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Supra snare troubles and questions Last viewed: 7 hours ago

Posts: 18 Threads: 2

I have a few Ludwig Supras and they have been driving me nuts for a while now. Specifically, the snares rattle on and on after you hit it and I'm NOT talking about sympathetic buzz from other drums/instruments.

I have been trying different wires I have lying around - puresound custom, blasters and a no name 20 strand set and none seems to have any loose wires or bent that I can see. I have cords tying snares on two of the drums and plastic straps on the other.

So, to any Supra owners, I'm wondering:

1) What do you use to connect the snare wires (Straps, cord)?

2) How do you connect the snare wires with cord, is there a magic method of cords going over/under the clips first and knots on the strainer?

3) Any secret to the strainer adjustment when you put the wires on?

4) What kind of snare wires do you use?

5) Do snare wires stretch/wear out?

For reference, the drums I have are 70's/80's vintage 6.5" supras with p85 strainers and they are tuned in the medium range (85 for the top and 84 for the bottom, if you use a DrumDial). Heads are vintage emperor on top and ambassador snare-side.

If possible, I would like to avoid using tape on the head/snares or any Band-Aid solutions and figure out the problem. I'll try to post a video if that's possible, if it will help.

If you made it to the end of this post, congratulations, and If you can help you may save my sanity.

Thanks,

JD

Some days you get chicken, some days you get feathers...
Posted on 10 years ago
#1
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

Have you checked the lugs to make sure they aren't rattling ! are the felts in the imperial lugs good ? Also all bolts are tight inside the shell?

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 10 years ago
#2
Posts: 18 Threads: 2

I just put two of them back together after cleaning one and painting the other. It's definitely snares buzzing, kinda like there not snug to the head. Which leads me to think something is not set up right. I tend not to have too much snare sound, but when I go tighter I get the same loose snare sound and the tone of the drum is kind of lost and there's more sympathetic buzz.

Some days you get chicken, some days you get feathers...
Posted on 10 years ago
#3
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

You got pics. of it set up ?

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

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#4
Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

How are you securing the snare wires? Using string, straps, other?

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!
Posted on 10 years ago
#5
Posts: 190 Threads: 34

Try regular Ludwig or maybe Gibraltar or similar snares. I has Puresounds on a few vintage snares that they didn't seem to play as nice with. Sometimes there's no need to hot rod the classics. Good luck!

Posted on 10 years ago
#6
Posts: 18 Threads: 2

I acquired all the snare wires I have from drums I got from ebay/craigslist, so I have no allegiance or love for any particular wires. I didn't want to go out and buy new snare wires if I'm just making some obvious setup mistake.

The last snare I had was a Ludwig that had a classic (p71?) strainer and individually adjustable snares, so I didn't have this issue. I never put too much thought into this kind of stuff, I just want to play them.

I have included pictures of the cords/straps/strainers if that tells you something.

Some days you get chicken, some days you get feathers...
Posted on 10 years ago
#7
Posts: 6524 Threads: 37

They are kinda far away. lay the drum flat and show the run across the head if you can.

Do you have the solder bead facing the head ?

What I think I`m seeing is too much of the edges with the snarebed as if the heads are stretched too far. When you throw on the snare, the space between the edges and the snaregate that the cord/strap goes through can pinch the cord/strap, lifting it off the head.

I had that problem before and when I bought a new head, it stopped.

In other words, don`t let the edges go up past the snaregate cut-out when you look at it directly from the side view.

If you look at the pic of one of mine, you see the space is about half way, if the edges go much further, I will change the heads.

If that`s not it, we`ll pick away at it til it`s solved.

1 attachment
Snare gate.jpg
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It`s a drum,.....Hit It !!

.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Posted on 10 years ago
#8
Posts: 18 Threads: 2

Oddball,

The heads are new and are sitting in the middle of the snare gate. Any chance it has anything to do with where the strainer bottom sits. In other words, if I back the strainer adjustment way down (or up) when I attach the cord/strap to the strainer? The snare wires are solder-side facing the head, btw. I'll get more meaningful pictures up tomorrow.

I noticed we live wicked close, if I can't get this worked out I should ask you what kind of beer you drink and bring a drum. Of course I may need a snowmobile at this point. :Snow Flake:

Some days you get chicken, some days you get feathers...
Posted on 10 years ago
#9
Posts: 677 Threads: 47

Ive got the same thing happening with mine a 64 supra, I've actually just done a gig with it, I had to put a remo controlled sound head on it just to help with the snare rattle, it's not to bad but I don't realy like the sound kill affect with that head. I haven't had any luck with it yet.

I love the jazz era
Posted on 10 years ago
#10
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