Snare drum fixin...
Had to fix my snare drum. Ive been having this problem where the top drum head seems to slip past the rim as i tighten it down. Turns out the actual woodshell of the drum is bending into it self(kinda like a cone...). So my soulution? Flip it.
First, i removed both heads and the snares.(and i got a great tip from Larry (sound dude at old i) about getting the snares super tight, more on that later..)Then i took of the tensioner arm. This piece (on my drum at least) was easy to remove and easy to just flip around. On the other side of the drum is a adjustable clamp that i decided to leave there, id have to drill new holes, so i left it alone. I wrangled up an old kick drum head that ive been saving. I cut out a long enough strip to hold the snares in place of the clamp side. since flipping the drum now places this clamp further away, i needed a longer "strip".
So next i put the bottom head on the new bottom(the one that is curving inwards) and it fit fine, i was able to tighten it up nicely with out it slipping out, maybe the bottom head is just a little bigger? now i tried out the tensioner arm. Got the straps locked in place and tightened it up, but it just didnt sit well. seems as if its not getting tight enough. Didnt bother with it much and got the top head back on. No problems, still wanted to slip out, but i centered the rim best i could and went with it.
I played the snare a little and was happy enough with it.
Later i got to Old Ironsides for our show. PLayed the snare as i set it up and noticed it realy ringy and hollow. So this means that the snares are not tight enough, they are just rattlin against the head, rather than snappin. So what was happenin was that i had the snares set to where i thought they'd be best at, but then i tightened the bottom head more, which inturn pulled away fromt he snares. Ak, it was frustrating, but we nailed it down. Larry gave me a screwdriver and i went at it. Pulled the strap tight and then screwed the clamp in place. Still sorta ringy. Larry said to loosen the tensioner arm, tighten the snares and then tighten the tensioner arm. WOW! that got the snares upclose and personal!
It might have been a little too tight, but now its easy to adjsut it where i like it. perfect.
Looks like Sunshine Smile is headed over for Vocals tomorrow morning. Should be fun to *finaly* get that project done....
