DC Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Hi guys. I'm primarily a guitarist but I've got an old Ludwig kit and I'm trying to get it in good shape for recording. I've checked the 'Drum Tuning Bible' and I've got my toms and kick sounding great, but not happy with my snare sound yet. I've got the old Superphonic Ludwig snare (Chrome over brass) and I read somewhere to put an Evans hazy 200 on the bottom and the Genera on top. I've got it sounding good but it's not sensitive at all. In other words, I've gotta hit pretty hard to get the snares to rattle. Soft hits are almost tom sounding. Any advice is welcome. -David http://www.garageband.com/artist/MichaelangelosMuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanThomas Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Perhaps the snare side head is too tight? Or maybe the snares themselves? Both? Try backing the snare head tension down to just enough to smooth out the wrinkles (and, just like tuning your guitar, tune up to the desired pitch) and go from there for pitch. Signatures can appear at the bottom of your posts. This option may be disabled by the message board administrators at any time, however. You may use UBB Code in your signature, but not HTML. UBB Code Images are permitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Good suggestions. bUt it also sounds to me as if the snares are not contacting the snare head properly. When the lever is engaged, those snares ought lay flat against the head. The snare lever mechanism, if set up too low, will not do its job properly. Originally posted by AlanThomas: Perhaps the snare side head is too tight? Or maybe the snares themselves? Both? Try backing the snare head tension down to just enough to smooth out the wrinkles (and, just like tuning your guitar, tune up to the desired pitch) and go from there for pitch. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Posted November 12, 2002 Author Share Posted November 12, 2002 The snares are tight on the snare side head. I've got them both pretty tight right now as I kept tuning up to get rid of weird resonances so maybe I went too far. I'm a child of the 70s and rather adept at getting that dead sound from many kits back then. I'm trying to get my drums sounding good this time around with no dead ringers, tape, femanine hygene products etc on the heads. -David http://www.garageband.com/artist/MichaelangelosMuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totemspock Posted November 12, 2002 Share Posted November 12, 2002 I have a supraphonic frome the sixties /6,5" i think) and I have problems to with the sensitivity. Is this a general ludwig problem??? I can´t imagine that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanThomas Posted November 12, 2002 Share Posted November 12, 2002 Originally posted by DC: I'm trying to get my drums sounding good this time around with no dead ringers, tape, femanine hygene products etc on the heads.I think you'll be able to get there. I have a late 60's Ludwig Standard series snare that I'm quite pleased with the sound of on my current project. It did take some time but I 've got it sounding just the way I want with no external treatment at all. There is the small internal muffler that I do use though. I'm using an Evans PowerCenter batter head and a Remo snare head (I wanted the Evans but the store was out of stock). Anyway, keep at it, you'll get there! Cheers, AT Signatures can appear at the bottom of your posts. This option may be disabled by the message board administrators at any time, however. You may use UBB Code in your signature, but not HTML. UBB Code Images are permitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayvel Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Take the bottom head up about as high as it will go. Then detune the four lugs adjacent to the snare bed (the two lugs next to the strainer and the two next to the snare butt) to just a little tighter than the finger-tightening stage. You should actually see some deformation of the bottom rim. You'll probably need to loosen the snares considerably, depending on how the drum is presently tuned. Adjust the snare tension until you get a good snare sound at soft levels without the snares choking when you whack the crap out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X-Facta Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 What is this ? Sounds interesting..A publication which is available? (Later) I found it online.cool!Thnx www.twilightcircus.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof.Sound Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 I cannot tell by your question if in fact you used the 200 hazy on the snare side or not? If you didn't, go do it. If you did, you must have another problem such as one or both heads, and/or the starainer being way too tight. The Ludwig is a great drum. When tuned well, it may buzz a little - dialing it in with the strainer knob is very sensitive. Read "5 stages" portion under the Snare section in the DTB. A great portion of the tone and sensitivity is controlled by the tension of the snare strainer - tweak in very small amounts while playing - You'll hear it. I played one for 20 years with an Ambassador coated batter and a Diplomat Snare Side head. My suggestions for heads are either the above, or to kill 50% of the ring, use a Evans Genera Snare Batter head (not a G1) and to kill almost every bit of ring, the Evans Genera Sanre Dry w/Vents. Remember, its not a popcorn snare. Tuning it too high is a mistake. Other possible causes: Snare are bad, bent or oldSnares are on upside downSnares tied wrongSnares off centerSnare strainer too tightSnares are wrong size for drum (18-20 count carbon steel are correct) Good Luck! Author and new site of the As of August 2004 - New Home of the Drum Tuning Bible v3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Originally posted by P.Sound: I cannot tell by your question if in fact you used the 200 hazy on the snare side or not? Other possible causes: Snare are bad, bent or old Snares are on upside down Snares tied wrong Snares off center Snare strainer too tight Snares are wrong size for drum (18-20 count carbon steel are correct) Good Luck!Yes, Genera on batter, hazy 200 on snare side. I haven't had time to go mess with it yet but thanks so much for the suggestions. I'm thinking I've got the snares tied wrong. I was in a bit of a hurry and couldn't thread the string through the holes like it was in the first place. Ended up just looping it over the outside of the hold down piece. What is the proper way to tie them off? Also, how do you tell if they're upside down? Thanks so much and I'll get the 'Bible' back out and re-read the snare section. -David http://www.garageband.com/artist/MichaelangelosMuse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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