piccolo snare?

[question444]

I've been saving up to buy a piccolo snare, as I've been convinced that is the route to acheiving a high, sharp, yet loud snare sound. Am I right? And should I get a steel shell or wood? If you have a minute check out this clip: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/cl...410680-1960015 (click mama help me or stwisted)
What snare do you think is used here? This is the kind of sound I'm going for. thanks.

[seismetr0n]

i didnt check out the clip (lazy + dialup) but im alla bout the piccalo snare... high sharp tight... the drummer in my hardcore band uses one... and IMO it really is the best thing to record with... i also use a slightly smaller wooden snare (w/ chrome ext) that also hits like a picccalo. (though its not a true piccalo)... of course.. you can always get your other snare tight and sharp.. just crank down on the heads and the snare... they sell "faster" heads too that help..

gl

[question444]

cool thanks. I've also thought that it might make sense to use a clear batter head-for a brighter attack?

[geet73]

I used a piccolo for two years and got fed up with it. I would suggest just using a 14"x5" snare. Just tune it a little tighter.

Piccolos project well in live situations.. but they don't have any body. They're all attack and very thin sounding. I think you'd be better with a standard sized-snare. They're much more versatile. They can be tuned high with a lot of crack and tuned low.

This is all IMO, of course.

[question444]

may I ask what type of piccolo snare you used? just curious. Was the volume adequate? I have a couple snares, wood 5.5X13 and a steel 6.5x14, I'm gonna experiment with those some. Also, I was thinking of finding a clear head for the batter side, wouldn't this give me a brighter attack sound? I rarely see clear heads on the batter-side. thanks.

[true-eurt]

I own a steel Pearl piccolo. I have yet to get it to sound worth a crap! But, I have played on a wood pearl piccolo and it rawked!! The attacks are so precise sounding. I would think you'd need to go and play on several different brands, both steel and wood, until you find the right sound you are in search of. Just like guitars....the tone and performance is a very personal thing.

[funkdrmr]

I own a Yamaha brass piccolo, about the same as the David Garibaldi sig edition.

There definitely isn't as much body as my larger snares, but it's still possible to get a good tone out of it.

I listened to the clips you suggested, and I don't think a piccolo is the way to go for what you're looking for. Get a nice 5.5 x 14 maple snare, tune it up with good heads on both sides.....enjoy!

FWIW, the studio I'm working in right now has a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute kit in house, and the snare can definitely do what you're looking for, plus a whole lot more. It's a very versatile drum.

[seismetr0n]

IMO i dont think a clear head will necessarily do what what youre looking for, although a coated head is kinda useless unless you play jazz... they do make fasst attack heads though (some have little holes in em to move faster = speedholes - they make the car go faster)
gl

[Russtopher]

Originally Posted by seismetr0n

IMO i dont think a clear head will necessarily do what what youre looking for, although a coated head is kinda useless unless you play jazz... they do make fasst attack heads though (some have little holes in em to move faster = speedholes - they make the car go faster)
gl

a coated head will have slightly less ring and less overtones

a vented/ported head like an Evans Genera Dry will be just that, drier sounding than a normal head like a G1/G2 or a Remo Ambassador.

If you want a nice high pitched drum with some body to it, check out the Yamaha Musashi (sp?) snares. Killer. Those el cheapo sub-$100 piccolos? Poop. Seriously. I've tried 3 different ones, none ever sounded good.

[funkdrmr]

I have the Musashi as well......I forgot to mention it. I think it could definitely do what the author of this thread is looking for, but it won't be as versatile as the snare style that I recommended above.

Plus......the Musashi's are cheap!

[herostyle]

I have a Pearl Steel Piccollo too. And it has sounded great! I reccomend this or a wood piccolo.

[question444]

I'm a little confused as to what is the purpose of piccolo snare. It seems that it's main purpose, with it's short depth, would be to resound less, for a quick attack/decay. I've read that the depth of a drum is responsible for articulation and resonance. On the other hand, marching snares are large in depth but are extremely staccato. A smaller diameter snare drum should give you a higher pitch. (Like the Musashi). Is that right? What I want is a relatively high pitched snare, with short decay, and very loud when summoned. I've heard standard size snares that are high pitched, but it seems like they lose their volume from being cranked so tight (perhaps tighter than they are designed to be?) I really need to get into the music store and just whack a few models, or tinker with what I already have.

[elmerfunk]

I have a late 60's Luwdig 5x14 steel snare. I put a coated emporer on it and crank it down with die cast hoops and go. It's nice and cracky and high-pitched and LOUD. It's hardly ever in the PA because it just rocks. Soundman tells me he's gonna need new fillings. Piccolo's just don't have enough body. They produce the high-end and the crack, but they die right away. I'll try to find something I recorded the snare on and post it for you. Good Luck!!

[Levinin]

Very few people play with just a piccolo. Usually it's a second snare just used to give a different snare sound if you want 2 snares in the song, or for the odd song if the sound fits better - perhaps a full bodied snare sound is too much with what else is going on in the song for instance.

If you get a metal snare and tune it high you should get the kind of sound you want I think but still have a bit of body to it.