16 replies to this topic

[joe_zef87]

Hi guys,

This is a first post for me even though i have been a memeber for months but im needing some advice. My snare as changed its tone all of a sudden, All of a sudden i started getting a bad ringing from it on a centre hit and sounds like the snare itself is loose when hitting off centre. I have checked the skins and snare and all seem to be fine. The only thing i noticed was how the drum itself dips inward where the snare crosses onto the head over the rim on either side. Can drums deform like this? Heres a little info about the kit.

I play a Premier Artist birch kit, with the Artist Birch snare, and have done for about 8 years now. I regularly gig and because of not owning a practice space i am regularly moving the kit form location to storage. The toms themselves need slight tuning every time i play which is fine but this was a drastic change with the snare.

I spoke to another drummer who said that renewing the top and bottom skin as well as the snare will solve this, true? Any way im due to go into the studio in the next few months and would be grateful of any advice to solve this.

Thanks very much!

p.s if your interested in seeing my band please feel free to check us out at www.facebook.com/peytonplaceband. We also have a you tube page just search peyton place band. We are a five-piece pop rock band from Scotland. Anyway enough of this shamless plugging!

[israbatista]

Pics,??

[Nate Brown]

Welcome to posting!

I have seen drums get warped, but I wouldn't think a Premier artist birch would. Although, it's possible. The shell itself should definitely be round. If it's not, you won't get a good tone... if you get a tone at all.

Some people religiously switch the snares off when storing the drum because of the added pull on the drum. I can understand that, but I don't think this change would have happened that quickly over the snares pulling on it.

Could you post a picture? I'm having a hard time picturing the dip you're talking about. I've got all kinds of images running through my head I'm intrigued!

Anyone else have any ideas?

[israbatista]

On another forum , it happened to a Mapex Saturn , it was pretty bad , apparently it was the moisture and the weather .
Personally ive never seen a warped drum ,but you should try and contact the manufatorer

[drummingbulldog]

Before going that route, take the heads and snares off and inspect the shell. Look at the bearing edge and see if it has dents in it or if the lamination may be coming apart. You will see cracks or splits in the plies. I have seen heads pull out before so make sure it isn't something like that first. Depending on how tight you have your bottom head, how hard you play and rimshot, how tight you may have your snares set, etc. All these things factor into a bad snare drum. If the shell is bad you should contact Premier. Hopefully they will honor their gear and do a replacement for you. Mapex for me was terrible as I had an issue with a Deep Forrest cherry snare I bought and the veneer cracked and they told me it was my fault because I overtightened the snare drum. What a crock of s@#&. I have been playing drums 30 years. None of my wood Ludwig or Gretsch snares ever cracked when I tightened them to normal levels. I could see it if I used marching tension or something. Mapex customer service blows so beware. I dealt with Premier back in the 80's but that was when they were owned by the original Premier company before Yamaha bought them. Good luck and may the force be with you, always.

[machinegunbassdrums]

when you say dips in...i think you're on about the snare beds, they wouldnt cause whyat you're describing.


i would say strip the snare down to the shell, check it over for everything (dings in the bearing edge, cracks, etc) then re-biuld it doing resonant head then batter head, it could jsut be a case of dodgy tuning cause of tension rods loosening off.

[drummingbulldog]

that's kinda what I said but hey...

[joe_zef87]

Cheers for the replies guys! I will try and get photos up eventually but im away with work at the moment. It is difficult to describe, basically the snare is clamped at one side and comes acros the head and onto the tensioner at the other side. as the snare comes down from the clampand curves onto the resonating head it appears as though the wood is being pulled up and has deformed. This is the same on the tensioner side. I will get photos up though as it will be easier to see then.

I have stripped it all down and rebuilt it but i think i will do this again before replacing heads and snare. by removing the rims and heads and sitting it on a flat surface i should be able to determine if it is actually warped or just my eyes playing tricks on me Just wanted to find out if there was any other problems that could be causing this. Any tips on snare tuning?

[israbatista]

Cheers for the replies guys! I will try and get photos up eventually but im away with work at the moment. It is difficult to describe, basically the snare is clamped at one side and comes acros the head and onto the tensioner at the other side. as the snare comes down from the clampand curves onto the resonating head it appears as though the wood is being pulled up and has deformed. This is the same on the tensioner side. I will get photos up though as it will be easier to see then.

I have stripped it all down and rebuilt it but i think i will do this again before replacing heads and snare. by removing the rims and heads and sitting it on a flat surface i should be able to determine if it is actually warped or just my eyes playing tricks on me Just wanted to find out if there was any other problems that could be causing this. Any tips on snare tuning?

Actually your snare is not deformed , those are called the snare beds , they are made for your snare wires. When you tighten you snare wires it prevents it from choking the resonant head .

Go and research snare beds , and u will see what im talking about

[machinegunbassdrums]

that's kinda what I said but hey...

in not as many words .