DW SM103 Felt Bass Drum Beater, Medium Head
The SM103 is a felt beater, and nothing else. No second surface, no choice to make again: a medium-size white felt head, with its sliding weight. It is the beater for bass drums you want round.
What sets it apart
- White felt head, medium size in the manufacturer's range
- One surface: the stroke never changes during the show
- Shaft weight included
- Slow, even wear, typical of solid felt heads
- The in-between size among the catalogue's felt heads
One surface, and why that is a decision
A two-way beater forces a choice at every setup: which side tonight. A solid felt head does not. You lose versatility and gain consistency: the last song sounds like the first, and the angle you found once stays right.
There is also a wear reason. A solid head flattens slowly and evenly, whereas a felt side paired with a hard side works on one side only and deforms faster.
The medium size, between point and cushion
The manufacturer offers its felt head in several sizes. The medium size is the balance point: enough surface for the note to have body, but not so much that the attack gets diluted and the bass drum sounds like a pillow.
The manufacturer also offers a large head in the same family. Between the two, the choice is made by ear, in front of the tuned drum: the wider the head, the more body the note gains and the more definition it loses.
Specifications
| Head | White felt, medium size |
|---|---|
| Number of surfaces | One |
| Weight | Shaft weight included |
| Intended for | DW bass drum pedals |
What it is for
- A bass drum you want round and deep
- Jazz, blues and acoustic music, where a hard attack gets in the way
- Recording where the kick drum note has to sustain
- Replacing a felt head flattened over the years
- A drummer who prefers a consistent stroke to a versatile accessory
Compare with other manufacturers
Felt is the most common material; each manufacturer gives it its own density and shape:
| Manufacturer | Comparable beater | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Danmar | Felt heads in multiple sizes | Specialist in the head alone, with a very wide range of sizes |
| Vic Firth | VicKick felt head | Head shape and shaft specific to the range |
| Pearl | Eliminator pedal felt beater | Designed first as a removable face for the Pearl system |
| Ludwig | Speed King felt beater | Historic design, mount specific to the Ludwig frame |
Frequently asked questions
- How is it different from the two-way beater?
- This one has only one surface. You lose the option of changing sound by flipping it, and you gain an identical stroke from start to finish of the show, plus even wear.
- How do I choose between the medium and the large head?
- The manufacturer offers both without recommending one by drum diameter. The medium size leaves more definition in the attack; the large size gives the note more body.
- Is the weight included?
- Yes. The manufacturer specifies that the shaft weight comes with the beater.
- When should I replace it?
- When the head has flattened at the point of contact: the striking surface grows, the attack gets diluted and the bass drum loses its definition.
Avis clients
Looking for a stroke that stays the same from one song to the next?
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