Vintage Drum Forum - Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Vintage Drum Forum (https://www.vintagedrumforum.com/index.php)

- General Drum Questions (https://www.vintagedrumforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

- - Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher (https://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=67700)

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Multijd (Post 473528)

There’s also these.
https://www.pattersonsnares.com/?page_id=224

Thanks Very much for all of your time and effort, Multijd! When I clicked on the site, all I got was, "This page can't be displayed." it is probably the fault of this old computer. I think it once belonged to Fred Flintstone. Thanks a a lot anyway. Much appreciated!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedal_Pusher (Post 473522)

Brian, I completely forgot about some early Kevlar (or similar material) heads that were popular for a little while back in the 60's and early 70's. There was a brand from Japan that I think was called Campo or something like that. They were made by a Japanese chemical company. They were more expensive than the average head so they did not catch on. A little later was the Goldtone line and I am pretty sure they were Kevlar. In any case they were marketed for drum set and sounded pretty decent for the desired Disco sound at the time, single headed drums with the popular Evans brand blue hydraulic heads. So don't worry about mixing a Kevlar head with any kind of snare wires. It just struck me that most Kevlar heads are used on marching drums with nylon (synthetic gut) snares so using wire snares is unusual. But hey, if you get the sound you like, go for it! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Hello again!
I put on the 30 strand set of Puresounds. They were certainly easy to tune compared to the original butt plate and the gut wires that tuned individually! Actually, I think this set is a bit snappier than the 20 strand. VERY clear with no ringing overtones whatsoever! I'd bet this old marcher can project a mile! When the snares are on "off", the tom is a bit to high for my taste, but that can be remedied if necessary. We have a practice tomorrow night so I'll see what the other guys think. Everyone was impressed last week so this week, I should garner some appreciative nods and kind words! Thanks again, Pedal_Pusher!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Brian, I was having a "senior moment" and forgot all about the Duraline heads. The other early brand that you don't hear much about was Canosonic. They had a crappy flesh hoop that was plastic instead of metal. If I remember correctly, the Duralines are gold color without any extra coating and have a fairly coarse weave to the Kevlar. They were indeed marketed for drum set as well as marching drums and one of the main selling points was that they were indestructible. That was important back in the days of big Marshall guitar amps and no miking on the drums. I also seem to remember that some of the Duraline heads were available with attached "dots" in the middle of the head similar to the Remo dot heads. The 15" size was popular for marching drums and the pipe band folks used the gold Kevlar (14") heads as did the drum and bugle corps. Later they had the same head with a thin white coating but I could not tell much difference in sound. In the early days of Kevlar heads some of the college and high school marching bands cranked them up so high that they tore the lug casings from the shells and crushed the bearing edges. The drum companies responded by heavier rims, longer lug casings, and finally metal bearing edges fit to the top of the wooden shell. Glad to hear that you found a good sound and are having fun with the drum.

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedal_Pusher (Post 473541)

Thanks again for the great information, pedal Pusher! My head is indeed gold coloured with a seven inch "dot" somehow infused in the middle. It almost looks like some type of resin! Like you say, this thing looks indestructible! I am not a heavy hitter, so it will probably live on for another fifty years! I have started a new post in the "Wanted" section pertaining to this rarity, but chances are probably slim to say the least. I am really looking forward to practice and recording a bit tonight. I will be very surprised if I hear the guitar player asking me to "hit the snare harder"! I have not heard of Canosonic Drum heads, but I will certainly do a bit of googling! Man, I remember those huge Marshall amps and no micing days! I think that's why my hearing is impaired today! LOL! Thanks again, Pedal pusher!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Brian, Yes, the "dot" is indeed like some kind of applied resin instead of a plastic adhesive dot. You can tell by the ragged edges of the dot. Those heads will last forever. The Canosonic heads are pretty uncommon and had cheaper flesh hoops make of some sort of plastic instead of the usual aluminum flesh hoops. They tended to not take the higher tension and sometimes pulled out from the batter hoop. You can find all sorts of interesting older 15" marching heads in Mom and Pop music stores for not too much money and have fun trying them out. I also forgot that the gold Kevlar like mesh heads were standard on the Syndrums in the late 70's. Maybe you will be ahead of the curve if Disco comes back. Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive...

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedal_Pusher (Post 473548)

Hey, Pedal Pusher!
Again, thanks for the great info! We had an okay practice last night. Nothing memorable, but it seems everyone liked how this old marcher sounded! It certainly can project! I'm not sure if I want a return of disco, but between us, I did buy the "Saturday Night Fever" album featuring the Bee-Gees! Please don't tell anyone on our forum. I wouldn't want the guys to know that I still have the white suit. To be honest, it is a bit tight now. Old age? Naw, probably the beer! Thanks, my friend!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher

Quote:

Originally Posted by slapstick (Post 473658)

wire on silk

Thanks very much for responding, slapstick, but I don't know what you mean by "wire on silk".