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Help with my vintage Acrolite snare please

Posts: 9 Threads: 3

Hi everyone. I'm not a pro drummer but I have a small drum set in my home studio. I recently found a 1966 Acrolite snare for $150 so I bought it and sold the later model black Acrolite that I had been using previously. The older drum has a scratch of two but is in pretty good shape otherwise, it's definitely a livelier sounding drum than the black one was.

The problem is that I can't get the snares on this drum to work right and it's driving me crazy. It came to me with 20 strand Ludwig wires on, the drum was buzzing a lot and the wires looked pretty tired so I installed new 20-strand snare wires, (a cheapo made-in-Taiwan set which was all that was available at my small town music store). Also put on a P-86 Millenium throw-off which had been on the other drum.

So after all this the thing still buzzes like crazy. If I tighten the crap out of the snares and dampen the top head the buzzing will be controlled somewhat but then the drum is choked off. It's properly tuned, the heads are good, and I don't see any problems or damage to the shell. But, looking at the drum, the snare bed is extremely shallow, you can barely feel it. Do I need to put 16 strand wires on it, would that solve the problem? My black Acrolite had the exact same setup as this vintage one now does and it worked great so I'm baffled as to why this old one isn't working. The only thing I haven't tried is replacing the plastic strip with cords, but I don't think that would help.

crying2-07 Help2

I can post some photos if it would help.

Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Welcome to VDF!

Try this first, then get back to us if the problem persists.

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=49333

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 10 years ago
#2
Posts: 9 Threads: 3

Thanks for all the tips but this isn't my first rodeo. Cool Dude

I double checked everything as per your list and tried cords instead of the plastic straps but no joy. It's slightly better but I can see and feel that the plates that hold the snare wires are not totally flush to the head. These are cheap snares so they don't have any channels for the strap or cords. Rim shots sound OK more or less but just hitting the center of the snare, there is still too much sustain and vibration after the note. I have to put two moongels on the top head and but it still happens.

I guess the only thing left to try is some pure sound 16 strand wires? The snare bed seems a bit narrower than most modern drums.

Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 677 Threads: 47

Have you tried just giving the drum a tighter tuning to see if that helps.

I love the jazz era
Posted on 10 years ago
#4
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

The smaller snare set might fix it! There -are- narrower beds on those metal shells.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

I was too going to suggest the wires being wider than the snarebed.

Sometimes the only solution is to kick the BD while turning down the adjustment knob til it stops and then,....hit drum harder.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#6
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19

The snare bed is the same as that on any other acro (or supra, or Black Beauty, etc. they all use the same shell design with the wide, shallow, barely noticeable beds) so that shouldn't be your problem.

Posted on 10 years ago
#7
Posts: 2413 Threads: 336

3 things come to mind.

A) If you replace the original wires - replace with something high quality. If you want to save a little cash but still have some great wires, buy the German made ones that look just like Puresounds. They are the legit real deal. Only cost like $11 or 12.

B) Try tuning with a much higher tension on your reso head. Play around with it....because that sounds like it is too loose (and/or wires too loose along with it)

C) Make sure your snare string is routed correctly. Sometimes it is tricky to remember how they should be routed. Do the research and look at some good close up photos to double-check yourself. Yes, even veterans mess this up from time to time.

(Guess I lied - 4th thing) You mention you are using plastic strip - yes, if they are not perfectly square, that will present a problem. Crooked ends=warped wires and it will never sound right.

Maybe your drum is the problem, I hear those shells really suck sometimes ;)

I had a great day! Instead of sleeping in and wasting the day, I got up at 8 and I had all my slacking done by noon!

2Timothy1:7
Posted on 10 years ago
#8
Posts: 503 Threads: 29

I think Oddball is talking about sympathetic buzzing with the bass drum, is that your problem? Acros like to be tuned up higher. What are are wires you took off? I've got the same year Acro as you & the original wires sound great, the ones with the amber ends and patent pending #

Posted on 10 years ago
#9
Posts: 1345 Threads: 175

Watch Bob Gatzen's snare drum tuning video on YouTube. He talks about the snare wires towards the end, but follow his steps and you should get your snare sounding sweet!

Posted on 10 years ago
#10
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