Good find! Pearl Exports......great drums. I have a set from the late 90s with the three piece long lugs, a dark stain that shows the wood grain and natural maple bass hoops. I put Pinstripe heads on the toms and an Evans EMAD batter and reso head on the bass drum. Great sound improvement!

I gigged with them after I bought them and left my Masters at home.

Nothing wrong with those drums at all.

That kit really cleaned up great. Before you give up on that snare try some different heads. My assumption is that snare is really bright so some control might be in order depending on the sound you are looking for. I am thinking that drum is receiving no grace from a pinstripe batter. Something coated would be in order. If the drum is pretty bright then a coated with tone control built in or a single or double ply with some dampening will help. Let us know what sound you are looking for and we might be able to help. Also, I would assume the drum still has a stock snare side head and those are not that great even when new. Lastly, who knows about the snares?

All of that to say, for the cost of a few pieces you could use anyway, don't give up too quick on that snare. It probably will never be great, but if it is in round, you can probably make it pretty acceptable. Of course an Acrolite would be great...

Maybe you wil find a throne in the trash. Sorry, just had to say it. Yes they do look nice. I still cant get over you finding them either. I tell my wife to watch for drums on trash day, she thinks Im goofy.

Jeff C

I second tnsquint on changing the head on that snare. I have used low end Pearl snare drums even for symphonic applications and they have worked great with good heads and proper tuning. It is a matter of personal taste, but I have never been happy with pinstripes on snares. For whatever that's worth. Great find!Cool1

I think the drums look good as they sit.But I am going to buy generic legs for the floor toms. The heads on the drums were on them as found. Thats another thing about trashing them, someone had to know they may be needed/ used as backups or just plain selling them for pocket change. Weird!

I intend to have different heads on the Pearl snare. First I,am going to put foam, shipping bubbles or what ever in the drum to see if anything will dampen it at all ,I,ve had some luck with carpet foam base. If that doesn't work I,ll try different heads that I have on hand and hopefull the new heads will take some brightness off. If that doesn work, I will use an acrolite.

I like the throne in the trash. I am going to check the friday paper for yard sales, maybe I,ll see something but I think I,ve already had my share of good fortune this year.

As far as what I,am looking for is the snare to sound like an acrolite or a supra and that will never happen. I hope I haven,t offended anyone but I have played Ludwigs from the 60s until today.

Tom

Try a moongel.......

how well does this stuff work?

As to snare sounds, can you hone in on a definition a little more? You can make an Acrolite or a Supra sound like a lot of different drums. I am guessing from what you have said that you like a fairly dead, fat sound. If so, try a Remo coated CS or one of the coated, controlled heads from Aquarian or Evans. Tune your snare head (which should probably be replaced as well) pretty tight. Bob Gatzen says he shoots for an "A" pitch. When I tune up mine to where I think they will really pop, I generally find them around an A as well. For a fat sound, the batter head will be fairly loose. Once you get the heads tuned up, experiment with strips of gaffer's or duck tape around the edge of the drum head. You will be amazed at what a little muting can do. If you get that dialed in where you like it, you can then replace the rather non elegant tape with something like Moongel or even a drum ring like a RemO.

It often does not take much to tame a ringing snare. Keep in mind that you are the only one that will hear a lot of those overtones and those overtones that you may consider annoying are what help the snare sound carry forward through a mix. As I understand it, this kit will be used primarily for practice (and a very nice kit it is for that purpose) but learning to play a snare with some life in it is part of the process as well. I would stay away from foam and packing materials as you will end up with a very lifeless drum.

As to Moongel, while probably overpriced it is a really good solution to dialing in a sound. Using a full or even just a half piece can make a huge difference. I have, on occasion, used two and that makes a huge difference.

You know what, stupid me, thanks tnsquint, while reading your help with this Steel Pearl Snare I remembered that I had bought a set of damping rings a long while ago. I,am going to find them and try that approach. Thanks from an old guy.

kevins I am going to buy some moongel. I,ve seen some that my son used but never had the occasion to use any myself. Might be the answer but as bright as this snare is, I don,t know? The drums are at my grandsons house I,ll buy some moongel and duct tape and when I find those damping rings somewhere amongst all my stuff I,ll let you'al know how it goes. Thanks

Tom