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Question about Leedy Speedway throw off Last viewed: 1 hour ago

leedy throw off
Posts: 31 Threads: 6

I was very fortunate to get a 1920s Walnut Leedy Tudor with nobby gold hardware for very little money and I must say it is indeed the best snare I 'ver ever played.

I own mostly snares made between 1960 to 1977, but there is something very special about this drum.

It's a one ply walnut shell with maple re-rings as far as I know.

Without a doubt I would bring this drum to every gig but there is a problem with the throw off.

It doesn't lower the snare wires enough when turned off, so the snare still come against the reso head when I play the drum with the snares turned off.

I already changed the original gut wires to "normal" puresound snares, then to the "fake Dynasonic" snare frame from Rhythm Tech (RT-7000).

The Rhythm Tech helped a little bit since the snares are already fixed within the frame, but the problem is still the same.

of course I can turn the knob a couple of times to get the snare back off enough, but that takes too much time and I'm afraid to break the mechanism if I use it too much.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable about Leedy strainers can give me some pointers how to handle the throw.

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Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 284 Threads: 66

A beautiful drum you have there. Have you made sure that the throw mechanism is completely free of dirt and muck that might foul the pivots etc. Are all the pieces straight and not binding on each other? Sometimes if a drum gets dropped on it's side, the mechanism can get bent or distorted which stops it releasing smoothly when the throw is operated. These old throws are really not that complex in terms of their operation so providing that all parts are free to move and with a little light oil, then they should release without any issues.

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 10 years ago
#2
Posts: 31 Threads: 6

Thanks for your fast reply.

The mechanism actually works well and relatively easy, it's just that it doesn't bring the snare far away enough so that I can play the snare as a tom.

The snares are far away enough so that they don't vibrate when I play another drum.

They actually leave the reso head , just not far enough.

So when I play the snare drum, they bounce back against the head. Modern throws seem to have a wider leverage.

Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 284 Threads: 66

Thanks for the clarification. In that case I'm not sure what to suggest. I've not encountered that particular issue before. Hopefully someone here will have the answer. Still a lovely drum though!

"If 'A' equals 'success' in life then 'A' equals 'X' plus 'Y' plus 'Z' where work equals 'X', 'Y' is play and 'Z' is keeping your mouth shut" - Albert Einstein.


1920s 14"x5" Ludwig Super Sensitive Dual Snare
1957 6 1/2" x15" Slingerland WMP Concert King
1938 8"x15" Leedy Broadway Standard
1947-53 14x6.5" NOB Ludwig & Ludwig Universal
...plus a bunch of mismatched Slingerlands that collectively make a pleasing noise.
Posted on 10 years ago
#4
Posts: 2197 Threads: 202

I have also had the same problem with certain Slingerland throws of the same vintage. Just does not drop far enough. I can see no way of changing the drop distance with the existing strainer...it is what it is.

Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

Why does it take too much time to turn the adjustment screw ? It should go off and return to the exact setting you have. Is that the problem ? It should be durable too, it`s designed to be activated with the stick.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#6
Posts: 31 Threads: 6

From OddBall

Why does it take too much time to turn the adjustment screw ? It should go off and return to the exact setting you have. Is that the problem ? It should be durable too, it`s designed to be activated with the stick.

I think there still is a misunderstanding. The lever works quite well, it just doesn't lower the snares enough. When I additionally turn the adjustment screw I can lower the snares enough, but that takes considerably more time than to just pull the lever back on. And it's never exact the same setting, since the screw is made to change the setting.

I don't think there's a way to activate a screw with a stick or is it?

Posted on 10 years ago
#7
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

The way I understand that throw is, when you turn the adjusting screw either way, the stick lever should also move with it and when you use the strainer it shouldn`t matter where the adjusting screw sits, it should return to that setting.

Like, with one setting the lever is strait up when it`s on. After turning the screw to tighten the lever, it now sits angled when on. You see where I`m going ?

There are go to experts on this throw as members here.

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#8
Posts: 31 Threads: 6

Not sure we're talking about the same thing here.

I'm sorry but I don't understand your explanation.

It seems to me you're talking about the screw to extent the lever (red arrow).

I'm talking about the screw to tighten the snare (green arrow).

The lever doesn't move when I tighten or loosen the snares.

They're independent from each other, just like in a modern throw.

But I need to release the lever AND loose the screw (green) to have the snares far away enough so that they don't bounce back when I hit the snare with the snares of.

So I have to engage the lever AND tighten the screw to have the same tension back as before. That takes a while and you can't really do it in the middle of a tune.

By the way, if you want to see the snare in action along with a 30" german bass drum, here's a video:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDkvm9kB7s0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDkvm9kB7s0[/ame]

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Posted on 10 years ago
#9
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

We talking the same screw. It looks properly assembled but isn`t functioning correctly. You shouldn`t have to do that. Did you tie the strings with the slide in the down position ? Nah, that wouldn`t be it, you can still tighten manually.

Where`s Cooper when ya need `em ?

Just mechanically, you shouldn`t lose that tension when set if you throw it off and on,...That`s one of the better throw`s ever made.....

It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#10
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