Best Strainer/Throw-Offs for Snares

[RobertM]

Does anyone have any informed opinions/experience about which strainers/throw-offs for snares are good? The ones I've encounter thus far are:

- DW's and Noble & Cooley's are similar, along with Ludwig's new Millenium strainer.
- Trick drum's strainer (with knob lever).
- Dunnett's strainer (which looks similar to what Taye uses).
- Yamaha's strainer a la Roy Haynes snare (lever has black tip, similar to what I've seen on Pork Pies).

I'm thinking of ordering a custom snare down the road (most likely stave shell), and I'm not sure what kind of strainer/throw-off to use. I haven't been terribly fond of DW's strainer (the one I have is a lot like Noble & Cooley's model/Ludwig's Millenium strainer), though DW has, I believe, recently redesigned their strainers to a "swivel throw-off" device quite similar in appearance to Dunnett's throw-off.

Any advice on which strainer/throw-off is "best" in terms of functionality?

[NIMBY]

im gonna take a guess that alot of people are going to say the Trick throw-off.

although i have no experience with them,
i would have say atleast they look pretty damn cool and they seem pretty popular

[Jeremy]

I got the Dunnett for a drum I'm about to build myself.

The Trick is nice, but I don't need that, since I'll just move the knob on my throw and have the same versatility as the Trick. I also looked at the Ego throw, which is similar to trick, but sticks out less when all the way on or off. Both Ego and Trick stick out a lot though, especially if you are going to use them in the in between tensions.

I ended up between the Dunnett and Nickel and decided I like the look of all metal more than the bit of plastic on the Nickel.

[Mendozart]

I vote for the Trick. I have one on my Ludwig & DW snares. I have a Nickelworks on my Brady, but it will be getting a Trick soon. I have no experience with the R2, but I've heard it's really heavy. I like the look and reliability of the Trick.

[sticksnstonesrus]

X2 on the Trick.

There is just no need to discuss it any futher. Cost vs. reliaiblity vs. worthiness...hands down winner is the Trick throw off.

[Steady Freddy]

I have five Trick throw offs and have never had a problem with them. They are, IMHO, the best out there.

I have an R2 on a Dunnett. It works fine,

I have a Millenium and it started to fall apart the first couple of days that I played it. Dowel pins started walking out and falling off. Ludwig throw offs are junk on a good day. Maybe a bit harsh, but that has been my experience with them.

Trick sets the standard.

I replaced DW drop throw offs with the Tricks. I have a DW Delta throw off on one drum and while it works fine, it is super heavy.

HTH

[RobertM]

Cool--thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the Tricks look quite nice. Is it possible to put a Trick throw-off/strainer on a Ludwig bronze supra-phonic or Black Beauty SP?

I agree with the remark about Ludwig throw-offs being poor. I played on a Yamaha snare with Ludwig throw-offs this past fall and the throw-off was stiff and felt like it could break at a moment's tug or pull.

[Steady Freddy]

Cool--thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the Tricks look quite nice. Is it possible to put a Trick throw-off/strainer on a Ludwig bronze supra-phonic or Black Beauty SP?

One of our members "Skitch" makes adapter plates that will mount the Trick throw off to a Ludwig snare. Many of us use his kits with great results. He's a super nice guy to deal with.

Here's his contact info:
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

[Deathmetalconga]

I have a Nickel Drumworks throwoff and it works great, very smooth and reliable. In the price-function equation, it's very good.

I wouldn't get a Ludwig anything.

[Pete Stoltman]

The question of strainers is quite interesting and I'd like to see if some of you may have comments about this. What benefits do you get from some of these aftermarket strainers? The way I see it is that the purpose of a strainer/throwoff is simply to engage the snares and make tension adjustments. Other than refined technology what do you get from a Trick, Dunnett, etc. that you wouldn't get from something like an old Ludwig P85 or similar good functioning stock strainer?

[Steady Freddy]

The question of strainers is quite interesting and I'd like to see if some of you may have comments about this. What benefits do you get from some of these aftermarket strainers? The way I see it is that the purpose of a strainer/throwoff is simply to engage the snares and make tension adjustments. Other than refined technology what do you get from a Trick, Dunnett, etc. that you wouldn't get from something like an old Ludwig P85 or similar good functioning stock strainer?

I tend to agree that a throw off doesn't do very much, but it needs to do what it dose all the time. Back when I was a working drummer I had several P85s fail. The tension screw on one sheared off, and I had a couple others that would constantly back off. We didn't have the gaer that we have now so I would carry a spare and repair as needed.

The DW throw offs are very heavy. I don't need a three pound chunk of die cast metal hanging off the side of my drums. The Trick has a very small foot print and is very light and super stong.

I just want something that is road worthy and as maintenence free as possible. The Tricks have been super in every aspect, and the drums actually sound better with them.

[sticksnstonesrus]

Other than refined technology what do you get from a Trick, Dunnett, etc. that you wouldn't get from something like an old Ludwig P85 or similar good functioning stock strainer?

That is it right there....

"Similar good functioning". The strainers of ...lets say...older technology (hell...even modern day) and refinement just can't hang. Whether it's the simple functionality of daily (or not so daily) use, to road wear, and or lot of changing tension and tunings that some of us perform often. The cream usually rises to the top. In this business, it's through reputation, mostly. Trick, and a couple other notables...have certainly risen through their "road-worthy" repuation and are highly recommended.

In the end, you use what you are going to use. Not one of us would knock you (or anyone else) for that.

"Whatever floats your boat"

-Andy

[KarlCrafton]

Wow, I've had no problems with any of my Millenium throw-offs at all.
4 have been on for over a year...maybe 2, can't remember. The other one came on my wood snare, and I got that about 4 months ago.
No problems with mine, but I can see if they got banged around, that they probably can't take much abuse like a Trick could seem to take.

The Trick is a great throw off--yeah, probably the best one-- but it seems really bulky, and it sticks out too much to me...I know it's not...it's really smooth and a sturdy throw off.

I guess I just like my Ludwig snares to have the "Ludwig" name on the parts.....

I think the Clear Nickleworks throw off looks kinda cool, but how durrable it'd be..I don't know that I'd use one.

[Steady Freddy]

Wow, I've had no problems with any of my Millenium throw-offs at all.

I guess I just like my Ludwig snares to have the "Ludwig" name on the parts.....

I think the Clear Nickleworks throw off looks kinda cool, but how durrable it'd be..I don't know that I'd use one.

I can appreciate using all the same gear. Maybe I just had bad luck. I dunno. I fixed the Millenium and it seems to be OK now. I don't play that snare very much.

I've used a couple of the Nickle Works throw offs and they are nice. My only resevation is that the lever is very sensitive. If it is bumped it will drop the wires.

[Mendozart]

One of our members "Skitch" makes adapter plates that will mount the Trick throw off to a Ludwig snare. Many of us use his kits with great results. He's a super nice guy to deal with.

Here's his contact info:
http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

RobertM,
Here's a thread on my Supra that I installed a Trick on using Skitch's (Mike McCraw's) retroplate.
http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31227&highlight=trick

[RobertM]

Wow, thanks for all this great feedback and info., and thanks Mendozart for the link to Mike's info. I'll definitely check this out!

[tomtom]

+ 1 more on the Trick.

I heard that Ludwig upgraded the Millennium a couple years back due to problems and that it works just fine now.

The Dunnett is ok, but I wouldn´t call it smooth. Some are pretty darn stiff actually. I have 5 snares with that strainer (I had 3 more) and had to replace one (on a Dunnett snare) since the lever came loose.

[hateplow]

My vote goes for the Trick strainer. So very smooth...attractive too.