Ludwig Supraphonic: Heads and tuning?

[Peter W.]

Gentlemen!
I'm very exited: I'm about to receive a recent Ludwig Supraphonic snare from eBay (aluminium and 5x14").

I was wondering: What kinds af heads and tuning (and snare strands) would you guys recomend?


Thanks!

[stasz]

Nice buy! A great drum. I don't know if there's a set of heads you could throw on there that would sound bad, but anyway... what sound are you going for? The middle ground would be a coated ambassador batter with a clear ambassador snare side. You could go with a emperor on the batter for a fatter sound, or a diplomat to have more sensitivity, or a Renaissance amb. for a naturally dampened, vintage sound... lots of choices. Not to mentions other brands, I just like remo's.

[dot_Anthem]

Nice buy! A great drum. I don't know if there's a set of heads you could throw on there that would sound bad, but anyway... what sound are you going for? The middle ground would be a coated ambassador batter with a clear ambassador snare side. You could go with a emperor on the batter for a fatter sound, or a diplomat to have more sensitivity, or a Renaissance amb. for a naturally dampened, vintage sound... lots of choices. Not to mentions other brands, I just like remo's.

I actually have one, from 78 or 79 I believe. I absolutely hate it. I just can't get the right "crack" sound out of it no matter what I try. I've gone through heads and heads trying to find the right sound, and nothing works.

[Jeremy Bender]

Sorry to hear your drum is giving you trouble. It sounds to me like the shell or the hoops are out of round. Don't underestimate this problem especially with a metal shell and today's heavy die cast hoops that have almost no give at all compared to a wooden drum with triple flanged hoops. As far as I know Ambassador coated and clear snare side are a fine match for those drums. Check out the tuning bible online.

[mrobanLA]

Love my Supraphonic and use it for pretty much everything. I have been using Aquarian texture coated heads on the batter to great result (although they dont last very long). sounds fat and big.