BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Aug 24 2016 02:33 PM
I am just curious what some of you other drummers prefer for your drum sound, specifically the snare drum, especially considering that outside of a ride cymbal, is probably the main focal point anybody will have on your kit. I've used a few different kinds, all sound good, but currently I'm pretty high on my Pearl 14x5 Free Floating snare, with the maple shell. I've used brass, a 13x9 African Mahogany, bigger (14x7) maple snares, metal piccolo snares, etc. All with mixed results, but my band has liked the Free Floater I mentioned above, and an old Pearl Masters series 14x6 Brass snare the best of all of them.
I'm not looking for era-specific drums (like a lot of guitar players go for with their instruments), just what do you use, and what makes an "ideal" sound for surf to YOU.  Cheers, my fellow skin bashers!
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
Last edited: Aug 24, 2016 14:37:52
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ScottyBravo
Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ
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Posted on Aug 24 2016 03:36 PM
I use an OCDP 13x7 maple snare with an Evans Genera HD Dry head. It's got a nice pop to it. 
— Scott
http://thesurfsideiv.com/
https://www.facebook.com/surfsideiv/
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Aug 24 2016 07:31 PM
ScottyBravo wrote:
I use an OCDP 13x7 maple snare with an Evans Genera HD Dry head. It's got a nice pop to it.
Nice! That "nice pop" seems to be key. But I have sometimes found the snares with the best pop don't necessarily record well. So I guess I'm also curious bout what you guys (and gals?) use for the studio as, opposed to the stage. I have a Pearl Limited Edition 14x6 Birch snare coming soon, so I'm gonna give that a whirl when we start recording demos before our studio sesh later in the Fall.
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Aug 26 2016 05:51 PM
BC4DdrummerAK wrote:
ScottyBravo wrote:
I use an OCDP 13x7 maple snare with an Evans Genera HD Dry head. It's got a nice pop to it.
Nice! That "nice pop" seems to be key. But I have sometimes found the snares with the best pop don't necessarily record well. So I guess I'm also curious bout what you guys (and gals?) use for the studio as, opposed to the stage. I have a Pearl Limited Edition 14x6 Birch snare coming soon, so I'm gonna give that a whirl when we start recording demos before our studio sesh later in the Fall.
Also, ScottyBravo, I imagine that with the 7" depth, there's plenty of body to that 'pop', yeah? I had a 13x9 Pearl Limited Edition African Mahogany that sounded pretty badass. The 9" depth was ridiculous however. lol. It always sounded good live (really loud snare actually), but the few times I went to record with it...it just sounded weak. It was the weirdest thing. I always ended up using my 14x7 Limited Edition Maple instead. I imagine it had a lot to do with tuning, and me not adjusting for squat. Oh well. A few years older, a few years wiser now.
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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drumsdick
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 225
Central CT, USA
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Posted on Aug 26 2016 07:32 PM
For me, it seems I am constantly seeking the ideal combination of head selection and tuning to get plenty of "ring" on the rimshot on the "4", - without the "2 and" sounding too thin.
Of my collection of about a dozen snare drums of all kinds of woods, metals, diameters and depths, my student-level, mid-70's, Ludwig 3-ply, re-ringed, Zola-coated, 6-lugged Pioneer model, - with a Remo 2-ply coated Emperor head, does it for me best.
I use a Tune-Bot, crank the snare-side head lugs to 350-400, the batter-side in the 350-range, and keep the snare wires tight, - but not choked.
I aspire to achieve the snare sound to the intro of the original "Walk, Don't Run".
I have now run through more dashes than Usain Bolt, - so I'll stop! 
- Dick (Oooops!)
— *Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521
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Slingerland61
Joined: Sep 04, 2006
Posts: 225
PacNW (Portland)
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Posted on Sep 10 2016 04:32 PM
I have a weird 4X14 snare...it looks like a Ludwig Downbeat but the shell is some kind of reddish, bakelite or fiberglass. I've had it since the 70s and it has a great, warm tone yet still has the volume to he heard over those dang Showmen amps!
I also like my late 60s 7X14 Slingerland.
— Steve
The Apollo Four 2012-present
https://www.facebook.com/ApolloFour/
The Verbtones 2002-2012
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3786
tn
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Posted on Sep 10 2016 06:18 PM
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 21 2016 12:31 PM
Cool! Great responses so far! I see the majority use the shallower snares, which is what I've found my band (and myself, for the most part) has liked the best. I mentioned it somewhat, earlier, and I guess it is worth asking this question: How do you guys record your snares in the studio? I've loved the sound of shallower snares for surf, but sometimes when you stick it in a drum room at a studio and place some mics on it, they just sound kind of bland. Do you guys go more "old school" in approach, with just a kick mic, a couple overheads, and maybe a room mic or two?
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 21 2016 12:32 PM
I mean, how do you guys record the snares to truly capture that pop and ring that we're looking for in that classic Surf sound?
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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murph
Joined: Dec 16, 2010
Posts: 342
Chapel Hill, NC
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Posted on Sep 21 2016 02:47 PM
+1 on the Ludwig Pioneer.
I bought a set of '65 Club Dates a few years ago that came with a matching Pioneer snare. I've always played 8-luggers, so was worried the 6-lug design wouldn't be up to the task. Needless to say I was wrong and love the variety of tones that can be coaxed from the drum.
The only shortcoming IMHO, is getting a crisp/clean cross-stick "click" (for a latin groove or similar). It probably doesn't help that my main point of reference is an 8-lug '72 Gretsch 4160 COB snare with diecast rims. No doubt it could be crappy technique on my part but the 4160 is an order of magnitude more articulate than the Pioneer for cross-sticking.
-murph
— http://www.reverbnation.com/elmiragesurf
http://www.reverbnation.com/aminorconspiracy
"I knew I was in trouble when the Coco-Loco tasted like water!" -- morphball
Last edited: Sep 21, 2016 14:52:11
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 23 2016 07:02 PM
Well, now you guys have me looking out for Ludwig Pioneer snares on eBay. My wife will be SO stoked. 
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3786
tn
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Posted on Sep 23 2016 10:30 PM
It's the one,
The thing that's really cool is when you have a good room to record in and you can use lighter sticks, not play at 110% and it will sound like a MOTHER.
— http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 12:10 PM
spskins wrote:
It's the one,
The thing that's really cool is when you have a good room to record in and you can use lighter sticks, not play at 110% and it will sound like a MOTHER.
Dude, that sounds ideal!! I ALWAYS seem to play way harder in a studio than I would even play live. lol. What size sticks do you play with, Ted (if I may refer to you by real name. lol. I'm Tyler, btw)? As an all around stick, I'd been playing Vic Firth Extreme 5AN's, as I like that extra reach I get. More recently, I'd been playing the 8DN's by Vic Firth, and liking those.
Anyway, sounds like that snare (or something of similar make) is what I need. You know, I have a DW Collector's Series snare from the 80's, that I salvaged from a trash pile (no joke! I'll tell the whole story sometime, if people would like!), and refinished to a custom stain color. Just missing some decent throw/butt hardware (it has some weird ass, totally custom Camloc throw on it, and it's nearly impossible to get it to work right) and it'd be ready to rock. It's a thinner shell with re-rings in it. I may have been sitting on something for years, and not paid any mind, being so Pearl obsessed these last couple years.
Hmmmmm.... 
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
Last edited: Sep 29, 2016 12:13:39
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Syndicateofsurf
Joined: Oct 08, 2014
Posts: 1073
Northern Ohio
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 01:55 PM
You drummers are as bad as the guitarists- you can beat a subject to death.
Ha ha... of course I'm joking to mask my ignorance of the subject. I'd love to talk snares but golly Andy, how much gear can I obsess over? January I will celebrate my 10 year anniversary of purchasing my first NEW drum set. It's a Ludwig from Guitar Center, black w 3 toms and a snare. Cymbal pack and double bass pedal put the price tag at $850.
I have a short article about getting my first drumset as a youngster on my web site that you can access. There is psychedelic scene at the end. I am putting this there as pure click-bait, but yes, it is an actual psychedelic scene. GA-ROOV-Y.
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/the-syndicate-hit-list.html
But how do you go about testing out snares? I mean, I'm self conscious as hell trying out guitars and they usually have volume switches on them. Start beating on a drum...?
This is pretty much my first drum set. Read the amazing adventure RIGHT HERE: http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/the-syndicate-hit-list.html
— Da Vinci Flinglestein,
The quest for the Tone, the tone of the Quest
The Syndicate of Surf on YouTube
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/
http://sharawaji.com/
http://surfrockradio.com/
Last edited: Sep 30, 2016 12:20:03
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 03:33 PM
Syndicateofsurf wrote:
You drummers are as bad as the guitarists- you can beat a subject to death.
Ha ha... of course I'm joking to mask my ignorance of the subject. I'd love to talk snares but golly Andy, how much gear can I obsess over? January I will celebrate my 10 year anniversary of purchasing my first NEW drum set. It's a Ludwig from Guitar Center, black w 3 toms and a snare. Cymbal pack and double bass pedal put the price tag at $850.
I have a short article about getting my first drumset as a youngster on my web site that you can access here:
http://www.syndicateofsurf.com/the-syndicate-hit-list.html
But how do you go about testing out snares? I mean, I'm self conscious as hell trying out guitars and they usually have volume switches on them. Start beating on a drum...?
Generally, yes. That's how I've done it when buying a snare from a store, beat on it. hahaha! Otherwise, I just get lucky online, then re-head, re-whatever else, to my liking and get it tuned to my liking.
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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ScottyBravo
Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 04:07 PM
Dammit!
Now you guys have me questioning everything!
Gonna have to get out the 14" Gretsch snare that came with my kit and compare it to my OCDP...
— Scott
http://thesurfsideiv.com/
https://www.facebook.com/surfsideiv/
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 05:10 PM
ScottyBravo wrote:
Dammit!
Now you guys have me questioning everything!
Gonna have to get out the 14" Gretsch snare that came with my kit and compare it to my OCDP...
 Sorry dude, that wasn't the intent!
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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Nokie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 05:37 PM
As one who likes to lay on lottsa rimshots, I prefer the tone of wood shells on the snare drum. I'm not too particular with brand - I like my Gretsch 14" but have played many other brands that sound as good and better. I think the sound I'm hearing is very often a function of the room. -Marty
— "Hello Girls!"
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Sep 29 2016 06:36 PM
Nokie wrote:
As one who likes to lay on lottsa rimshots, I prefer the tone of wood shells on the snare drum. I'm not too particular with brand - I like my Gretsch 14" but have played many other brands that sound as good and better. I think the sound I'm hearing is very often a function of the room. -Marty
That is very true. I have a couple of snares I've used in a live setting that was amazing, but somehow had no life once you got into a decent drum room at a studio. And it was always the snare you didn't count on using that sounds the best in that application. In my experience anyway.
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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BC4DdrummerAK
Joined: Oct 07, 2012
Posts: 66
Anchorage, Alaska
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Posted on Nov 03 2016 02:07 PM
Have any of you peeps played on a Ludwig Jazz Festival snare? I'm looking at one on CL for Portland, Oregon. He says it's a 60's era, but the throw is one that they started using in the early 70's. I listened to some clips, it sounds real nice. I have a friend who may get to take a look at it for me, who lives down there. Just curious on some thoughts about this drum.
— Gear:Kit:Pearl Reference series in Emerald Fade,Pearl rack,Pearl Demon Drive pedals,Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stand, Sabian & UFiP cymbals.
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