All of the drums get bearing edges smoothed and waxed. I don't coat or paint anything.

On my Decca snare replacing the rims with 50's Slingerland helped some.

Creighton

I have a 70s Maxwin kit that was originally wrapped in blue naugahyde. Sounded like pus, to be honest and didn't use it much at all. Many years ago I landed a TV gig which was going to be shot in front of a blue screen, and needing a non-blue kit in a hurry, this one was unfortunately my only option at the time. So I took off all the naugahyde, sanded, stained and finally put five coats of enamel floor varnish on them. Remo clear pinstripes, and suddenly they sounded immense. Never regretted that decision and I still use the toms from time to time.

I had an early 1970s Pearl five piece kit which I bought new from Drum City in Hollywood. In the early 1980s I removed the original wrap and recovered with oak veneer, applied many coats of lacquer inside and out, trued the bearing edges, replaced the original bass drum spurs with top end Pearl, and made the original steel snare into a timbale (I replaced it with bronze Ludwig 6.5" Supra). The kit certainly benefited cosmetically and sonically from the modifications. I went on to use it for another fifteen years as a full kit or in permutations.

I finally decided to sell it after acquiring a number of other kits. The person who purchased it was very happy.

This should make you laugh/cry: My first set was from Sears (Pearl). I replaced all the metal screws and washers inside the shells with brass ones, thinking this would improve the sound... DOH

Ha! On the Pearl kit I did paint all the internal screws and washers black!

I think the snare in your vid sounds pretty good and it's maybe more about mic'ing you used. However I would definitely try a heavier batter, emperor, vintage emperor, CS black dot etc. Gives it more tone.

Myself I have modded MIJs every which way possible. It was fun! :)

Mitch

To me, too, the snare doesn't sound 'cheap', but quite ok.

Perhaps you should explain the sound of an opposite 'costy' snare ... ;)

I prefer the sound of metal shells (and especially the one from my Premier 2000 with it's aluminium shell), always.

So that might also be your preference, if you compare both (wooden and metal shells)?

Ralf

You were much more dedicated than me! I did remove and clean all the hardware, but didn't touch bearing edges or replace anything like that. Mind you, I was in a hurry, I only had five days to do it. I probably would've taken a lot more care if I'd've had the time. But I was very surprised at how much better they sounded, even after such a rush-job. Would've liked to have heard your Pearl though!

Thanks for the thoughts on the snare. yeah, I listened to a different video of the same snare - was tuned a little better, and it certainly sounded better.

Just wondering what it would sound like if I modded it .....

and at the same time, surely should try some different and new consumables on there before I make any conclusions. I cut the snare bed by hand - and possibly too deep. meanwhile, I have some Puresound Blasters on there and perhaps I just don't like those.

I recently had a 10 lug Vintage Pearl COS with the original wires on it - just was not getting the good quality I have gotten out of another snare just ike it - so I put the german brass wires from drumfactorydirect - and it made a huge difference.

Here is the other vid I was watching - MONO BTW

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myL8_DsUe9Y"]CB700 cymbal Caravan20 Star BDP Snare Playing Demo - YouTube[/ame]