snare vibrates when i hit tom

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rickson Gracie
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Rickson Gracie

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i have a ludwig faB 4 reissue kit.

everytime i hit my 1st tom the snare buzzes. i can stop it by tuning the tom high but it doesnt sound good to me like this. i found the sweet spot and i want the snare to cooperate with it.

any suggestion on how to fix this? thanks.
 
Last edited:
Rickson Gracie said:
i have a ludwig fag 4 reissue kit.

everytime i hit my 1st tom the snare buzzes. i can stop it by tuning the tom high but it doesnt sound good to me like this. i found the sweet spot and i want the snare to cooperate with it.

any suggestion on how to fix this? thanks.
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Quit hitting the tom. :p

Kidding.

Reducing sympathetic buzz:

When a drum or a certain note from other instruments causes the snares to buzz, this is called sympathetic vibration. This happens because the vibrations traveling through the air cause anything they come in contact with to vibrate at the same rate (pitch). If the resonant frequency (the pitch at which it resonates the most freely) of an object happens to be the same as or close to that pitch, it will easily vibrate at that pitch. This is why only certain toms or certain notes from the bass guitar cause the snare drum to buzz loudly. There are a few cures.

-Tune the offending tom to a different pitch.
-Tune the snare-side head to a different pitch.
-Tune the batter head of the snare to a different pitch.
-Detune the lugs on either side of one or both ends of the snares (on the snare-side head). This, in effect, makes the snare-side head to be out of tune, so its resonant frequency won't be as strong.
-Put duct tape on the snares. [This is not my idea. In fact, it's a stupid idea. Not only will it prevent most of the sympathetic vibration in the snares, but it will also prevent the snares from working freely, like they should.]
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As ez posted, you have to retune either the tom or snare. You don't wanna change the tom, fine, snare is actually easier (for me). If you don't already have the batter-side snare head craked up lots, just give each lug asmall tightening. Keep doing that until you loose the sympathetic tones. If you don't wanna crank er' up, just do the same as tightening, except loosen. DUH! :cool:
 
you need to tighted your snares.

if you dont know how, switch off your snare, then the screw thing turn right a couple times, and turn your snares on again. that should make your snare alot tighter sounding and wont buzz when anything loud happens.
 
JoeyPazera said:
you need to tighted your snares.

if you dont know how, switch off your snare, then the screw thing turn right a couple times, and turn your snares on again. that should make your snare alot tighter sounding and wont buzz when anything loud happens.
Click to expand...
it will still probably buzz after tightening the snares but it shouldnt buzz alot, really the only way to really get rid of it is to tune the tom and the snare so they are different and arent taking us the same range
 
Are the coils attached correctly?

The wires should lay flat against the head.
 
This has worked wonders for me! It was mentioned by ez, but not in full.

Don't tighten the snares. Leave them where you like them, just crispy enough without being loose and buzzy on their own. Now, loosen the lugs down by the ends of the snare bed. Now tighten the lugs that go across the bottom of the snare bed a little extra to compensate. Since the snare head is so thin it will sound the same, but that little cushioning at the ends is enough to absorb the rattle and disturb sympathetic vibrations.
 
rushofblood said:
it's a good thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah ................once it's in the mix who cares. Lots and lots of recordings
have this very same buzzing.
 
phil makes a good suggestion. try that.

the only other usable suggestion is to retune one of the drums. i find that i'm always retuning my snare, so i'd start there, personally.


cheers,
wade
 
I've just set up a double bebop kit (I got a shot of a mate's jazz kit) hence the double kit (TWIN 18s!!!!!!!)

the 12 tom ONE TOM was hacking me & I loved the snare except for the snare buzz & I raised the tom slightly & badabip badaboom

mind you I was the opposite from this guy I'm not fussy about the tom but the snare stays where it is
 
Yeah try what phil said. I had this exact same problem, my 10" tom would make my snares buzz every time I hit it. Really annoying when you spend hours tuning everything just right then set it up and play and you got buzzing.
 
Tuning

Billy Ward has a great video out called "Big Time" that can help with the buzz. It also has alot of great info on setup, etc...

www.billyward.com
 
As mentioned before, it's kind of a matter of how much buzz you can deal with. By the time you finally eliminate it your snare and tom might sound aweful. snare buzz is a natural thing, and the reason you dont hear it very often on popular recordings is likely due to high levels of processing/drum triggering or it may just be buried in the mix. A finely tuned kit will have a bit of snare buzz.
 
snare buzz from tom

Place a business card under your snares ...this works great and doesnt kill the natural sound...it should eliminate the problem...

It eliminates a lot of tape.. and tampons all over your drums...
 
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