My Alesis tom sounds like I'm hitting plywood !

[boneill]

I have a tom that sounds like I'm hitting plywood when it's not amplified. 

If the rig is turned on it sounds like a mix of plywood whacking (in front of me) and the proper tone (out of the amp). The mesh is pretty darn tight, so I'm guessing it's bottoming out regardless ?

[Hellfire]

I have a tom that sounds like I'm hitting plywood when it's not amplified.

If the rig is turned on it sounds like a mix of plywood whacking (in front of me) and the proper tone (out of the amp). The mesh is pretty darn tight, so I'm guessing it's bottoming out regardless ?

Yep, that sounds as if it's bottoming out to me as well. What kind of pads are these? They sound like old style DM10 pads with the thin foam (about 1/8" inch think) with steel plate. Just putting mesh heads on those type of pads do nothing.