Un-solvable snare Buzz - I Know, I know....

[darknessdude16]

Okay then, first off, i know there are many, MANY other threads that suggest things for snare buzz but nothing reallt helps at all.

My snare is impossible at the moment and its driving me mad. Its not even the toms that makes it rattle and buzz its the snare itself!!!!! I have tried these:-
- De-tuning lugs either side of the snares,
- Tuning down and tuning higher on either skins,
- Experimenting with putting stuff between the snares themself, VERY BAD SOLUTION!!! made it worse if anything,
and various others, I have absolutely no idea what to do. The thing is, I dont want to take it into someone to tune or sort out because i want to tune it myself and sort ot out myself because i wont know what they've done and it'll be better for me, sorry if this sounds really angry but its realy getting annoying, thanks everyone who replies, and as i said before, i kno there are many thread already for this but pleaseeeeeeee help me!!!!!

[skaman27]

I don't know what to tell you if you've tried all of this. Maybe you just need to get new heads.

[darknessdude16]

thats what i thought but I bought some great remos the other day, and have replaced my older ones with these and the ringing has gone a little, im just gonna have to try and try and try some more but it ent helpin, thanks for the advice, any more would be welcome tho?

[Wavelength]

Just learn to live with it. Nobody besides you will hear it anyway... Snare buzz is an important part of a drum kit's overall sound.

[NUTHA JASON]

when all else fails try totally dismantling the drum clean it, check the lugs buy a new and expensive snare wire (cheap ones have some strands looser than others and these are the buzzers) put candle wax (thin layer) on the rims and reassemble the whole very carefully paying attention to ever nut and screw. also check your rims aren't warped by placing them on a true surface (a glass table) before fitting them. ensure the snare has a differnt tuning to the toms and bass so there is no sympathetic resonance.

j

[Jay.B.]

good advice there J, it might help solve my slight buzz problem, although I think the main cause could be the 42 strand wire I have on it, will strip it... again... but I might just have to go back to a 24 :-)

[darknessdude16]

Im also using a 42 strand, bulldog i think, what do ppl think about the 42 strand snares, i was also told to buy a 42 strand and another method of eliminating buzz but, yep you guessed it didnt work? Although I do like the slightly bigger kick and crack there is with a 42 strand, so if that could be kept on my kit then it would be great, hopefully we can solve the buzz issue tho, i'll have a go at what J said and come back

[NUTHA JASON]

lol. i also use a 42 strand. but i learned the hard way. my first 42 was a cheapy off ebay and i even tually was forced to cut 12 of the strands out using my eye to see which were 'over buzzing'. and it still sounded rubbish. then i bought a top of the line 42 strand...cost 3 times as much and now i have a fat babe of a snare sound.

j

[Wile E. Coyote]

Just learn to live with it. Nobody besides you will hear it anyway... Snare buzz is an important part of a drum kit's overall sound.

Wise... It will buzz anyway!

[NUTHA JASON]

this is partially good advice. ring and buzz will happen BUT how much is tolerable depends on the song. some songs are wide open and with drop outs that leave the drum sound naked. here you want very clean drum sound. a grungy throaty high volume song is the opposite.

that said if you've ever stood around listening to a pro tuned kit you will never want any other sound than that. its a worthy and life long quest ...the perfect drumsound is.

j

[Wile E. Coyote]

this is partially good advice. ring and buzz will happen BUT how much is tolerable depends on the song. some songs are wide open and with drop outs that leave the drum sound naked. here you want very clean drum sound. a grungy throaty high volume song is the opposite.

that said if you've ever stood around listening to a pro tuned kit you will never want any other sound than that. its a worthy and life long quest ...the perfect drumsound is.

j

Dunno Nutha... I really never had problems with that. I actually think that it gives the kit a richer sound. Anyway, if you have this quiet tom part and you want it to be totally clean, just take the snares off.
I think it vibrates much more because of the other instruments (bass and guitar mostly) than because of the kit itself, and there's not much to do about that.

By the way... my kit is actually pro-tuned... ;)

[wy yung]

i kno there are many thread already for this but pleaseeeeeeee help me!!!!!


Is this causing problems in a professional recording situation?

Are you getting complaints from a sound man?

[morristyson]

If you use string instead of a strap to attach the wires to the strainer and butt, you can adjust the tension of the wires on a specific side. Use Nutha's method of determining which wires buzz, then adjust the tension of the string on the opposite side.

I also learned from a custom builder that mounting the strainer higher on the shell, so that you get a 70-75 degree angle on the strings, allows for optimal wire tension.

[darknessdude16]

Ok i've solved my issue. Most people suggest re-tuning the offending toms but i chose to re-tune my snare. I replaced both batter and reso heads and just cranked them up a little higher than i usually would, with the reso side being just that little bit tighter, my snare has a great pop with a little buzz but the little buzz adds to the flavour. Although my snare sound is a bit higher pitched than before it still sounds great. Thanks for all the help guys x

[NUTHA JASON]

as an after thought to others who might have a similar problem i remember something else...

a pupil of mine way back introduced me to his kit. it sounded crap. we tried tuning and dampening but it was still the worst sounding snare ever. then i had a look at the snare wires carefully.... they were mounted upside down!!!

always read the manufacturer's advice.

j

[indiadrummer]

ya about buzz, its a way of life, its always there. Getting rid of it is nearly impossible.
However, i dont know how, but i played around with my kit a lot, with tuning etc. and now, ive reduced buzz a lot. Buzz depends on many things, strings, quality, tuning, etc. You have to sit down with your kit and find whats right for you. This can sometimes take a while. Remember, its not all about the parts you buy, its the small things that really count. Good luck!!!

[Miggle]

its possible to get rid of the buzz.. choke your snares. it begins to sound cold afterwards.

[hauk]

lol. i also use a 42 strand. but i learned the hard way. my first 42 was a cheapy off ebay and i even tually was forced to cut 12 of the strands out using my eye to see which were 'over buzzing'. and it still sounded rubbish. then i bought a top of the line 42 strand...cost 3 times as much and now i have a fat babe of a snare sound.

j

what brand is your nice 42-strand?