10 replies to this topic

[duxbuz]

Hi,

I have a 14" x 6 (or 5.5 not sure) acrylic snare drum and am wondering if I have it tuned correctly.

Basically I had a 13" x 5 steel snare, that was kinda military sounding, well it is compared to the acrylic, which is very deep sounding, and almost seems quieter.

I was expecting a big volume difference, but as I hit my old snare, that was beside the kit, it seemd a lot louder. Later I realised that my other drums where muffling the new snare somwhat, and when i swapped their positions the new snare was louder, but still not as loud as i expected.

I liked the different tones i got from the acrylic, especially when playing fills with the toms, but as a rule am slightly disappointed.

I am wondering if i can tune it a specific way to get the best from it, i am realiseing this is some what subjective, but any ideas would be great.

also how much difference would a different snare wire make?

I am going to try and get to a dealer and see the difference with a 14" x 6 steel snare

Thanks everyone

[melteddrummer]

What heads are fitted to the drum?

[melteddrummer]

Here's one of my acrylics, RCI Atomic Bomb 13 x 7



I have a Remo Coated Emperor on the batter, a Evans Hazy 300 on the snare side and 24 strand Puresound wires and this thing is louder than the 'Black Beauty' I sold recently.

In general acrylic snares are a bit drier sounding than wood or steel but fitting an Emperor seems to fatten them up in my experience.

As for snare wires, I fit Puresound to all my snares.

[duxbuz]

Hi

Coated ambassador on top clear ambassador on the bottom.

[melteddrummer]

I usually use coated Ambassadors' too but on this particular snare they are too dry and lose a bit of volume.

[israbatista]

What kind of acrylic snare is? What kinnda hoops u use? Snare wires?


I have a pork pie pig lite acrylic 13 x 7 with an evans power center reverse dot on top and a snare hazy 300 bottom , using puresound wires 20 strand custom brass, 2,33 triple flam hoops .

Btw melteddrummer thats a sexy rci snare bet i sounds amazing

[duxbuz]

Its a pig lite, not sure on the details, but it has a pearl snare on bottom, 20 wires i think.

I read that the emperor is 2 plys of 7.5ml as oppose to the ambassador being 1 x 10ml, so i thought the ambassador would be lighter and brighter?

I am looking at diplomat now as they are thinner still.

I dont know if thats the way to get more volume. It just seems to be a little too quiet and deep, although like i said, there are some nice tones which my smaller snare just doesnt have

[israbatista]

Ok i probably have the one with the black hardware.

Pork pie are hard to tune because they have their very special bearing edges.

Once you learn how to do it is a piece of cake.

Try a coated ambassador on top , dont crank it up too much cause it will sound like a "thud"

Try a evans hazy 300 on the snare side and just get the wrinkles out so it has resonance.

Dont tigh the snare wires too much cause u can choke them ( unless u use puresound ones)

Thats a good snare , just play with it a little bit

[duxbuz]

Thanks you have been a great help, will try these tips you mentioned. My current resonant head is ambassador, and i think i have the original piglite resonant head. I will look to purchase an evans hazy 300.


Another thing is I also have bought a diplomat coated? Is this worth a try for the top?

..and one more thing about the snare is the snare engagement is quite loose, i think when i got it it was tight when i turned the screw up and i really could feel it engage, now it is loose(ish) even when screw is tightened right up after I resat the snare wire. Is yours like this?

[israbatista]

The snare engagement we call it throw off or strainer for future references.

I change my tension depending on what im playing .

Just put it first on the butt ( the other side), try to put the wires in the middle evenly , tight it completelly,

Then unscrew completelly the black screw from the snare after u screw the plastic stips to the throw off

With. The strainer down give it like an inch space between the wires and the head .

Try that when u turn on the snare u only have a minimal buzz or sound from the wires

Then start tightning that black nob till u get the tension desired , do not over tight , u can choke the sound