So...recently I've been experimenting with 12 wire snares and I wanted to let you all know what I came up with so far.
I know that 12 is the least amount of strands I'd use. I wouldn't go less. I think the 12 strand wire is a cleaner, more shell-y, and a bit dryer and crispier, than 20 strand snares. At tighter snare wire tensions. Almost like I added 25% aluminum tone to my wood shell snare. I'd definitely recommend trying them if you use tight snares all the time. However, I sometimes like to tune snares medium low with super loose sloppy wires. The 12 strands don't excel here to my ear. I like 20 strand wires for the loose sloppy sound. I gig with tight wires, so for now, I'm sticking with 12 strands for my gig snares until my ears and recordings tell me otherwise.
Some obs: I could only find 1 set of 12 strand snares for sale out there, Puresounds. Which tells me that not a lot of drummers use 12 strands. (guessing) 16 strands sets are easier to find. I do have some Canopus 16 strand brass wires coming. Time will tell if I like 12 strands more than 16. I still have more experimenting to do.
When I went to 12 wires and played them for the first time (with tight wires) I loved them right off the bat and still do. I thought CM would like it too because it gets right out of the way. I still haven't had a gig yet this year to record them. I do have one next weekend. 12 strands make my snare dryer, but not too much. I also think the drum responds better because less of the resonant head is restricted by wires, right near the center where it counts. It adds to the resolved, cleaner sound. I did surgery on 20 strand snares, I never actually purchased a 12 strand set. So after some weeks of living with the 12 strands, I still dig them. Which is long enough time for me to make that determination. I had only one day they didn't sound good to me. I chalk that up to my own wacky perceptions that day.
If you have some extra wires lying about, I'd encourage you guys to remove some wires and try less strands. I'll let you guys know about the 16's in the spring, after I live with them for a month at least. I can't believe it took me this many years to even consider experimenting with my snare wire count.
Also, for whatever reason, I kind of hated the 12 wire snares on both of my ash snare drums. Every other snare loved them. Not my ash. Go figure.
I know that 12 is the least amount of strands I'd use. I wouldn't go less. I think the 12 strand wire is a cleaner, more shell-y, and a bit dryer and crispier, than 20 strand snares. At tighter snare wire tensions. Almost like I added 25% aluminum tone to my wood shell snare. I'd definitely recommend trying them if you use tight snares all the time. However, I sometimes like to tune snares medium low with super loose sloppy wires. The 12 strands don't excel here to my ear. I like 20 strand wires for the loose sloppy sound. I gig with tight wires, so for now, I'm sticking with 12 strands for my gig snares until my ears and recordings tell me otherwise.
Some obs: I could only find 1 set of 12 strand snares for sale out there, Puresounds. Which tells me that not a lot of drummers use 12 strands. (guessing) 16 strands sets are easier to find. I do have some Canopus 16 strand brass wires coming. Time will tell if I like 12 strands more than 16. I still have more experimenting to do.
When I went to 12 wires and played them for the first time (with tight wires) I loved them right off the bat and still do. I thought CM would like it too because it gets right out of the way. I still haven't had a gig yet this year to record them. I do have one next weekend. 12 strands make my snare dryer, but not too much. I also think the drum responds better because less of the resonant head is restricted by wires, right near the center where it counts. It adds to the resolved, cleaner sound. I did surgery on 20 strand snares, I never actually purchased a 12 strand set. So after some weeks of living with the 12 strands, I still dig them. Which is long enough time for me to make that determination. I had only one day they didn't sound good to me. I chalk that up to my own wacky perceptions that day.
If you have some extra wires lying about, I'd encourage you guys to remove some wires and try less strands. I'll let you guys know about the 16's in the spring, after I live with them for a month at least. I can't believe it took me this many years to even consider experimenting with my snare wire count.
Also, for whatever reason, I kind of hated the 12 wire snares on both of my ash snare drums. Every other snare loved them. Not my ash. Go figure.
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