ayoungethan
New Member
...and before we assess whether that snapping sound is in fact strainers engaging, or...please feel free to consider this a hypothetical for yourself and others. It isn't for me, tho.
I am not a drummer. More of a composer and songwriter. But getting back into the drum kit bc that's a lot of the sound I hear in my head when I record demos and work out parts, and to help work on timing and flow. Because I am engaged with a lot of different instruments, I gave myself a strict 3 snare limit which I hit about 2 months ago. My partner also doesn't mind me having that limitation, either. It might still be one too many (for me not her), but here is how it landed in the order acquired:
1. PDP Concept Ltd Maple-Walnut 20 ply (2+16+2 tho I don't know what those 2 external plies are doing for the sound, might've been better 3+16+1?). 6.5x14. Heavy. Stock wires and hoops. My first snare (unless you count my practice pad). Got it open box deal. Sensitive, high dynamic range, both of which I attribute to the thick walls. I can tune it low, it stays responsive and I can throw a BFSD type muffler on it and it gets even fatter and lower, like a cannon shot. Also sounds great medium and high. IMHO although heavy if I could only keep one it would be this one, but bc of its versatility it is often side snare. I like the DW mag throw off. Probably my favorite.
2. Sonor AQ2 Maple 7 ply (chinese-canadian). 6x14. Stock hoops and wires. Light. Came with my kit (Sonor AQ2 Bop). A bit softer and rounder or warmer than the PDP, with what feels like a more compressed sound overall (eg it has a lower loudness ceiling) as well as compressed tuning range. Similarly sensitive to the PDP with soft/ghost notes, and similar stick feel.
3. Lastly, an early 70s Slingerland COB Gene Krupa Sound King. 5x14. COB stick saver hoops. Replaced perfectly functional Zoomatic with an INDe universal, mostly because I hate dealing with screw drivers in that capacity. Hammered out a lot of dents and put back into round. Batter hoop has two small cracks, each at one of two lugs where the rod ears extend, with bulges on the side that presses against the head hoop. Hammered those more or less flat, which helped a lot with tuning. Lugs needed some quality control (one of the inserts was installed wrong and therefore not doing its job; some felt was missing to dampen the springs on a couple lugs too). Came with 20 strand Pure Sound wires (don't know which type), not sure I like those much, especially on a COB shell. Too dark/dry/stiff. Reso head might also be shot, not dented but sounds choked at most tensions. Waiting on a set of chrome 16 strands and a new reso, then we'll see. This drum seems to have the most compressed dynamic range of all three drums. Soft is louder and fatter, and louder is softer (but still fatter). If the two wood shells seem to have a more hollow smiley-face EQ, this one is the reverse: heavy on mid-range punch, subdued highs. Fat. A very dark clangy metal resonance. The feel of the head seems less reboundy, too. I'm still trying to decide if I like this drum. I was surprised about the compressed, fat sound, but want to see what a new reso and wires bring. I can see how it would record well tho. This drum is also a bit harder to tune as I can't really go by feel as much on the batter side. Maybe some thread cleaner and lube would help. Not really much any splay. I might just replace it with something like a PDP Concept Brass if I don't warm up to it.
So anyway that's my attempt to cover a lot ground with three snares. Thoughts? How would you go about it (purely hypothetically, of course, so the only sound of things snapping shut are multitudes of snare cases)?
Cheers!
Ps I have lurked for a while but finally registered since I am actually rhythmically hitting resonant objects with sticks with some regular consistency now
I am not a drummer. More of a composer and songwriter. But getting back into the drum kit bc that's a lot of the sound I hear in my head when I record demos and work out parts, and to help work on timing and flow. Because I am engaged with a lot of different instruments, I gave myself a strict 3 snare limit which I hit about 2 months ago. My partner also doesn't mind me having that limitation, either. It might still be one too many (for me not her), but here is how it landed in the order acquired:
1. PDP Concept Ltd Maple-Walnut 20 ply (2+16+2 tho I don't know what those 2 external plies are doing for the sound, might've been better 3+16+1?). 6.5x14. Heavy. Stock wires and hoops. My first snare (unless you count my practice pad). Got it open box deal. Sensitive, high dynamic range, both of which I attribute to the thick walls. I can tune it low, it stays responsive and I can throw a BFSD type muffler on it and it gets even fatter and lower, like a cannon shot. Also sounds great medium and high. IMHO although heavy if I could only keep one it would be this one, but bc of its versatility it is often side snare. I like the DW mag throw off. Probably my favorite.
2. Sonor AQ2 Maple 7 ply (chinese-canadian). 6x14. Stock hoops and wires. Light. Came with my kit (Sonor AQ2 Bop). A bit softer and rounder or warmer than the PDP, with what feels like a more compressed sound overall (eg it has a lower loudness ceiling) as well as compressed tuning range. Similarly sensitive to the PDP with soft/ghost notes, and similar stick feel.
3. Lastly, an early 70s Slingerland COB Gene Krupa Sound King. 5x14. COB stick saver hoops. Replaced perfectly functional Zoomatic with an INDe universal, mostly because I hate dealing with screw drivers in that capacity. Hammered out a lot of dents and put back into round. Batter hoop has two small cracks, each at one of two lugs where the rod ears extend, with bulges on the side that presses against the head hoop. Hammered those more or less flat, which helped a lot with tuning. Lugs needed some quality control (one of the inserts was installed wrong and therefore not doing its job; some felt was missing to dampen the springs on a couple lugs too). Came with 20 strand Pure Sound wires (don't know which type), not sure I like those much, especially on a COB shell. Too dark/dry/stiff. Reso head might also be shot, not dented but sounds choked at most tensions. Waiting on a set of chrome 16 strands and a new reso, then we'll see. This drum seems to have the most compressed dynamic range of all three drums. Soft is louder and fatter, and louder is softer (but still fatter). If the two wood shells seem to have a more hollow smiley-face EQ, this one is the reverse: heavy on mid-range punch, subdued highs. Fat. A very dark clangy metal resonance. The feel of the head seems less reboundy, too. I'm still trying to decide if I like this drum. I was surprised about the compressed, fat sound, but want to see what a new reso and wires bring. I can see how it would record well tho. This drum is also a bit harder to tune as I can't really go by feel as much on the batter side. Maybe some thread cleaner and lube would help. Not really much any splay. I might just replace it with something like a PDP Concept Brass if I don't warm up to it.
So anyway that's my attempt to cover a lot ground with three snares. Thoughts? How would you go about it (purely hypothetically, of course, so the only sound of things snapping shut are multitudes of snare cases)?
Cheers!
Ps I have lurked for a while but finally registered since I am actually rhythmically hitting resonant objects with sticks with some regular consistency now
