Mark!, and Olddrumgeek!

I can't do a visual on my BR Artist SS yet, as it is still packed from the Chicago Drum Show .. but .. I DID have a look at my 1967 Slingerland Radio King/3 ply, as that would be the same shell and approximate year. Well!... it has some DEEP beds! Looks like the beds on your Artist Mark! Maybe there was just "one guy" cuttin' those beds! I'll attach a pic I had in my Slingerland folder of the 1967 RK 3 ply in WMP. I will say that even though this drum was NOT a snare drum that BR played, it plays/sounds so GOOD that I kept it. I have gigged it too! I will have a look at the 1968 BR Artist SS as soon as I get it unpacked...

Tommyp

It would be nice to know just what the standard measurement/ cut was back then for the beds or if they were just done using a good eye and judgement. We need the guy or people who worked on them way back then to explain! Mine looks just about like Marks does.

The 4105's also have deep snare beds. Does your snare have the single flange hoops with clips or cast hoops? Mine has cast hoops. I put a Remo Fiberskyn on the top, Remo Ambassador Snare on the bottom and used Puresound Super30 wires. I think it sounds pretty good. The cast versus the single flange hoops allow a little higher tuning for a 6 lug snare.

Too bad Gretsch doesn't make a 6 lug 302 double flange hoop. I also have a 4102 - Renown (8-lug), which had worn out single flange hoops with clips. I bought some of the 302 hoops from Steve Maxwell, installed the same heads and wires as listed above and this snare sounds sweet. Definitely no where near that "boxy" sound. Rimshots are attention getting, but sensitive enough for jazz brushwork.

Heads, hoops, wires and tuning are all equally important factors when it comes to finding "the right sound".

-Tim

Yes, it was their lower end "student" snare, which was similar to the Gretsch 4015. It was cheaper, because it only had 6 lugs, the Bantam or Sta-tite strainer and 16 strand Snappy snares. It used the same shell as the PowerTone and Tower models. The Powertone inside shell used a gloss paint, while the Tower and Luxor used the typical flat paint. I bet the only reason this was done was to alert the assembly crew which shells were to be built as PowerTone versus a Tower.

I understand what you mean by "lifeless". I had a BDP Luxor with original heads and snares. Even though it was configured how Rogers intended, I was also not happy with the sound. Since it was a 6 lug drum with steel hoops, tuning it high was not very possible without the hoops starting to bend.

I have an early Silver Sparkle Luxor and tried different head and wire combinations, until I found a good formula (in my opinion). Remo Ambassador Controlled Sound X on the top, Ambassador Snare on the bottom and Puresound 20 wires. Even though I do have it tuned medium/high right now, it still has an "open" sound with a regular hit. But when you lay into it or rimshot, this snare is loud. I had a Supra setup next to the Luxor and I swear the Luxor is way louder.

I also have a later Blue Sparkle Luxor and thought I'd try similar heads, but different brand. I installed Evans Power Center Reverse Dot on top, a Hazy 300 on the bottom and the same Puresound wires. I tuned it the same as the Silver Sparkle Luxor, but the sound is no where near the same. It actually has a "plastic" sound, similar to what's being discussed in the Evans coated G1 thread.

I'd say, give the Luxor another try, if you can find one cheap.

-Tim

Meazzi Hollywood President top of the line chromed snare 5 1/2 x 14, circa 1972-73. Purchased factory new. As horrid in sound and performance as it was beautiful to behold! The catalog said it was made of "genuine MU metal". And it had a sticker on the side of the shell reading "INOX" (just like a Swiss Army Knife). Don't talk to me about "knowing how to tune it", "the right heads/snare wires", or any other nonsense...that thing was a DOG! (and that statement is an insult to the canine world!). Yes Sir CryBaby LoLoLoLo

How about this 40ply monster. It was, well, interesting shall we say.

I've never understood these "super-ply" shells. With a shell that thick and complex, how can a drummer constantly exert enough force to really bring out the sound/tone of the shell? I would think the sound produced is mostly from the heads. Adding cast hoops could choke the drum even more.

-Tim

A newer (2000's) Gretsch USA 5x14. This one was the model that had the 2 vent holes very close to the bottom edge where the head overlaps. Don't know if they are still doing that or not, but was a terribly stupid design and the drum just sounded awful. Boxy and choked with no oomph at all. It sure did look pretty though.