Are you looking to change the bass drum sound? You are in the right place! A drum beater is versatile and adds variety to your drum sound.
They are those tools that they often go overlooked, or most players simply use the stock ones.
However, when you have a performance or you are recording, the drum beater can make a tremendous impact. Let’s check out the best bass drum beaters of this year!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bass Drum Beaters
- OUR TOP PICK: Gibraltar SC-3261
- RUNNER-UP: Vic Firth VicKick Bass Drum Beater
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Vater Vintage Bomber Bass Drum Beater
Table of Contents
What is a Bass Drum Beater?
A bass drum beater is the core of the sound for your drum kit. This is because it is used more than any other drum. They have a significant impact on the sound of your drum; they can be either deep, warm, and subtle or have a bright cut, all the way to an earth-shaking boom.
This is because these versatile tools come in various sizes, shapes, materials, and weights, which makes choosing one a lot more difficult if you are not sure what you need. Have a look in the next section for more information!
How to Choose a Bass Drum Beater
Choosing a bass drum beater is not so straightforward if you are unsure what you need. Here are some aspects you need to think about before choosing the ideal bass drum beater:
Drumming Style
First of all, it is crucial to consider what you want to achieve. If you want a noticeable kick with a considerable boom that can cut through the mix, you should have a look at harder bass drum beaters. Otherwise, you can go for a softer drum beater if you need a deep but subtle kick. Some players might need just the middle ground – a bit of a punch, but not harsh.
Materials
There are many types of materials available for drum beaters. They are detailed in the sections below, but you need to keep in mind for now that they are usually made from felt, wood, plastic, metal, and others, each material with its own sounds and characteristics.
Weight, Size, and Shape
Lastly, the weight, size, and shape also need to be considered when choosing the best bass drum beater for you. This is because they can have a considerable impact on the overall sound.
Comparison of the Best Bass Drum Beaters
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Review of the Best Bass Drum Beaters
Now that you know what to keep an eye out for, take a look at some of the best models available below.
Best Overall:
Gibraltar SC-3261
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This drum beater will surely become your new favorite as soon as you replace your old ones. It is heavy, has a dense feel, and it quickly rises up to the same level as you! It is strong enough to pack in a punch that keeps up with the wood, but still soft enough for slowing down.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Gibraltar SC-3261 is a high-quality drum beater with a strong steel shaft and a circular felt beater. It is highly versatile, suitable for a variety of music styles and genres. The design is classic, with excellent performance. It is one of the best-performing drum beaters of this year.
Who Will Use This Most
This bass drum beater model is recommended for all players. It has a classic, yet versatile design that can pack in a considerable punch. You can keep it up with the wood, but also slow down or change when needed. It has a uniform geometry that adds considerably to the overall playability.
Bottom Line
All in all, Gibraltar is one of the best bass drum beaters of this year. If you want a classic design with a sturdy, rock-solid design, this is the ideal product for you. It is affordable and has a high and consistent performance. It has a strong steel shaft and a circular felt beater for increased playability.
Runner-up:
Vic Firth VicKick Bass Drum Beater
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If you are looking for the smaller sound suitable for jazz, this bass drum beater is the best choice you could ever make. It has a low-end resonance, and it also comes with a bonus feature: when you bury the beater, you get some more sustain. It works flawlessly, and it might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Why it Stands Out To Us
VicKick beaters can be chosen between models of fleece or wood. It comes with a distinct, appropriate level of articulation, but maintains a low-end sound. Both felt, and wood beater models boast a unique dual striking position. The sounds are incredibly warm and full.
Who Will Use This Most
These beaters are most recommended for jazz, but they are versatile enough to suit other music styles, as well. It sets up in a singular position, and you can choose between the fleece, felt, or wood models. Each of them provides distinct sounds, so you can choose the model that fits you best.
Bottom Line
Overall, if you want to improve the low ends in the kick drum, this is the best option for you. It has a great attack for a good punch, but the sounds are warmer and rounder. It has a reasonable price, but the performance is absolutely outstanding, with a premium-quality construction and feel to it.
Best for the Money:
Vater Vintage Bomber Bass Drum Beater
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This drum beater has a quiet sound, perfect for low-volume settings. It gives you the vintage jazz recording; although it seems quite large, it is not heavier than the standard drum beater. The sounds are simply amazing and very loyal to the original jazz sounds from decades ago.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product is a high-quality drum beater, designed in collaboration with Otis Brown III. This exquisite product replicates the beautiful bass drum tones of the jazz era, with soft, yet boomy notes. Its vintage construction sounds precisely like the lamb’s wool beaters used many decades ago.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are looking to replicate the vintage jazz sounds, this is the ideal product for you. Not only does it have the looks and feel of the traditional lamb’s wool beater from the great jazz era, but the sounds are also the same. If you want a quieter sound with a defined boom to it, this is your new top choice!
Bottom Line
The Vater Vintage Bomber Bass Drum Beater is the ideal product for any vintage jazz lover. It gives you the low-end thump you need, and you have great control over the volume, without any added effort. It has a great attack and a well-balanced weight, despite its slightly larger footprint.
Best Wood Bass Drum Beater:
Gibraltar SC-3262
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If you prefer the attack of wooden beaters over the acoustic heads, you have to give this one a try. It works beautifully, and the rebound, play feel, and weight are just perfect. It has a strong, durable construction with a heavy, yet beautiful and strong feel to it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Gibraltar SC-3262 is a wooden beater made with high-quality materials. It is versatile, and it fits most pedals for your convenience. It is ideal for high-volume settings due to the wooden beater that gives loud sounds. The steel shaft is also compatible with most major pedals, and it is incredibly durable.
Who Will Use This Most
This product is great for anyone who loves the powerful wooden beater sound over the acoustic ones. It is fierce, well-built, and has a heavy touch that cannot be replaced with any other product. It has an affordable price point, but make sure you do not use it for heavy music, as it might bend.
Bottom Line
On the whole, the Gibraltar SC-3262 is the one-stop solution for most drummers. It has increased volume due to the wooden beater, while the steel shaft is well-crafted and durable. It fits most pedals, but for some, it might be too thick. If you want louder volume and a punchier attack, this is the best product for you.
Best DW Bass Drum Beater:
DW Drum Workshop SM103
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
What is truly great about this product is that it includes a beater weight, which allows you to personalize the pedal’s feel. This a great, must-have feature, but the warm and well-rounded sounds are also worth mentioning. The solid felt surface is well constructed and delivers some of the best performances ever.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The DE SM103 is made from high-quality felt with an increased density that will last you for endless gigs. It has a firm surface that brings out a warm and rounded attack. The 7.5” shaft is ideal for a large diameter kick drum.
Who Will Use This Most
If you want a versatile and high-quality drum beater, this is the product for you. The DW craftsmanship cannot be compared to the standards of other drum makes – this DW hardware has high-density felt that will last for a long time, and it is ideal for a large-diameter kick drum.
Bottom Line
If you need a rock-solid drum beater, you need to check this product out. It has beautiful warm, and well-rounded sounds and the construction is made to last for a very long time. What is more, you can easily customize the feel of your pedal due to the included beater weight.
Best Vic Firth Bass Drum Beater:
Vic Firth VicKick Bass Drum Beater Radial
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
What is truly great about this product is the level of versatility it offers you. If you are unsure about what you need exactly, you might want to start with this one! It is well-built, and the performance is absolutely outstanding. Whether you choose wood, felt, or fleece, rest assured that you will have beautifully enhanced low-end sounds.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model is extremely versatile and is available in felt, wood, or fleece. All types will deliver distinct and suitable levels of articulation with emphasized low-ends. Both the wood and felt beaters have a unique dual striking position. The options with this versatile product are virtually endless!
Who Will Use This Most
Whatever your preference or play style, you cannot go wrong with this drum beater. The radial-style has two models available: one is a medium-hard felt head, which is ideal for clear articulation and low-end sound, while the dual orientation has multiple feel and sound options. It works flawlessly for all musical styles!
Bottom Line
All in all, if you are looking for the ultimate level of versatility, this is the product for you. It is a fantastic drum beater for all levels and types of music; the hard maple head has rhythmic clarity, and the weight of the ball will offer fuller sounds. It is ideal for rockers who need the best articulation.
Types of Bass Drum Beaters
Here are some major types and variations of bass drum beaters:
Materials
Fluffy beaters are very soft, which gives a soft, warm, and low-end thump because of the fluffy material that absorbs the impact. They give you smooth, deep bass drum tones, and you can minimize the bright high-end frequencies. They are ideal for low to medium volume settings or in the studio.
Another type is the felt bass drum beater, ideal for pop, rock, R&B, country, hip hop or any music style that is neither too loud nor too quiet – they focus on the midrange. The last variety, most popular material for bass drum beaters, is wood, which has a strong attack and great depth to the sounds.
Shape
A flat-faced drum beater has the biggest sounds, so they also have the most attack, depth, and volume. A round beater is at the opposite spectrum, while a line-shaped beater is the middle ground between the two.
Size and Weight
Another variation comes in terms of the size: the bigger the beater, the greater the punch, attack, and depth. The weight is more important than the shape and size, as the heavy beaters have greater boosts in power, resulting in fuller, louder, and bigger sounds. However, light beaters improve the speed; thus, they are ideal for fast double bass drumming.
Conclusion
We have now introduced you to the best bass drum beaters of this year. With all the basic information provided, you should now be able to choose the best model for you. Our models are affordable but are also well-made, suitable for your bass drum. Make sure you check them out!
People Also Ask
If you still have a few questions at this point in our review, take a look at these answers below to see if they can help you out.
How Do You Adjust the Angle on a Beater?
You need to loosen the beater angle cam adjustment square or the Allen key bolt; then, you need to tighten it back. Make slight adjustments because too much will not allow the beater to strike the head.
How Far Should the Beater Be From the Bass Drum?
This is a personal preference: with a tight tension, there is more bounce, but with looser tension, there is less bounce.
