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So here's the deal - I have a snare drum that I made myself from a 14x14 Tama Artstar II tom. I play mostly in loud situations so it's not terribly noticeable, but there's a persistent rattle that sounds like my snares are kinda hanging off the drum. I took the exact measurements and used extreme care when attaching the throw off, but it's a cheap part that I salvaged from a low quality drum. Also, since I made this drum from a tom, there was no existing snare bed. I have neither the tools nor the woodworking skill to cut a snare bed myself.
Any ideas as to how I can make this thing sound like it's supposed to?
Any ideas as to how I can make this thing sound like it's supposed to?
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Re: Snare Drum question
Fri, August 15, 2008 - 12:20 AMyour snare will buzz unless you have a snare bed.
If you are very, very careful.......................really look carefully at what a professionally cut snare bed costs
and invest in two grades of half round files.............one rough and one fine..............then a couple bucks more
for a couple of grades of sandpaper and hand cut your snare beds.
Just really look hard at a professionally cut snare bed and see how deep it is?
Where the snares hit, it needs to be flat but curved in the direction the snares are running.
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Re: Snare Drum question
Fri, August 15, 2008 - 6:27 AMGabriel,
Cheap parts and poorly cut edges/beds = poor sound quality. There is no way around this fact. A snare drum will not sound right without the snare beds. That rattle is because the snares are 'hanging off'. If you look at a snare head surface you will see that there is a pocket for the snares to lie in. This is vital for correct tensioning of the snares and to create maximum contact between snares and head. Since you are in Seattle I recommend you take your drum to Jerry.
Jerry Garcia's Drum Company
7500 Aurora Ave
Seattle, WA 98103
206-297-0120
Hours:
11-7 T-F
10-5 Sat
