Need snare advice from drummers

[WhiteStrat]

As you may (or may not know) I'm not a drummer, but I have a kit in my studio. I'm really happy with the sounds I get from recording it, but I want another snare option.

The current (and only) snare that I have is a metal Slingerland. It's got a great "smack" sound that works for a lot of things, but I'd love to have a snare that gives me a bigger sound--something between a "pop" and a "boom."

As a point of reference, I'd love for my drum recordings in general, and the snare in particular, to sound like the drums on AC/DC's Back in Black. If you hear "You Shook Me All Night Long" you'll hear what I'm talking about.

Anybody getting that kind of sound out of their snare? Or at least know what general type I should start my search with?

Thanks for your time!

 

[Greg_L]

As you may (or may not know) I'm not a drummer, but I have a kit in my studio. I'm really happy with the sounds I get from recording it, but I want another snare option.

The current (and only) snare that I have is a metal Slingerland. It's got a great "smack" sound that works for a lot of things, but I'd love to have a snare that gives me a bigger sound--something between a "pop" and a "boom."

As a point of reference, I'd love for my drum recordings in general, and the snare in particular, to sound like the drums on AC/DC's Back in Black. If you hear "You Shook Me All Night Long" you'll hear what I'm talking about.

Anybody getting that kind of sound out of their snare? Or at least know what general type I should start my search with?

Thanks for your time!

I believe the snare on BIB is a Ludwig Supraphonic - the best snare ever!

How deep is your current snare?

 

[WhiteStrat]

I believe the snare on BIB is a Ludwig Supraphonic - the best snare ever!

How deep is your current snare?

I don't know how they're "officially" measured, but mine is 6" between the outside edges of the rims--so maybe 5" between the heads.

 

[Greg_L]

I don't know how they're "officially" measured, but mine is 6" between the outside edges of the rims--so maybe 5" between the heads.

Yeah you need a deeper snare. You can try tuning yours a little looser, but deeper is better for the sound you want.

 

[WhiteStrat]

Yeah you need a deeper snare. You can try tuning yours a little looser, but deeper is better for the sound you want.

Cool. Thanks. I checked out that Ludwig--noticed it's metal too. I assumed (obviously mistakenly) that there was some desired advantage in a wooden snare. Guess that's not so?

 

[Greg_L]

Cool. Thanks. I checked out that Ludwig--noticed it's metal too. I assumed (obviously mistakenly) that there was some desired advantage in a wooden snare. Guess that's not so?

Well, you know, all materials have different characteristics, although I personally think head choice and tuning plays a bigger role in the overall sound of a drum. Snares do seem to me to be more sensitive to shell material than toms or kicks though. Most thin shelled wood snares can sound like a metal snare. The thicker the wood, the more defined the crack, usually. I personally prefer metal snares. Brass, copper, steel, etc. I find that metal snares have a wider range of sound with different tunings. Wood snares typically have their sweet spot, and that's all you get. The Supraphonic is "Ludalloy" which is some aluminum alloy concoction that sounds pretty awesome no matter how you tune it. Vintage Supras are "COB" - chrome over brass. You can find used 14x6.5 Supras all over the place for reasonably cheap, and even new ones aren't that much compared to many other snares that cost more and won't sound as good. I bought mine brand new with a hard case for 370.

 

[NYCDrums]

Absolutely a deepish drum, wood or metal...pick up the Evans genera dry snare batter head...it has little holes punched in it. Tune it kinda low and your all set

 

[antichef]

I, like you, am a non-drummer with a kit in the studio, so weigh my comments accordingly. I went on a snare getting mini binge and wound up with a Supraphonic, a Ludwig acrolite, a Premier birch/eucalyptus snare (came with my kit), and a Pork Pie 6" maple. The real drummers who come by try them all out (sometimes even switching heads around - among them a genera dry), and play with tuning some, and then choose the Supraphonic. 100%. Small data set, but there you go.

 

[dintymoore]

I, like you, am a non-drummer with a kit in the studio, so weigh my comments accordingly. I went on a snare getting mini binge and wound up with a Supraphonic, a Ludwig acrolite, a Premier birch/eucalyptus snare (came with my kit), and a Pork Pie 6" maple. The real drummers who come by try them all out (sometimes even switching heads around - among them a genera dry), and play with tuning some, and then choose the Supraphonic. 100%. Small data set, but there you go.

Sometimes it's not a matter of having "a good one", it's a matter of having "the right one". To me the Supraphonic is just the right snare almost all of the time, same as a U87 for vocals. And like that mic, the Supra has been used so much that it's sound is what we've come to think of as "normal".

That concept of "not the most expensive", but "the right one" is something I carry to almost extreme in almost every area of my life - Maytag washer, Porter Cable 505 sander, old Grestch and Ludwig drums, SB Chevy V8's, 700R4 transmissions, 50's K Zildjians, Shindaiwa trimmer, Fender tube amp... those are all "the right ones". When ever I buy something I always want "the right one", not just "a good one" and usually I look at what pro's in that field use.

 

[mindrought]

deeper shell

I would agree that it needs to be a fairly deep snare. A 5x14" aint gonna do it. more like a 8x14" tuned loose with a steel or aluminum shell. I had an old pearl that woulda done the trick. Tuning and head choice can affect the sound quite a bit, as well. Read the drum tuning bible if you haven't yet.
I would try to place the mic a bit away from the heat to get less attack if you're looking for the deep shell sound. This might help...

 

[dintymoore]

I think the vast, vast majority of recordings have been made with a Supra 5" snare, not the deeper version. They probably sold 10:1 5" snares to deep ones, maybe way more than that. I have never had a problem getting a deep sound out of a 5" Supra.

 

[mindrought]

I think the vast, vast majority of recordings have been made with a Supra 5" snare, not the deeper version. They probably sold 10:1 5" snares to deep ones, maybe way more than that. I have never had a problem getting a deep sound out of a 5" Supra.

I stand corrected. Phil Rudd uses a 5" deep snare and a 5.5 deep snare was used on tour supporting back and black album, so I'd doubt he ever used a deep one. He says on wikipedia that he doesn't like deep snares due to their lack of response...
Also, I used a ludwig suprasonic 5x14 and played it for many years. I definitely agree it's been used on lots of famous recording, too.

 

[dintymoore]

To me there isn't a night and day difference between a 5" and a 6 1/2" Supra. A difference for sure, the 6 1/2" can give you a bigger, lower sound. But tuned low the 5" works for me, plus it fits better in my trap case!

I imagine that they sold more 5" ones because they were cheaper.

Here's a page from the 1923 Ludwig catalog and the shell looks pretty much the same as it does today:

Gimme a No. 3 with a diet Pepsi!