... and I'm waiting with the sticks! D' Drummer

John

Kind of along the same thread, I recently found a 80's vintage Yamaha steel snare drum with a super-sensitive type throw off mechanism.

I like the idea of the SS and have wanted one for a while, but now that I found this Yamaha drum (and my obvious bias that way) I thought it might be cool- cooler still might be a birch shell from another Yamaha snare and swap on the throw-off hardware (sort of like what you are doing, just the other side of the world).

Have you seen the snare I am talking about and do you have an opinion of its sound?

Sorry, can't help you there, anything Yamaha is just outside my wheelhouse. Really don't know much at all about them except for a couple of back-line kits I played. (And liked!)

John

Check it out:

Hmmm, just looks like a slightly hipper version of the Ludwig SS! A suggestion if I may... I wouldn't use Birch, it's too bright and loud. I would take those strainers and put them on a new Keller Vintage Mahogany shell with the wide maple re-rings. Cut 30 degree round-overs on the edges and Fat-City here we come.

John

Hey John it's great to see your progress!! Snare looks fantastic! Hope you get the hoop soon. Great job.

Thanks, Glenn. Good to have you back safe and sound, bro!

John

I was thinking brass (and surprised this 'high end' snare was not brass)... but Maple with a sharp set of edges might be cool (for me). Maybe 45 degrees but crested more in the center of the plies, rather than the outside... I like it very articulate for a main snare. (but I also love my Luxor, which sounds GODLY for big band stuff- you'd probably like the overabundance of warmth that drum has too)

On the other hand, this drum "as-is" might be just a gem of a drum... They had 5, 5-1/2 and 6-1/2 depths. The one I found is a 5 (and I like that). The 6-1/2 version might be a nice fit for you taste...

(I hope I'm not derailing too much!):o

Yarp... I highly value 'warmth' in a drums' sound. But then, that's what I grew up with and what I use as a yardstick to measure other drums. Why I made the suggestion I made is; a super sensitive type set-up is 'already' (right out of the box,) very crisp, bright and articulate sounding. (Almost military sounding.) Adding warmth to the sound mix makes more (musical) sense to me than choosing a shell that accents the highs, is louder and has -more- attack. The Birch and double 45's would work to aid attack and projection. Just seems that it would end up sounding drier than the Sahara. It's a style thing really. Depends on what sound works for you and the musical application you plan to use it in.

Although I have a preference for deep-dish snares, I'm good to go with 5's. My pre-serial Ludwig COB Super 5"x14" is, in fact, my favorite snare dujour.

If you do the drum, please start a thread. I want to peek over your shoulder as you work. Sounds like a really cool experiment.

John

Well, if I get the drum, I will run it 'as-is' for a while of course. I may end up doing something crazy with it later on, but I just found it interesting as I have had a keen interest in the super-sensitive Ludwigs as of late.

A COB 5 X 15 Ludwig SS sounds as it it would be right up my alley!

When / if this Yamaha snare happens, I will start a thread. I have to start a thread on the D-20 resurrection as well, since parts are starting to flow in now...