Abstract: A drumhead having a tone control ring which suppresses unwanted overtones while preserving the desirable fundamental tones. The tone control ring has its outside edge fixed to the drumhead hoop and extends along the inwardly facing surface of the drumhead sheet with its inside edge free to move and located inwardly of the bearing area of the drumhead. Small vent openings may be provided in the peripheral area or some other vibrational area of the drumhead to accelerate the decay of vibrations for further muffling of overtones. In an embodiment of the invention applicable to bass drums, the batterhead of the base drum is provided with an imperforate annular flap interposed loosely between the control ring and the drumhead for additional overtone suppression.

Abstract: A muffling device for enhancing the sound and feel of a bass drum. The muffling device includes a flat pad and a pillow which is hinged to the pad and which exerts spring resistance to flexure about the hinge. The underside of the pad has a pair of fastening strips for application to mating fastening strips on the drum body to secure the pad in the drum body with the pillow flexed about its hinge and resting against the batter head of the drum to apply a tension force to it. The pad and pillow have sound absorbing cores continued within netting having mesh openings through which the cores are exposed.

Abstract: A drumhead which includes a polyester film having a marginal flange bonded in a channel presented by metal hoop. Fiber reinforced polyester resin is poured into the channel and embeds the edge of the drumhead flange upon hardening. An inturned lip on the outside wall of the channel provides an interference fit with the resin to securely hold it in the channel. The upper edge of the inside wall of the channel is beveled at the same angle as the drumhead flange to provide a flat surface for the drumhead to seal against. A special spring clip is applied within the channel to secure the butt joint between opposite ends of the hoop.