6.5X14 1930's Ludwig Pioneer NOB. How to get more snare response out of this drum???

[sbarrett1106]

I use wide snares on a '20s NOB and it sounds great.

Not too wide for your beds? Any "boxy" issues?

 

[sbarrett1106]

take it apart . Take snare off. Both top and bottom hoops and heads.
Inspect everything closely.

Put the hoops and heads back on. Get it sounding good "as a tom tom"...
finally put the snares back on.

What changed?

THAT'S an amazing idea!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll try! Does this work for you??

 

[sbarrett1106]

This. Many of these old tube lug drums are easy to under-tighten because of how they "feel" when tensioning them up. If Chad Smith can use one of these cranked up on a lot of the tracks on Blood Sugar Sex Magik with success, then so can you. (careful, not too tight on the vintage hoop clips, or get modern versions and stash the originals)

Thanks! Great advice

 

[sbarrett1106]

I use wide snares on a '20s NOB and it sounds great.

I use wide snares on a '20s NOB and it sounds great.

I bought some old style silk wrapped wires from Adrian Kirschler for my old 6.5 Leedy nob 6 lugger. Total pain to install but even with the poor job i did it sounds so great. Dried out the drum in a nice way and the snare response is fat and articulate. I totally understand why snappy snares became the standard though...

Nice drum!

 

[sbarrett1106]

If you're considering other wires the Puresound twisted wires increase snare sound while having the same width as a 20 strand. It's a pretty quick and easy way to bump it without trying to micromanaging other details you may not want to change. I used them on a 14 x 5.5 Walnut Poplar that I had when I needed a lot more snare at whisper and loud volumes, it was perfect.

Did it work well with the beds?

 

[sbarrett1106]

Have you experimented with different tunings or are you just at the normal settings for your other snares? I'm not familiar with the Pioneer but I will say that I've found some drums respond differently to the same settings and may not respond how you expect. Focus especially on the snare side head. You may need more or less tension than you expect to get the response you want. Plus some drums like to have the lugs closest to the snare beds tuned a little tighter or looser than the rest.

I'll definitely give that a try!

 

[cplueard]

Did it work well with the beds?

Yeah it was fine on the ones I had. Don't know if yours are more narrow or not. I sadly can't measure mine for comparison as I no longer have the snare.

 

[sbarrett1106]

Yeah it was fine on the ones I had. Don't know if yours are more narrow or not. I sadly can't measure mine for comparison as I no longer have the snare.

Yes! I have the narrow beds

 

[jaymandude]

these work well for the old drums, but I'm not sure it's the sound you're looking for

PureSound Concert Series Snare Wire, 12 Strand, 14 Inch

Designed for 14" snare drums, the Concert Series snare wire has 12 strands of specially formulated stainless steel alloy for subtle snare response without choking out the sound of the drum. The snares may be mounted by strap or string.

www.drumcenternh.com

 

[sbarrett1106]

these work well for the old drums, but I'm not sure it's the sound you're looking for

PureSound Concert Series Snare Wire, 12 Strand, 14 Inch

Designed for 14" snare drums, the Concert Series snare wire has 12 strands of specially formulated stainless steel alloy for subtle snare response without choking out the sound of the drum. The snares may be mounted by strap or string.

www.drumcenternh.com

I’ve heard good things about these. Just ordered a set, thanks!

 

[BennyK]

I'd set that drum up with -

Ludwig coated medium batter

Ludwig X-thin snare side

vintage Ludwig chrome wire set , or the Pearl equivalent . I stay away from black carbon type wires . The plastic butted Ludwig wires do miraculous things for problematic snares , but are next to impossible to find anymore , if you're lucky grab them .

Top head medium tension , bottom head tight to very tight using the rods either side of the snare bed ( 4 - 2 each side) to adjust wire reaction .

What are you looking for ? You must have an example on something you've heard or visualized from listening to a recording . If you can narrow that down, do a little research on the who what when and where of the specific recording .

What's your go-to snare before this one ? Do a comparison of the components and tuning of the two .

 

[Rich K.]

Not too wide for your beds? Any "boxy" issues?

The metal tabs are on the head past the beds. Only the snare string goes over the beds. The drum is very crisp and sensitive with the wide snares.

 

[sbarrett1106]

UPDATE: so, I got the drum dialed in this morning and sounding AMAZING!

I’m using a Evans 200 mil reso side

CS batter head

16 strand Customs (Puresound)

thanks to all for the assistance!

 

[RobbiefromAtlanta]

I use 12 strands on all my narrow bed snares. Anything more and they start getting that boxy sound. I hate that boxy sound

 

[Powertone]

UPDATE: so, I got the drum dialed in this morning and sounding AMAZING!

I’m using a Evans 200 mil reso side

CS batter head

16 strand Customs (Puresound)

thanks to all for the assistance!

glad your combo worked out for you. I am inclined to say replace the CS head with an ambassador, but if it working fine with the CS, then go with it.

 

[sbarrett1106]

glad your combo worked out for you. I am inclined to say replace the CS head with an ambassador, but if it working fine with the CS, then go with it.

I’ll definitely try that out. Just don’t want the unwanted “ring”