Snare Head Recommendations..

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ez_willis

ez_willis

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I have a 3" x 13" Pearl Piccolo snare that needs a new head. I put a WeatherKing Coated Ambassador on it when I bought it. It sounded real good. It was time to replace it, and I wanted to try something different(I'm not a drummer, remember?), so I bought an Evans EC on it, and I don't like it. I am not real good with describing things, but I guess it feels too thick, and sounds too full. It's a piccolo snare. I want crisp, tight, cracking....

I'm still curious to see what a different kind of head would do for the sound of it.


Batter side, I think. That's the side you hit, right?

Any recommendations? Recording only. Various types of rock/funky stuff.
 
I have a 3x13 Pearl Maple snare. I use a coated Evans vented head and it is the best snare sound I've gotten. The Evans head "warms" the sound of the snare - but still allows a tight, sharp snap - and the vents, significantly reduce ring. I still have the stock Pearl head on the resonant side.

I use to work in a drum shop, got to try out a lot of drums and got to buy gear at almost cost - so I've owned a lot of snares and have tried a lot of head combinations. I love my 3x13 maple - I also have the 3x13 in the same series, but with a steel shell - however, I've always been a wood snare kind of guy.

Funny story:

I did a sub gig (with my 3/13) and the leader of the band (a guitarist) was so impressed by the sound, he made me write down the make & model of the snare and the head combination - and he strongly suggested that his drummer buy the same thing.

Several months later, I sat in with the same band (this time on percussion) - sure enough the drummer was using the same 3x13 and he thanked me. He had never considered a piccolo (he had been using a 6x14 Tama steel snare) - now the only snare he uses is the 3x13 maple.
 
mikeh said:
he had been using a 6x14 Tama steel snare
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I was using a 6" x 14" brass Slingerland before this one. I haven't used it since.


The snare head you're talking about, is it an EC, like this one-
 

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i have an Evans vented on my snare, and it's all coated, not clear like the one you pictured. it just has tiny holes along the perimiter. i like it, it has a very nice, quick CRACK without too many overtones. this is on a 14x5" birch snare, but i'm sure it would be great on a Piccolo.
 
Try the Coated Emporer. Very similar to the Ambassador but heavier, and when really torqued tight gives awesome crack and definition on a Pearl Piccolo. I use this head on all my snares (Including Pearl Piccolo, Tama Soprano, and other standard sized snares by Mapex, Pearl, and HB), at all different tensions, with Weatherking Diplomat Snare-side heads, and get awesome results everytime.
 
ez_willis said:
I was using a 6" x 14" brass Slingerland before this one. I haven't used it since.


The snare head you're talking about, is it an EC, like this one-
Click to expand...


He's talking about this head , which I've used on a 14 x 5 steel snare to tame the overtones . It sounds great . I have a 13 x 3 Pearl Brass pic with the Remo Ambassador set up like you had . I like that combo on it .

Evans Genera Dry Vented
 
Yup, Genera Dry Vented...real dry...real crack... :confused: real vented :confused: .......wait....ya real dry.

I've used them before...wasn't my cup of tea, but if you're looking for dry and cracky, that'll give it to ya real good.
 
those Evans Genera Dry Vented heads are "all that and the bag of chips" if you want a dry meaty crack.

if you want a little "boing" in it too, check out the remo controlled sound heads (with the black dot underneath).

resonant side, i like the evans 200 hazy. but that's me.

heads are cheap-buy a few and see what you like best.

cheers,
wade
 
i used to use coated emperor before i was introduced to the Remo CS (controlled sound) head by a drum tech. my snare hasn't sounded better and even after i've worn the head out, it still has a nice tone and crack.
 
Thanks for all the tips, guys.

How tight is too tight for the top head, in your opinions?
 
ez_willis said:
Thanks for all the tips, guys.

How tight is too tight for the top head, in your opinions?
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That's like asking, "how tight is too tight for a vag?" :rolleyes:

What head did you go with and how does it sound?
 
scrubs said:
That's like asking, "how tight is too tight for a vag?" :rolleyes:

What head did you go with and how does it sound?
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Been sick all week, haven't went with any of them yet.

I put the Coated Ambassador back on it. It's real tight, but sounds great.

If it sounds good, it is good, I know, I know.

The head will break before the drum is damaged, correct?

Don't pick on me, I'm not a drummer.
 
ermghoti said:
I should tune my snare until my wang blisters? That seems odd.
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Yeah, but they're the good kind of blisters...like herpes.
 
ez_willis said:
I was using a 6" x 14" brass Slingerland before this one. I haven't used it since.


The snare head you're talking about, is it an EC, like this one-
Click to expand...

Hey what coincidence...we put a set of these on our toms today. After the pinstripes gave up the ghost and delaminated themselves, we tried these today. Really like the way they sound. Can't speak to the snares but they really treated our toms nicely.
 
zed32 said:
i have an Evans vented on my snare, and it's all coated, not clear like the one you pictured. it just has tiny holes along the perimiter. i like it, it has a very nice, quick CRACK without too many overtones. this is on a 14x5" birch snare, but i'm sure it would be great on a Piccolo.
Click to expand...

Good call, they sound nice. A real nice bark. The only thing we've had issue with has been the life span. They seem to dent and warp rather easily but then again, our drummer has a heavy hand. They're nice at keeping the ringing down.
 
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