Introducing Welch Tuning System Drums

We are very pleased to introduce Welch Tuning System (WTS) Drums to the UK! We became aware of WTS during the NAMM 2020 show when they picked up the prestigious Best In Show - Companies to watch award. Aside from the beautiful traditional meets modern look that these drums have, what really caught our eye was the revolutionary tuning design which completely sets this drum company apart. At Drumazon we are huge fans of unison tuning to achieve the best sound out of any drum and anything that can help with that was sure to get our attention. Whilst many companies over the years have given us a plethora of OmniTune systems which typically applied the same treatment to the top and parallel bottom tension rod of a drum, until WTS arrived we'd never seen a system that evenly tunes the batter and resonant heads simultaneously.

If that already sounds good this is probably the time to tell you that all this perfectly precise tuning is done without the need of a drum key! Founder Sam Welch and his team developed the Welch Tuning System which is a system of pulleys and cable that brings both heads into tune with the turn of a single handle. No more tension rods. No more drum key!

Because the WTS system, connects through pulleys directly attached to the top and bottom hoops, the need for drum lugs is completely alleviated. All WTS Drums boast 90% fewer holes and no heavy mounted on the shell hardware which allow these drums to resonate freely across a wider tuning spectrum.

Super Fast Tuning

We've had a really good play with these drums and we can tell you that once the heads are under tension, you get perfect unison sound from a lower starting note than you could achieve on a standard drum all the way up to the typical extreme high tunings. The system always keeps the drum in stable tune, say goodbye to head wrinkles and start enjoying the versatility this kit can deliver. For the first time you can quickly tune any drum in your kit very quickly up or down to cater for different songs in your live set and experimenting with different tunings from the comfort of your drum stool is the new normal! This system will be a dream for live and studio situations and we believe it will give drummers far more confidence not only in the way their kit sounds but also to experiment with different tunings and far more head combinations whilst safe in the knowledge that the WTS system will keep everything even. Now all you have to choose is a note for your drum!

With all Unison tune systems there is a common misconception that heads need to be the same top and bottom. This is absolutely not the case, you can still use your preferred batter and resonant heads if you would like to.

Changing the Heads

The WTS system feels more like a guitar tuning system than a drum tuning system. With it's tuning handle which looks similar to the peg you would find on the headstock of a bass guitar and the cable system which threads through the pulleys attached underneath the drum rim where tension rods would traditionally attach. WTS provide a through video walk through of how to set the system up with some best practices that are important to understand and a handbook is also supplied with every snare. After building the first snare for the shop slightly cautiously making sure we had everything correct our confidence and understanding of the system built and we found that this system if by far the quickest for changing heads. Once you know the system, head changing will be a breeze and remember that de-tensioning the system gives you access to change both heads at once, and re-tensioning the system is done from the tuning handle which tunes up both heads for you simultaneously.

The Steve Pruitt Signature

Brass 13 x 7.5 Steve Pruitt Signature Snare drum with die-cast hoops. Combining a versatile size and the beautiful tone of brass, this drum is equally fitting as a main snare or auxiliary snare, making it an excellent addition to any drummer’s kit.

Famous for playing with the likes of Jeff Lorber and Snarky Puppy, Steve Pruitt is one of the most versatile drummers you will find. The WTS Steve Pruitt Signature Snare reflects this versatility by combining the striking characteristics of a brass shell with a unique 13 x 7.5 size. This drum will quickly become your go-to for every musical style and performance.

• Brass at Its Finest: When cranked high, the 1.2mm brass shell provides a crisp attack and response with clear and open high tones. In medium to low tensions, you will experience beautiful and mellow overtones and a powerful full-bodied sound.
• The Ultimate Combination of Diameter and Depth: The “crack” of a piccolo meets full bodied power! The 13” diameter shell allows for a wide range of tunings and sensitive response, enhanced by huge body delivered from the 7.5” depth.
• 13 x 7.5 shell
• Award Winning Proprietary Welch Tuning System (WTS) hardware for pure tone and effortless tuning
• 1.2mm Brass Shell
• Diecast Hoops
• Designed by WTS in America, Made In Taiwan