it isn't the way in which your mounting your tom it is the tuning range your tuning the drums in. try to de tune one of your t rods on either the snare drum or mounted tom just back it off a half turn or so see if that helps.

Hello. Did you already try tightening the snare wires? Maybe the resonate snare head is too old and thin? I always tune my snare bottom head tight and the batter head medium. The tighter your resonate head on the Tom the more it will resonate. Maybe you need to try keeping even tension on both heads.

I actually like a lil snare buzz.

Thanks guys. I tune my drums pretty regularly and spend almost an hour on each one tweaking and zero-ing in on the tone I want. I did retune my tom to another acceptable note and then on to the snare. I had it tuned right where I want it, but I cranked the snares way up. (I think I was afraid to really get em tight on this single ply shell).

I got rid of most of the ring (it's barely noticeable) and I'm probably due for a new res head which may get rid of the rest of it.

thanks again.

Hey man, yeah on the snare wires I would get them really loose to where when you hit them they kinda rattle and then tighten them up to where they have a lot of sensitivity (like after they are touching the reso head then just a lil bit more) otherwise they will be choking the drum.

I feel like it should only take a couple mins to tune a drum. If you notice it taking you over like 4 or 5 min per drum just take a break and go relax, get some fresh air then have at it again..

I'd deff get a new reso head. That should help a lot!

I have found backing off a little on the snare head screws (4 closest to the wire), can help with tonal buzz from toms..

Cheers

All very good points. You may find that raising or lowering the pitch of either the snare or the rack tom will help avoid some sympathetic vibrations. As you probably know, a little snare "buzz" is part of the sound of a complete drum kit so don't get too hung up on it. Do be careful not to tighten your snare wires too tight as a choked snare sound is not a good snare sound. One other suggestion is to get a set of Puresound Equalizer snares. They are missing several wire strands in the center and therefore reduce sympathetic vibrations. I use them on several drums to help with the vibration issue but also because there is a little less "snare" in the sound. The overall result is a little less "metallic" I guess. Good luck.

Nice info on this thread! Sympathetic snare buzzing doesn't really bother me on gigs, as most of the time there is a bass stack and monitors both close to my kit anyway, but in the studio it's another kettle of fish. I don't want to waste peoples time (& $).

I have"nt used the Puresound equalizers, but I recently picked up a snare that had a Rhythm Tech active snare system. It's kinda like a cheap version of the Dynasonic bridge, but with the snares pre-tightened in a box thingy. I went downstairs to verify the brand and also noticed that there aren"t snare wires in the middle, like the Puresound equalizers mentioned above by tnsquint (thank you btw!).

I initially replaced this from the snare it was on out of principle, but then needed a set of snares for another drum. I was surprised at what a good job they did decreasing sympathetic snare buzz. The only drawback is that i have to put this snare upside down or leave it on a stand when i'm not using it, because of the thickness of the plastic box thingy that is around the snare wires.

I am glad you mentioned that "Active Snare System". I bought a $50 snare that had one. I pulled it all apart to restore it and thought that this piece was an interesting device. I tried re-installing it but the previous owner had cut the cords so short (it attaches by cords by the way) that I could not re-install it. It is an interesting concept.

curious! Mine has a slot for those plastic thingys (what do call them?) as well as holes for cord, like traditional snare wires.