Growing Region: The Eastern United States, mainly
in the North and Great Lakes region.
Weight/Hardness/Density: Birch weighs 3.5 pounds per board foot. Maple
weighs 3.4 pounds per board foot. Birch requires 1260 pounds to mar,
compared to 1450 pounds to mar Maple.
Comments: Comprises 0.7% of the U.S. commercial hardwoods.
Timbre/Tonal Color: Very clean tone with little over ring.
Dynamic Range: Birch is cleaner at low volume than the Maple. It
has a good dynamic range that doesn't change character sound from
low to high volume.
Tonal Range: More frequency range than Maple. Maple seems one-dimensional,
limited by having mostly high frequencies, in comparison to Birch.
Tuning Range: Tunes quickly and easily. Tuned into the low end,
Birch produces a full response at all dynamics using single, double,
and buzz strokes. When tuned high, the bottom head should be looser
than it would be on a Maple drum.
Resonance/Decay: Quick decay with little over ring.
Cross Stick: Rim shots are powerful but dry (little over ring).
Cross stick gave several good, distinct, and wide ranging (tonally)
useable pitches. One of the most versatile for cross stick we have
encountered. Cross stick is richer than on Maple. Maple cross stick
is high end only, the Birch is fuller sounding.
Volume: Comparable to Maple.
Sensitivity: Cleaner than Maple at real low volume. Makes Maple
sound "muddy".
Comments: Excellent studio drum.
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