans” while many Americans call them “Drums.”
Personally, I use the words interchangeably.
8. Does your company build custom pans?
Answer - Very rarely. All custom work is decided on a case by case basis. It doesn’t hurt to ask though!
9. Can I listen to your pans before I
purchase one?
Answer - Most often yes, we’ll try to
put you in touch with someone in your area who has one of our
instruments or you can come to our shop…though I’m
sure that’s not always possible. Our pans are hand crafted,
so there is always some difference in sound from pan to pan. We
have a “basic sound” that we shoot for but we make
each instrument to suit the player. Some like um bright, some
like um dark, some like um hard and tight, some like um sensitive,
sometime you feel like a nut sometimes you don’t :).
10. Are higher priced Steel Drums really
better than mid-priced drums?
Answer - In a word, yes. Generally you’ll
find they are crafted better and have a more consistent tone throughout
the instrument. More refined.
11. What should I expect in an instrument?
Answer - That it’s IN TUNE at a minimum!
The following is our basic five point system in evaluating an
instrument (regardless of tonal quality, which can be subjective).
There are other areas of concern but these five are the most critical.
1. Pitch- Must
be in tune with the fundamental, first octave, second octave,
and harmonic.
2. Blend- Must
have all note classes, i.e. all the C’s vibrating together.
Too much of this “Coupling” will cause the upper note
to wobble in pitch. The degree of “coupling” is one
of the determining factors in whether a pan is bright or dark
in tone.
3. Focus- This
is the note’s ability to hold a true pitch when played soft
or loud. If the note is not structured properly the note will
actually bend (change pitch) under hard playing…not good.
4. Sustain- One
would prefer to have the notes sustain at a consistent rate. What
we shoot for is a slightly longer sustain as you go down in pitch
from the highest to the lowest note.
5. Balance- This
is hands down the most important area and the most difficult area
to achieve. All of the above mentioned areas should be done properly
plus, each note should carry a consistent tonal character. You
wouldn’t be happy with a Piano that had a bright sounding
“C” and a dark sounding “C Sharp” next
to it, would you? So why settle for it in a Pan?
12. Why are there so many patterns and
instruments?
Answer - OK, hopefully I won’t ruffle
too many feathers here!!!! The instruments have been evolving
and because of that some patterns have become somewhat “standardized”
while others have fallen out of favor. I’m sure that each
instrument was originally created to fill a need. Some have filled
those needs better than others. If you look back through history
you’ll find that there were originally many different “Saxophones”
other than the four we use today. The same holds true in the “Violin”
family. Shoot me if I’m incorrect but I believe there were
9 or 10 different string instruments in the Violin family. Now
we use four.
I think of the instrument layout (pattern) as a platform for displaying
the pitches. Any two pitches can be placed next to one another.
That doesn’t mean they will sound good or work well together.
It is my feeling that some of the inconsistencies throughout the
instruments are a result of lack of skill and understanding in
the early days of the instruments’ development. Though most
of the decisions made back then were nothing less than remarkable.
Here is a listing of some of the different patterns out there.
Soprano voice:
Lead (Tenor): Invader (Low Lead), Cycle of
5th
Alto voice:
Double Tenor (3 patterns)
Double Second (5 patterns)
Double Alto
Tenor voice:
Double Guitar (3 patterns)
Triple Guitar (5 patterns)
Triple Cello (5 patterns)
Four Pan
Four Cello
Quadraphonic
Triple Tenor extension
Quadduet extension
Baritone voice:
Tenor Bass (2 patterns)
Bass voice: (numerous patterns of
all)
Five Bass
Six Bass
Eight Bass
Nine Bass
Twelve Bass
13. What pattern is the best?
Answer - The one that fills your needs the
best.
14. What’s the difference between
a “Synchronized” pan and a “Standardized”
pan?
Answer - A synchronized pan follows a consistent
logical pattern in its layout of the pitches. For example, all
the notes on one side of a “two drum” instrument are
repeated on the other drum either up or down a half step respectively
in the same relative place on the barrel. A standardized instrument
is one that employs a “generally” accepted pattern
(or layout sequence). This doesn’t mean that it is synchronized.
For example there is a standard Double Tenor layout but it is
not synchronized. The Lead(cycle of 5th Tenor) however is standardized
and synchronized. Yes, it can get confusing.
15.
What is a bore pan?
Answer - A bore pan is an instrument that has
holes (usually 1/8”) drilled around the border of each note.
16.
What are the pros and cons of the bore pan?
Answer -
Pros:
1. Increased dynamic range
2. Stronger notes that cut through…especially in the upper
registers
3. Increased volume given the same velocity strike compared to
a traditional pan
4. Brighter sound…upper partials speak more clearly
Cons:
1. Can be thinner in tone
2. If you like a darker sound, the bore is probably not for you.
17.
Are chrome pans brighter than painted pans?
Answer - Well,
yes and no. The paint that is applied to the playing surface tends
to darken the sound of the painted pans. An unpainted pan will
be just as bright as a chrome pan. It will have a slightly different
timbre, though.
18.
Do all Pans sound the same?
Answer - No. You can find the full spectrum
of tonal quality from very bright to dark pans as well as excellent
craftsmanship to poorly built instruments. Some pans are highly
focused with pure resonant tones and some are raspy and unwieldy.
Even among individual builders there are inconsistencies since
all pans are hand made. With the best builders, the inconsistency
between instruments is greatly reduced.
19.
Why do some pans “bark”?
Answer - Because they’re dogs! He, he,
he…When a note “barks” it is actually bending
in pitch. They usually go sharp sometimes as much as 50 percent
or more. If a note is structured properly it will hold tune under
moderate to loud playing. This barking is common in low quality
pans. It is my feeling that a note should not fluctuate in pitch
from soft or loud playing. It should only change volume. One sign
of a superior quality instrument is sensitivity in a note when
struck soft yet still hold pitch and not become raspy under aggressive
playing.
20.
Do pans go out of tune from shipping?
Answer - Rarely! I can’t tell you how
many times I’ve heard someone say “I just got a new
pan from so and so and it was out of tune when I got it. It must
have been knocked out in shipping.” OK, in four years Coyle
Drums had three pans get damaged (knocked out) in shipping. Maybe
we’re the kings of packing but I doubt it.
Here’s the real deal…When an instrument
is new, it MUST BE CONDITIONED TO STAY IN TUNE. This requires
the tuner to retune and touch up the instrument a number of times
over a few weeks before shipping it to the customer. It is my
professional opinion that many tuners don’t take the extra
time to do this. Thus, the pan is out of tune by the time it gets
to you.
PS: If you’re one of the tuners that do condition your instruments…good
for you! If you’re not, well, get with the program!
21.
How do I clean a chrome pan?
Answer - For a quick and easy clean I use “Windex”
glass cleaner. It’s best to use chrome cleaner, though.
Try “Mother’s” chrome cleaner. It does a good
job and isn’t too expensive.
22.
How do I get rust off my pan?
Answer - Never use a rust removal chemical
on a chrome pan! It will tarnish the chrome finish. For painted
pans or the backside of chrome pans try “Starbright”
rust remover. You can usually find it at West Marine boat stores.
It stinks to high heaven but it works!
23.
How do I fix a buzz?
Answer - A good temporary fix is…
1. Set the drum on it’s side
2. Put the buzzing part of the skirt down next to the floor
3. Then push on the rim (not the skirt) 180 degrees opposite the
buzz i.e. the highest point
4. Push down about as hard as you would if you were giving CPR.
This quick little push should stop
the buzz. It usually works and the most I’ve ever had to
do it is 3 times.
For a permanent fix, pour heated Vaseline up into the skirt where the buzz is.
1. Get a Campbell’s soup can and put a blob
of Vaseline into it (about the size of the first digit of your
thumb).
2. Heat the Vaseline on the stove until it melts…. WATCH
IT because it can catch on fire if you heat it too long.
3. Have your drum on the floor next to the stove with the belly
side up.
4. Pour the melted Vaseline into the rim area where the buzz is.
5. After it sets up wipe away any extra Vaseline
6. It’s important to work quickly and I recommend practicing
the pour a few times before you do it. The Vaseline will get hard
in about 10 seconds. Needless to say you must move fast.
24.
Should I use legs or stands for my Basses?
Answer - Well, there are pros and cons to
both. Legs work very well and give your Bass a strong punchy bottom,
but can be a pain when trying to put the drums into cases. The
stands work well also. They will give your Bass a little more
volume but you loose the punch. Also $600.00 for stands is a bit
steep.