One thing I do in that situation is place a strip of paper between the snares and bottom head. Quieter with less snap. The closer to the center of the head you slide the paper strip, the less snare response, so you can adjust the sound. I find the snare effect is the greatest contributor to volume, as can be tested by disengaging the snares, and finding the drum is no longer too loud. :)Mitch
That is a good idea. Thanks for passing it along!
One thing I do in that situation is place a strip of paper between the snares and bottom head. Quieter with less snap. The closer to the center of the head you slide the paper strip, the less snare response, so you can adjust the sound. I find the snare effect is the greatest contributor to volume, as can be tested by disengaging the snares, and finding the drum is no longer too loud. :)Mitch
This is genius! I am going to try this when I get home.
I knew a guy back in the 70's that put balled up newspaper in his drums like you might use for packing. They were definitely quieter %)
1971 Ludwig Rock Duo set in Blue Oyster Pearl
early Mapex dual bass drum Saturn kit
1964 Leedy Ray Mosca kit in Blue Sparkle
1959 Slingerland Super Gene Krupa snare in WMP
1968 Slingerland Hollywood Ace Snare Drum
1969 and 1977 Ludwig 400 Supraphonic snares
1965 Acrolite snare
Ludwig Coliseum snare
'68 Rogers Dynasonic snare
Pearl free floating piccolo snare
13" Mapex piccolo snare
6.5" deep Mapex steel snare
Mapex 6.5" Brass snare
I know there's more snares than that.
UFIP cymbals / Avedis Zildjians
Ghost pedals or Tama King Beats
you kids get off my lawn
There's not just volume but the perceived volume. Some snares are definitely worth staying sway from (stave/block snares, heavy brass/steel/etc) but I'd think that something relatively run of the mill like a 14x5 or 14x6.5 wood snare with some muffling and not tuned up too high. You don't want to crank it so it cuts, aim for a softer tone with less tension on the wires. Look up some videos of Carter McLean playing in his home/studio. The guy has incredible touch but he leaves his snare down low, open with the wires rattling a bit. Sounds great too.
Thanks guys, I'd be really interested to know if it works for you. I pretty much do it all the time now unless the music is loud and the snare needs to cut.
Awhile ago I saw a medium-loud band in a fair-sized room but with lots of hard surfaces, and the snare was kind of ruining things. I think the paper strip would have really helped.
Mitch
REMO skyntones are designed for lower volume, i heard.
snares are a big factor indeed, you can experiment with cutting out strands from an old 20 strand. Do it symetrically and from the inside out, kind mimicking the pure sound equalizer. I've played with 10 strands, worked well.
wood species is less factor ithink, but it were a factor, I guess (phillipine) mahogony is ok, maple and beech less so, don't go oak.
shell thickness may be a reasonable factor (thinner=lower volume)
6 lugs.
1.6 mm hoops, no die casts.
tuning low
don't tune the snare side too high either, it will make it too responsive for the snares action.
depth may be a factor as well, in my experience deeper snares are not only fuller in sound, but also a bit louder.
although... I saw a youtube clip once. Some guy tested a wide rage of snares, they were all about the same decibels
What Mitch suggests with the paper strip will help for sure... Also I always have an old head handy with the frame removed... I just sit it on top of the batter head... It will lower the tone some, as well as cut the volume...
Cheers
John
