piccolo snares: why use them in rock?

[lovemysonors]

oops, maybe i mistitled this subject (do 4x14snares qualify as piccolos?)

i've just played a 4x14 snare and loved the sensitivity but am still getting used to its tone. well, one question: smaller snare=larger sensitivity?

i've got a 5.5x14 Black Panther and just can't get it sensitive enough for my liking, so i'm considering going smaller to at most a 5", or MAYBE a 4"...but really skeptical about using it for rock. i've actually never seen or heard a 4" snare until now so have no idea about them, why people choose them, etc.

would this make sense or imbalance the sound of my kit too much? should i stick to 5x14 at largest?

if not a mistake, any recommendations on 4x14 snares?

[somedrummer]

Sensitivity troubles, eh? Well, the first thing would be to change heads more often. I know as I wear out a head it gradually gets less and less sensitive. Also, snare wires will affect this a lot. You might try getting some wires like 42 stranders, or at least 24 or 30. Change both the heads and see if that does it. If not, change the wires. If that doesn't do it, consider a new snare.

[Wavelength]

If you can't get enough sensitivity from a 5,5"-deep quality snare, there's something wrong with a) c) the tuning b) the resonant head or c) the snare wires. Throw an Ambassador on the top and an Ambassador (or Diplomat) snare side on the bottom. Tune the resonant head to a moderate tension (not too loose, not too tight, and especially not choked!) , and tune the batter head's pitch a minor third -- perfect fourth lower. Keep the snare wires loose enough to rattle when you're slightly tapping the batter head close to the rim. You'll get great sensitivity coupled with a fat tone.

Don't buy a new snare before you've tried everything else. A Black Panther should be a decent snare.

[Skitch]

oops, maybe i mistitled this subject (do 4x14snares qualify as piccolos?)

i've just played a 4x14 snare and loved the sensitivity but am still getting used to its tone. well, one question: smaller snare=larger sensitivity?

i've got a 5.5x14 Black Panther and just can't get it sensitive enough for my liking, so i'm considering going smaller to at most a 5", or MAYBE a 4"...but really skeptical about using it for rock. i've actually never seen or heard a 4" snare until now so have no idea about them, why people choose them, etc.

would this make sense or imbalance the sound of my kit too much? should i stick to 5x14 at largest?

if not a mistake, any recommendations on 4x14 snares?

It is all about the crack! I use a 3-1/2" x14" Pearl FFS snare on the Metal shop gig

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[BertTheDrummer]

It is all about the crack! I use a 3-1/2" x14" Pearl FFS snare on the Metal shop gig
Crack is addicting... but yeah that's what it's about I was using a 4"x13" steel snare for a while that had a ton of crack to it. You def have to adjust your touch though.

[Derek]

Dave Garibaldi uses a piccolo snare exclusively and it sounds great with his kit.

[Skitch]

You pretty much have to adjust you touch to any drum. And if you play a smaller drum for a while, you will notice how much more endurance it takes to play, say a 6-1/2 x 14" wood snare drum.


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw