penningtron wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 12:48 pm One thing worth noting for bottom heads is you don't necessarily want an even tuning all the way around due to the snare beds. You can usually get away with loosening the rods not near the wires which will help give the drum more low end overall.

edit: I went and checked my drum in the next room's bottom head and it's more like Db right now (and I'm not even tuned for max bottom end). E seems a bit high..

dontfeartheringo wrote:

Mason wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 11:38 am 6.5x14 Gretsch USA bell brass

M8!!

Mason wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 8:04 am How do you have the top head tuned?

losthighway wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 5:09 pm My friend left a supraphonic and accrolite with me on indefinite loan to compare with my supralite.

The supraphonic had a garbage head and an old school dampener that wouldn't move. I put a new coated ambassador on top and pulled the dampener out. Got it tuned up and it's just kind of okay, but a little weird. It's kind of quiet for a metal snare and there is very little snare wire sizzle at any tension. I thought for a second the wires weren't seated right but further examination revealed that they're the same as on my other snares. Checked the bottom head and it was cranked pretty tight. This shouldn't cause a weirdly low key snare sound (?). Maybe it's still the wrong setup, maybe it's an acquired taste, maybe I prefer the inferior metal Ludwig.

In any case my Tama Star Classic (birch I believe) beat them all out for recording. The cork sniffing continues.

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 11:06 am Snare resonant head makes a huge difference and when they're worn out, they really suck.

The Supra is my "do anything" snare

dontfeartheringo wrote: Tue May 09, 2023 11:06 am

losthighway wrote: Mon May 08, 2023 5:09 pm My friend left a supraphonic and accrolite with me on indefinite loan to compare with my supralite.

The supraphonic had a garbage head and an old school dampener that wouldn't move. I put a new coated ambassador on top and pulled the dampener out. Got it tuned up and it's just kind of okay, but a little weird. It's kind of quiet for a metal snare and there is very little snare wire sizzle at any tension. I thought for a second the wires weren't seated right but further examination revealed that they're the same as on my other snares. Checked the bottom head and it was cranked pretty tight. This shouldn't cause a weirdly low key snare sound (?). Maybe it's still the wrong setup, maybe it's an acquired taste, maybe I prefer the inferior metal Ludwig.

In any case my Tama Star Classic (birch I believe) beat them all out for recording. The cork sniffing continues.

Snare resonant head makes a huge difference and when they're worn out, they really suck.

The Supra is my "do anything" snare, so you may have one that is out of round, needs a new reso or wires, or has a hoop that got ovaled somehow. I've never heard anyone be fully "Meh" about a Supra, so some further experimentation may be warranted.

mdc wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:59 pm Every time i think about buying a snare I remember that I have 5" and 6.5" wooden gretsches and that they sound studpidly good. Still wouldn't say no to a reasonably priced back beauty but I don't think that's happening any time soon.

Has anyone had any luck swapping a gretsch lightning throwoff with an inde or trick or other aftermarket part? I find mine slips a lot over the course of a few songs.

twelvepoint wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:32 pm

mdc wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:59 pm Every time i think about buying a snare I remember that I have 5" and 6.5" wooden gretsches and that they sound studpidly good. Still wouldn't say no to a reasonably priced back beauty but I don't think that's happening any time soon.

Has anyone had any luck swapping a gretsch lightning throwoff with an inde or trick or other aftermarket part? I find mine slips a lot over the course of a few songs.

I have an old CoB round badge snare and the side arm lighting is all fucked up and the pins carved out ovals in the cast pieces. Would love to have those holes drilled out and have bushings installed with new hardened pins but who the hell would even do that for me?

dontfeartheringo wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:49 pm

twelvepoint wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:32 pm

mdc wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:59 pm Every time i think about buying a snare I remember that I have 5" and 6.5" wooden gretsches and that they sound studpidly good. Still wouldn't say no to a reasonably priced back beauty but I don't think that's happening any time soon.

Has anyone had any luck swapping a gretsch lightning throwoff with an inde or trick or other aftermarket part? I find mine slips a lot over the course of a few songs.

I have an old CoB round badge snare and the side arm lighting is all fucked up and the pins carved out ovals in the cast pieces. Would love to have those holes drilled out and have bushings installed with new hardened pins but who the hell would even do that for me?

I bet someone in Nashville would do it. Or you could just buy a replacement? I feel like we've had this discussion at some point and I was missing something important that you were trying to tell me.

https://www.explorersdrums.com/Gretsch- ... _4462.html