need help with my snare

[slappyjwiggles]

hi i have a 1954 premier supper ace snare the original snare strainer system that was on it was really wierd it had like rods that went through the drum and was broken i i took it all off and replaced with a ludwig strainer and butt plate and new wires now the wires wont sit on the head correctly and just has an awful sound no matter how much i tighen the strainer what could be the cause and how can i fix it

[rmandelbaum]

It sounds like the Premier version of a Supersensitive. The throw-off mechanism is designed to place the snare wires evenly and correctly against the head. If you put a standard throw-off / butt combination on it you will not get the snare wires to sit correctly. The way I see it you have a few options options:

1. Repair the original assembly, this will also most likely require the correct length snare wires, 15 or 16 inches ( this would be my preference if the snare were mine)

2. Find a similar type of system on another snare for cheap and use it.

3. If it is a wood snare cut snare beds ( I personally would never drill or cut a vintage snare)

[Tylerdrums109]

Originally Posted by rmandelbaum

It sounds like the Premier version of a Supersensitive. The throw-off mechanism is designed to place the snare wires evenly and correctly against the head. If you put a standard throw-off / butt combination on it you will not get the snare wires to sit correctly. The way I see it you have a few options options:

1. Repair the original assembly, this will also most likely require the correct length snare wires, 15 or 16 inches ( this would be my preference if the snare were mine)

2. Find a similar type of system on another snare for cheap and use it.

3. If it is a wood snare cut snare beds ( I personally would never drill or cut a vintage snare)

This guys on it but like he said i wouldn't cut or drill that snare either...try and fix the original assembly...best of luck

[VSD]

The Premier Super Ace later called the Royal Ace is a nice hard to find drum.

I think if have already retrofitted it with a new strainer the full value is pretty much gone and you can do whatever you want to the edges..

This disclaimer is for future people searching the forum and doing research. Normally you would not drill a vintage drum and put on a new strainer

As always this is your drum and you might not care about value, so you should do what you want with the drum.

The Royal Ace came with double 10's for the wires. Two different sets each with 10 strands.

If you put on a Ludwig strainer and butt side then you probably need to get shorter wires since the original wires were supposed to go over the bearing edges giving this drum the unique sound like other drums with fully extended wires.

So more then likely the bearing edges are not correct for standard wires.

The parts you took off are worth money!

I would do what the others said and bring the drum back to as original as possible and sell it for another drum.

This is my recommendation and advice to anyone reading this post. If you do not like the sound of a vintage drum after trying different heads and wires, just sell it for another drum that you like the sound of. Prior to modifying it you will get more money for it and will have more money to spend on the drum of choice.

David