Snares and Snare Mechanisms

[peter c]

What kind of snares are you guys
using and why?

Does it matter to you?

[img]cool.gif[/img]

(I mean the actual snares themselves,
not the manufacturer of the drum.)

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 23, 2003 03:51 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[buga]

Well I have several snares but the one's I mainly use are a Yamaha Dave Weckl Sig(Maple), a Pearl Masters Studio(Birch) and a Stewart Copeland Signature Brass(5*14) from Tama, planning on purchasing a Noble and Cooley Alloy Classic in Christmas(either that or a Ultracast Snare as a secondary snare, i'm tore down btw both of those, I guess if I picked the N & C one it would be an ego thing, kinda like the people who buy a Mercedes instead of getting a Lexus u know what I mean? [img]rolleyes.gif[/img] )

I would say the snare drum is THE INSTRUMENT, the main voice of the kit and that's how i've been tought since the beggining, and well to be honest the snare has a large part in my playing, especially the use of ghost notes and for linear playing. I don't really like to get into arguments about what's the best snare or this and that, it's a rather silly question kinda like asking who's the hottest celeb chick or what do you look for in a girl, everyone has a different taste and u can't really argue that.! [img]wink.gif[/img]

[Randy walker]

I have about 30 snares all which serve a different purpose depending on the room, music and whatever else happens. Each tune is different and room so certain drums will react to each room in a special way.

[peter c]

Thanks, guys but what about
the actual snares on the bot-
tom of the drums?

I should have been clearer.

Are they metal, cable etc.?

Have you tried others like
Puresound and Grover etc.?

What kind of sound do you like
from them and how do you get it
from them in adjusting etc.?

[img]cool.gif[/img]

[buga]

If snare wires are what u meant(judging by the mentions of PureSound), the nickel wires on the N & C's are the one of the main attributes that give the "pop" to the snare.

As for the tension on the wires I find very comfortable when the wires are tensioned with low pressure, the rolls are much easier to play. When I rise the pressure of the snare wires, the sound of the snare drum become a little choked [img]graemlins/thumbs_down.gif[/img]

Puresounds are a great product but they work differently on different drums.There is a good chance that I won't ever use the Grover Snares again just because I have had the hit and miss experience in the past, but you might find they work great on your snare.

U should also experiment with different resonant heads seeing those will give u a different quailyt(Diplomats etc)

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 23, 2003 04:57 PM: Message edited by: Bozzio ]</font>

[Randy walker]

I just use standard cheap o wires, mostly 42 strand but some drums have the standard set. Tried Grover, did not dig them. HAve not really messed with the Puresounds.

[peter c]

Interesting.

I have used Grover snares for
many, many years. I had only
two problems with them (I use
the cables) and both were re-
placed by Neil, no charge. That
was over a 20 year period.

www.thediametrixletter.com/bpstudio2.mp3

I love sensitivity and they have
always been there for me.

I know a percussionist who uses
the Black Swamp product. I have
not had the opportunity to try
them, though I should but again,
I like Grover's products.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a"><font size="1">[ October 23, 2003 05:22 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font></font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 24, 2003 03:30 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[PocketPlayer]

Originally posted by Randy Walker:
I have about 30 snares all which serve a different purpose depending on the room, music and whatever else happens. Each tune is different and room so certain drums will react to each room in a special way.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This really is the key! I played tonight in a large, open room. The sound was huge! My kit sounded so radically different than my little practice room. It was a weird experience to hear such a different sounding kit...I think I'll keep it now!