When I was eight years old, I put BB’s in a coffee can so it would sound like a snare. It started then. I’ll skip all the ugly details between then and now. Whoooosh!
I have recently thrown myself into the world of snare tone. I don’t know how many times I have switched heads (ten times one night), tuned down, tuned up, changed the wires, etc. I finally landed on a real skin head. At first it rubbed me the wrong way. It had no dampening and the overtones were wild. I guess organic material will ring out in chaos. It’s cool, but too much. I also over tightened. All heads have their sweet spot, but real skin heads definitely have less room for error than mylar heads. Once I found that spot though, I can feel it caress the inside of my belly. I have no other way to explain it. I’m waiting for the real skin snare side head. I’m sure that will throw me for another loop, but that’s ok. I’m loving the journey. And then… I’ll order a set of GroverPro snare wires. They are basically guitar strings. Less buzz, not as bright. I don’t want that in your face crack that we all know as the snare. I want deep grooviness shrouded in smoke.
Now I’m in cymbal land. A few sets have stole my heart. Sabian Monarchs and T Cymbals Air series. But a full set would cost 900 to 1000 bucks. Naw. I have since mostly reverted back to my old cymbals that I used for many years. Sabian 20″ HH ride, Zildian K 14″ hi hats, Zildian K 16″ crash, and have added my Zildian K 18″ ride. The trick to liking them again was tape. Yes, I put a good amount of tape on the bottom of both rides. Also, no polish, dirt good. Calms down that shimmer and makes it moody. I’m sticking with these with the exception of the hi hats. 14″ is just too thin and pokes out. I want that deep cool chik that you don’t really hear. Those are the T Cymbals 16″ Air hats. Man are they cool. Those cost money, lots of it, so it’ll be some time.
The near final layout.
