Introduction: Electronic Bass Drum Concept

About: I am a musician, but not professional, I have been in many bands over 18 years and have different experiences from them. Being in the military (Navy) I have been around the world a few times so I got to see ma…

This is just a series of images that I created, in which I designed a small bass drum for an electronic set that I am working on. Real pictures will be posted when I build it, and a video detailing the construction process and testing  will be posted on my Youtube channel as well.

Click on the I in the top left corner for full size images

Step 1:

This Bass drum is made out of a small size tom or snare and has mesh for the head.
For an explanation on how to do your own mesh head watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/user/lucyferina?feature=mhee#p/u/9/AkvQHPB-wlk

As you can see in the concept image, this drum will accept a double pedal just fine.
I also didn't put measurements because that depends on the pedal (or pedals if using a double)  because one very well can make 2 of this and join the outputs on a mono/mono to stereo 1/4 cable, or create a custom cable or who knows what else someone may come up with. besides the distance between double pedals depends on the drummer's comfort zone or sometimes where the snare is positioned. So , There you have it, make it as small or as big as you need it.

Step 2:

This image shows the other side (what the audience will see, also the orange color layer is a soft material, the kind that it's used on some gym floor tiles or such, it was painted orange to make a distinction from the wood (painted gray with a black top).
You can also see the 2 L brackets holding the front of the assembly.
The base is big enough to accept a double pedal and it gives the option of bolting the pedal so that there is no pedal movement and the action is more precise.
The size of the L brackets is optional, personally I am not a heavy hitter, so I don't need to have huge brackets, but I am only using what I  have already so maybe instead of L brackets I will use small shelve brackets.

Step 3:

More views to make it more clear.
The idea of the rubber matting, is so that the hits on the mesh (Which transfer to the wood), are absorbed by the rubber matting.
This will isolate the vibration a great deal, (for those that live in apartments in the top story). Of course, another layer of wood and a second layer of rubber mat can be added to increase the isolation, or if the room happens to have carpet, that will add to the isolation.

Step 4:

This is a view of the parts (minus drum, pedal and L brackets), I bought a used tom, cut it in half and made a mesh head for it, since I am not going to use this tom on the drums (other than as a base drum), I am mounting it to the base more permanently. (2 bolts with nuts  on each side wall)
The sidewalls are painted white here for clarity purposes.
If you decide not to mount your drum permanently, you can make some minor modification to the piece in front so that it holds the drum from going forward.
For the electronics, check my other tutorial here: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-wire-a-double-zone-snare/
But make some small changes. For example instead of creating a bridge,  just a single L bracket, one small bridge which should only be big enough to hold the SINGLE piezo and keep it off center. this will prevent the piezo from getting damaged by the beaters.
Besides, a bass drum doesn't need to have much positional sensing,  it will still have some degree of it but not as evident as if the piezo was mounted in the center.  Experiment with that to your liking and your module capabilities. 

(If you create this, please post a reply with your pictures and results)