A simple set-it-and-forget-it muffling device. Felt strips, blankets, pillows, shredded newspaper…these are just a few of the many ways drummers have tried to control bass drum sustain. Enter SledgePad, a simple-to-install and effective foam-based dampening system designed to focus bass drum, tom, and snare tone. The idea for SledgePad came about when inventor Mike Vermillion had to quickly tame his bass drum at a gig with a piece of acoustic foam. Today there are four types of SledgePad systems available in depths from 12″ to 22″: the original, the Vented Mini, the Vented Small, and the Vented Large models, of which the latter allows more air movement below and through the pad. We put the Vented Mini model in a beastly 18×24 bass drum that’s always been difficult to control. Installation was quick and painless, requiring the removal of only one drumhead. The pad is held in place by two […]

June 2019 Issue