Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

June, 2003

Painting a Bass Drum

Q. I was wondering what kind of paint I would use to paint the outside circle of a bass drum. It would have to be thin so as not to affect the sound too much and not crack easily when the drum is hit. Thank you for your time.

A. I'm not aware of any paint that would NOT work. Basically any paint will do the job. If you want the bass drum to look really classy, you should take it to a professional paint shop where the painters will scuff sand the existing finish and then apply a coating that has the gloss and color of your choice. Perhaps a good option is to take the drum to an automotive refinishing shop (body shop) in your neighborhood. They have access to a multitude of colors, and they can spray apply the paint to give you an as-new looking finish.