We imagine most of our readers don't understand that much about drums.
We certainly don't. Or at least didn't.
At Designers' Open we learnt a lot more.
And it's a lot more fascinating than you might imagine.
Specifically we learnt about the Zoom Bass Drum System from Leipzig based Rockstroh Drums.
In essence, in order to change the sound of a bass drum, you have to adjust the tension of the skins.
Which involves a lot of work. And takes a lot of time.
Rockstroh Drums, working in collaboration with Studio Harftensteiner - so Jan Hartmann and Andreas Neubert the driving forces behind Designers' Open - decided to tackle the problem and developed the Zoom Bass Drum System.
A genuinely revolutionary approach to bass drum design.
Employing a sort of trombone principle the Zoom bass drum is designed so that the front part slides back and forward; movement that naturally changes the sound.
And that quickly and effortlessly.
In addition, the opening in the bass drum allows for new microphone positions, which offers more variety in the sounds that can be recorded in the studio.
The "design" in the concept comes firstly in the decision to use the tuning key as the locking mechanism for the system. Every drummer has such a key, and the decision to employ it in the system is one of those "Ohh so simple" ideas that only a designer can come up with.
And secondly the three rods over which the forward part of the drum slides are coated in an anti-friction coating that not only guarantees ease of movement, but also protects against corrosion and accidental damage.
As we say, drums aren't really our speciality, but we were very impressed by the innovation in the system.
If a bit a bit disappointed that we weren't allowed to try out the kit in Halle 14.
More information on the Zoom Bass Drum System can be found at http://rockstrohdrums.com/
