Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Hey, Guys,
I'm looking for some opinions here please. I have a 15 inch 1971 Ludwig, 12 lug marcher with a Kevlar batter head I have put a lot of effort into. I really like the sound of this old beauty! Right now, I'm using 20 strand Puresound 14 inch wires simply because they were the best I had around. I had previously removed the P-34 butt with the tuneable wires and replaced it with a P-34. Much easier! My question is this: would a 15 inch Puresound set of 20 wires make much difference? How about a 16 strand, 14 inch Puresound Concert Series? Maybe not even a Puresound set is ideal? Another make? Please, I'm open for all suggestions. Thank you.
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Well, a 15 inch Puresound set is probably what I'd go with...but what effect are you going for? If you want a really "tight" snappy bright cutting snare sound that will cut across a football field, then go for the wider wire sets.

If you want a "warmer" more tom tom-ish effect -something that you might record with then go with a narrower set.

But with a Kevlar head, then you're obviously going for cut and a very staccato crispness -a la marching band type stuff.

In that case, I'd go with the widest set of 15 inch long Puresounds.

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Thank you, O-Lugs! I really appreciate your expertise! We do old-fashioned original rock. I write most of the lyrics (Springsteen, Mellencamp, Steinman style) . The set of Puresounds I used last night seemed to fit in with the tunes quite well. They brought out a `happy medium`...not too snappy, not too thumpy. I think I will take your advice and get a 15 in set of Puresounds for sure though. Maybe a 24 or 30 strand would be a good compromise. Thanks again, O-Lugs!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

I played a Kevlar batter head on a Premier side drum in a bagpipe band and it had both internal and below the bottom head wire snares. About 90" of the sound was provided by the internal top snares. We adjusted the bottom snares just as icing on the cake. The bottom snares extended past the head and there was not snare throw off, just a strainer mechanism. I have used old marching drums on drum sets before but always had better luck with a normal plastic head rather than using a Kevlar head. Some older wooden shells really are not designed to take the pressure for a Kevlar head. Have you tried an Emperor or other two play head or a Pinstripe? I think you might have better luck with a head like that when using wire snares. Good luck!

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Thanks VERY much Pedal-Pusher! Nope, I haven't tried other heads, but with your input, it may be a good idea. I will certainly take your advice into consideration! You know more than I do for sure about playing with these heads! I really appreciate your advice and expertise, sir.
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Coated cable like black swamp snares. They will be more true to the sound than wire.

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Thanks very much, sir! I had no idea whatsoever. I will definitely look into that idea!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

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.

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Black Swamp doesn’t list 15” snares. But the 14” that are “standard” are only 13”. So if you used the 14” wrap around that would get you there.
https://www.blackswamp.com/cable-snare-retrofit-units
Also Grover has some but they are not full cable but rather a mixture.
https://groverpro.com/product/snare-wires

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

Thanks you, sir! That is really interesting information! The stamp on this old head reads "Duraline".Below that: "15 TOMCONCERT". I have a 14 inch, 30 strand set of Puresounds I'm going to try a bit later. The 20 strand sounds good so I'm curious about this one. I just need to hobble downstairs to put it on. Yesterday, at the gym, I did a number on my back. I'll let you know once I put the wires on how it sounds. Thanks again, Pedal_Pusher!
Brian

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

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

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

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
 

wire on silk

Re: Best Wires for a Fifteen Inch Ludwig Marcher
 

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