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Super Sensitive Snare Drum Advice Last viewed: 5 minutes ago

Posts: 130 Threads: 33

Hey guys.. need some advice here. I am relatively new to vintage gear but have made a handful of purchases in the last year: 70's Acrolite ( on the advice of numerous board members here, great purchase) a 60's Premier set ( my first vintage set and restoration) and a late 70's Premier snare ( which I am undecided about ).

This week I came across a 70's Super Sensitive 6.5 x 14 B/O pointy badge on Craigslist and had my brother (a fellow drummer ) go look at it for me because he lived closer. The price was good, and he determined it to be worth it even tho it needed work to get playable. The drum was in ok condition, typical chrome bubbling, but nothing broken. It seems however that theres a thumbwheel missing on one side, no guards and the snares are wrong.

I wasn't in the market for an SS as I really want a Supra. I grabbed this figuring I'd do one of a few things:

A) I would get it playable and see if it suited me, if so keep it

B) Get it playable and sell or trade it for a Supra

C) Leave it as is and resell it at a small profit or trade for a players condition Supra

Not knowing much about these drums other than doing a little reading and scouring ebay for pricing, I am not sure what the best route is. Considering the amount of work it may be to get the mechanism in top order, it might not be something for me, as I am not the most mechanically inclined dude. I am also concerned about gigging with it, and how fragile it may be. I am just not sure... tho my gut is saying if you want a Supra, that's what I should get.

If anyone has some sage advice to impart onto me, I would appreciate it.

From anyone who has experience fiddling with an SS, or what type of heads and wires I should be using, I'd like to hear it all. I will be posting pics in the next day or so.

On another note, I have to make some time to post the story on my Premiers and what I like to call my mini restoration of them, but until then, I posted a pic in the gallery.

Posted on 17 years ago
#1
Posts: 1190 Threads: 86

It will be hard to trade a super sensitive for a supra, especially a 6.5" supra, as the supras are more desirable than the supers.

Parts for the super sensitives are are relatively easy to find, as Ludwig made a ton of them, and used the same parts for years. If you can't find used replacement parts on sites like this (take out wanted ads and try member vadrums) or on ebay, I'd bet a Ludwig dealer can order them new.

For heads, you can't go wrong with a Remo coated Ambassador for the top and Remo Ambassador snare side.

Posted on 17 years ago
#2
Posts: 130 Threads: 33

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think the Supra was more desireable so much, more of a lateral move, and a preference in sound and .... sensitivity. I am hunting down some parts on Ebay, seems like everything i need is readily available. I only paid $150 for the drum, so it seems like another 50 bux invested as well as the time to bring it back to life is worth it.

Posted on 17 years ago
#3
Posts: 18 Threads: 2

Tommy, As Rich said,the parts are still available.The only thing about the strainer mech is,when you hit the drum hard,the strainer will disengage.I just put a velcro cable wrapper on it,problem solved.They sound just as good as the Supra,just a bit more wet.You have to experiment with all the screws & moving parts to understand how to get the best settings out of this drum.I have both the 5 & 6.5.Have gigged with rock bands with no problem.The 6.5 is a cannon.All the best.

Posted on 17 years ago
#4
Posts: 130 Threads: 33

Thanks Chris... I ordered the thumbwheel and one gaurd from a shop in Cali yesterday. I am going to get the snares locally... Any reccommendations?... I am leaning to the Puresounds. But I see Gibralter makes a set too...

My only concern overall is that its a fragile mechanism and I am not the most mechanically adept dude. I am picking it up from my brother on Tuesday and hoping to have all the parts by then. Hopefully there isn't any damage or bending to the strainer, the drum wasnt cared for very well. Right now there are some odd snares attached with fishing line and no heads!

Can you send me or post a pic of how you have the velcro positioned?

Posted on 17 years ago
#5
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