Today’s drummers have more bass drum beater options than ever before. There are designs made for specific sounds and playing styles, others made to be versatile, and still others made with price in mind. Well, we whittled down the available models to our absolute favorites in some popular sub-categories. They’re our picks for the best bass drum beaters, by type.
We chose a single favorite in 6 categories. They’re all very different from each other, in both performance and cost. All of them, however, are well-tested and do a great job doing what they’re designed to do. Hopefully, the information below helps you find the one that’s best for you.
On with the list! These are the best bass drum beaters, by type.
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Super Soft:
Vic Firth
VicKick Fleece
Vic Firth VicKick Fleece Beater
The Vic Firth VicKick Fleece Beater is designed for a soft, round, full-bodied tone. Those characteristics are found more often in concert percussion circles than among drum set players. However, if you’re looking for a mellow sound from your kick drum, a standard beater won’t do.
This fleece beater might appear to be a ball of fluff at first glance, like something that belongs on top of a winter hat. In fact, there’s a harder felt core in the center. That’s a good thing for both sound and performance. While the fleece softens the blow, the felt allows for moderate volumes. The inner core also gives you enough weight to play with a natural feel.
You won’t get much attack or articulation when playing with this beater. Fast patterns won’t be very defined. It’s a beater best played at slow to medium tempos, where soft to medium volumes are needed. Jazz players that like an open bass drum tone, for example, often get good results from this beater. Those drummers can avoid the mix of harsh attack and overtones that often come when thin bass drum heads are played with harder felt beaters.
Other examples of drummers who often like the VicKick Fleece Beater play for theater shows, for dinner gigs, and for singer-songwriters. In those cases, this beater allows drummers to play naturally while maintaining a warm, soft tone that doesn’t overpower the room.
Heavy Hitter:
Trick Dead Blow
The Trick Dead Blow Beater is about as different from the VicKick Fleece as you can get. The Dead Blow is made for maximum power and volume. Several interesting design features add up to its effectiveness, both in durability and functionality. Overall, it’s a beater worth considering for any hard-hitting drummer.
This beater’s head design is very unique. It’s milled aluminum, like many of Trick’s drum accessories. The surface is bare for enhanced attack. The head is also hollowed, then partially filled with a proprietary material. That filler material shifts slightly when the beater is played. On impact, the beater makes contact, the inner-fill shifts forward to add a little extra momentum, and you get more a powerful stroke.
That beater head design can add some stress to the shaft. Thankfully, Trick considered that. The shaft is made of a super-strong high-tensile steel, commonly found in heavy industrial applications. If you’re concerned about breaking a beater, the Trick Dead Blow can be a reassuring option.
Drummers who want higher volumes, but don’t necessarily need to play at lightening-fast speeds, could get good use out of a Dead Blow beater. It has a very unique design, unlike anything else on the market. While it’s not a very versatile model, it will give you plenty of power and volume.
Old School:
DW Medium Felt
Round felt beaters have been around a long time, with many subtle variations. The style isn’t the most exciting design, but some drummers prefer simplicity. Round felt has a medium sound that works for a wide variety of genres, packaged in a nostalgic look that many drummers like.
Of all the standard round beaters out there, we like the DW Medium Felt best. Most quality felt beaters sound about the same, but the details make a difference. This DW version is a bit more oblong in shape, creating a slightly more pointed note. The resulting tone has a good balance of articulation and warmth. This beater has a medium weight and includes a shaft weight for adjusting feel.
The felt is also high quality. While that’s not unique among beaters in this price range, it’s something to be wary of with budget beaters. Some very inexpensive beaters use inferior felt that sounds mushy and wears down quickly. This DW felt will last as long as any beater felt on the market.
Overall, the DW Medium Felt beater is an updated twist on a classic design. It has a natural sound and feel, while sitting in the medium range of volume. Although it only allows for one sound, the beater shaft weight is a nice addition that allows for a bit of customization.
Speed Demon:
Trick Pro1-V
If you need speed, it’s tough to beat the Trick Pro1-V Beater. It’s a high-quality lightweight model that’s specialized for its purpose. This beater isn’t made for a soft touch. It’s made for fast precision, making it particularly popular among drummers who play double pedal.
Like the Trick Dead Blow above, the Pro1-V uses a high-strength shaft made for durability. However, the Pro1-V shaft is titanium, keeping the overall weight light. The Pro1-V also comes with multiple beater head surfaces – felt, plastic, and aluminum. Players who are most commonly drawn to this beater design typically prefer the articulation of a hard surface, but the included felt can come in handy.
Another nice feature of this beater is the adjustable head. It can swivel, ensuring you’ll get clean contact with the drumhead. That leads to more attack, and can even extend the durability of your bass drum head. The Pro1-V’s beater head can also slide up and down vertically, giving you a convenient way to line up to the bass drum’s center point.
This beater’s overall lightness doesn’t equate to a lot of power or volume. Of course, you can always add a beater weight if you need more mass, but players looking to maximize power may be better off with another beater. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for speed, precision, and a light feel, the Trick Pro1-V would be a great choice.
Very Versatile:
DW Control Beater
The DW Control Beater is the ultimate model for versatility. It made our list of Great Gifts For Drummers because it’s such a practical and innovative design. With interchangeable surface types and weights, drummers of any genre can find it useful.
This beater can be customized easily in both feel and sound. DW includes 3 weights to adjust the feel. Simply unscrew the face, set in a number of weights, and screw the face back on to hold everything in place. The whole process only takes a few seconds. Along with the option of using no weights, this beater has 4 possible feel options.
There are also various face types. As described above, all it takes is unscrewing and swapping one for another. There are even semi-locking notches built into the design to ensure the surface doesn’t come loose while playing. The included surface types consist of rounded felt, flat felt, and plastic. One of those usually gives drummers their preferred sound.
Finally, the head is self-adjusting. If your pedal sits a bit closer or further away from the drumhead, you won’t have to worry about the beater striking at an awkward angle. It’s just another smart design concept in a beater full of useful features. In total, the DW Control is a super-versatile beater that can be customized to fit your specific drumming needs.
Money Saver:
PDP Two-Sided
For those looking to save some money, the PDP two-sided beater is a good choice. It doesn’t have a sophisticated design and it has no fancy adjustments. However, it may be all you need. Compared to other options around its price, the PDP is a solid value.
This beater has the standard two-sided design, with felt and plastic options. The felt has common density, although its angle may not strike every bass drum head perfectly. In those cases, the felt will tend to level off by erosion over time. The plastic side has a standard shape and sound. It will provide a good amount of attack, while the beater’s overall weight provides some power.
Beyond that, there isn’t much to this PDP beater. It’s made to be straightforward and affordable. It’s a good choice for drummers who just need the basics, but want a bit higher quality than generic student beaters.
Wrap-Up
Those are our picks for the best bass drum beaters, by type. It’s great to have so many options these days, but it can also make finding the right choice a little tough. If one of the beaters listed above looks like a match for your situation, we’re confident it will meet or exceed your expectations.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
Looking for a new bass drum head? Check out our picks for The Best Bass Drum Head For All-Purpose Drumming!