I have a Ludwig 8x14" snare that I've been struggling to get a good snare response. I remembered this video, made a few minor tweaks to the snare set up after watching it again and BOOM....it's right where I want it. Your videos are invaluable! Thanks for all that you do, Kenny.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m stoked the vid helped. Tons more coming, and please note my new website is up with single stream lessons, or via lesson packs that go deeper/step by step into my drum tuning method. Kinda like a Patreon but you walk away with an in depth step by step lesson! Thank you so much for watching.
I've been playing drums for 30 plus years and have always struggled with changing snare wires. This video has helped tremendously! I never thought how important it is to have the snare strainer engaged with a middle tension on the knob.
It helps a ton. If you start too loose, the strainer doesn't hold the tension you set it at, and backs out. Start too tight, and you will not be able to get it to the proper tension.
Awesome Kenny! I have many years of experience as a musician and engineer and I really appreciate how you cut through all the extra stuff and just get down to "Look, this is how I do it, and it works great for me" style of advice. I could have saved a lot of time back in the day if there were more dudes like you around then. ;)
Hey Kenny, a polite encouragement. 25,000+ people watched this video. So that many have an interest and (as you know) you have 2 1/2 thousand subscribers. So you are - at least - educating this many people...and there is 'downstream' impact of that by those who pick up on the information you provide, share it, and (of course!) make things sound/play/work better. I hope you please keep putting in the effort to produce your vids b/c they are sure not without big impact! Best! Terry
This is a great video. In all my years of playing, no one has even mentioned the snares being level. It was always just about tension. This is how I have been doing my snares since watching this video 2 yrs ago, and it works great!! Thanks for wonderful video.
Thanks Kenny!! Your no BS & common sense approach to the turning & maintenance of the drums is unmatched. It has helped me a lot. I'm amazed how much better my drums sound & maintain their durability on that hard road of rock n roll!!
Wow I can’t believe I missed this awesome comment. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ No BS thank you so much for the kind words. 🙏🙏🙏 I’m stoked to hear my tips help you get the sound you love. Thank you for watching, and again i’m sorry I missed your comment. I’m finding many that have been buried in my feed, and it bums me. I truly appreciate your watching, and commenting.
Wow thank you so much for the kind words. Sorry it took a year to reply. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ comments often get buried in my feed. Thank you for watching, and i’m stoked the vids help.
You have saved me so much time and headache. I new at playing drum and have had a hard time tuning my snare to a sound I like. This fixed most of my problems. Thank you.
Dewayne Sloan IKR!!?? 😂😂😂 this is the A#1 issue with most kits I re-setup for local drummers. Same with Backline rentals. Thx for the kind words, thx for watching, and please like, share, and subscribe
I always like playing around on my cousins kit but never got one of my own. Then my son decided to pick up guitar and that really pushed me into get my own kit. Love my Ludwig 5 piece.
It’s not necessarily an obvious thing. 🤣🤣🤣 Took me awhile as well to figure it out as I was growing up. 🤗🤗 It really does allow the drum to have the widest range of sounds at your finger tips. Thank you for watching, and for commenting. 💪🏻
NO MORE PHILLIPS SCREWS AND SCREWDRIVERS FOR LUDWIG'S THROWS AND BUTT PLATES , AND IT'S ABOUT TIME TOO, RIGHT KENNY ?? LOL ! NEW P-88 Looks great .That millennium P-86 strainer was horrible. I once bought it to install on my vintage Supraphonic, and the screws and small parts just kept getting loose, falling out, etc. Good thing Ludwig has addressed this issue ! Awesome video as usual !
Thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching. This is the #1 thing you can do to fix your snare sound. As i’m telling everyone Super Thanks for tipping for tips is now available on my vids to help support my channel. 🙏
TheKellySHU thank Kelly Fam. Can’t wait for y’all to hear the vid I just shot using the Flatz. AND the one I’m about to do using both models with a 91, and a Heil PR48
Received drums for Christmas. Was looking for some basic "how-to" maintenance information when I stumbled on this video and thought..."hey, I know that guy from Trace Foster's garage..."
I have new heads coming today and your "minor third at the kit" video has sold me on trying that tuning as soon as they get here. I'm having trouble getting the pieces positioned in relation to each other where they're truly comfy. I can't get as much practicing done as I'd like because I'm moving my snare or hi-hat every five minutes. Any resources or advice you can offer without actually being able to just lay hands on the kit?
I’ve More recently been getting back into drumming after many years away.. you’re videos are amazing.. and very thorough and informative. You’re a drum guru🙏🏽🙏🏽 Watching these vids have really helped me put the finishing touches on a beautiful 76 Ludwig vistalite restoration that I finished to commiserate re discovering my love of drumming! Thank you so much & all the best to you man!!
Hey kenny, im following this vid to sort my tama slp bubinga, and while the drum is sounding great in the decay of the wires when i play a rimshot im gettin this wierd metallic noise and i don t know what is causing it the wires are not choked any ideas?...
Alas it could be many things. An unbalanced Reso or a Reso that’s too loose. A Reso that’s too tight. Tuned to the resonant frequency of the hoop. Check out some different tuning intervals as well such as a Major 3rd or Perfect 4th or 5th between the heads. If the problem persists, we could always do an online lesson to see if we can solve the problem. Thank you for watching.
Hey kenny had a fiddle w/ reso head And boom u were spot on needed rebalancing tensioned up quarter turn using ur 1×2 little x big x technique , wires need changing but sounds so sweet thanks for ur help u r an oracle!!!! ❤ luv u man!!!!
@@cajonosaurus man that is so awesome to hear. I’m glad I could help. As I’m telling everyone Super Thanks is now available on my videos for tipping for the tuning tips. That in turn helps to support my channel. Thank you so much for watching. 🙏🤗🙏
Shouldn't one set them a bit offset to towards the butt plate end so that when they're tightened they move towards the strainer side and hence more towards the center?
When this method is used the snares are pretty engaged already. A half turn usually does it for getting them perfectly tight. A turn at best. That is why the snares are installed while the strainer is engaged, and why I adjust the knob to "center" them. If you feel you need to offset them just a bit to allow for more pull towards the strainer do it during the centering part of the process. IE go more towards the buttplate when you are adjusting with the strainer knob. This method totally accommodates that choice. :-) Sorry I didn't go that deep in the vid. I'm trying to make quick vids. LOL! To the point. LMAO. :-)
Great tips there thank you so much.I'd like to know in what notes are you tuning your snare usually.Most of us have a 14 inches snare i guess....thanks
If I remember correctly on that tour I tuned Drew's 14" Black Beauty to an A # (med-low tension) on the batter, D# on the reso, and I had the 13" tuned a perfect fourth above the 14" Snare so that 13" Ludwig Maple drum is most likely at D# batter and G# on the reso.
That's low there on the black beauty,but of course if it fited the style....D# forth octave the reso and A# 3rd the batter right?I tune the big black steel like that 12 inch for a more rock/metal sound to cut through the gtrs.....supraphonics sound great at any tuning though....it's amazing
Hi Kenny great video as always! A problem i have been having with my snare drum is that i install the wires in the exact way you have instructed on this video. The wires are brand new puresounds and they are central to the bottom head. But when i strike the top head slighty off centre tge wires buzz so much i can barely hear the head itself??? Have you any idea where im going wrong?
@@KennySharretts No worries! I kinda sorted the problem out. I just spent a bit more time getting the wires exactly straight and centered. Still not perfect but loads better than before! Its a 14" x 6.5" ludwig acrophonic with 20 strand custom pros i think. Anyway keep up the good work👍. Loving the vids!
Hi Kenny! Love how concise this video is. Would you happen to have a video on how to do this using snare cord? I recently picked up a vintage Ludwig snare with the original P83 strainer and it doesn't allow for the use of a strap. I'd prefer not to put a different strainer on the drum. Any advice?
First of all thank you for the kind words, and secondly you must be psychic as I am all set up to do a video on my 62 Ludwig supraphonic with the multi hole strainer. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks.
Awesome news! I'll go ahead and subscribe to your channel so I don't miss it. I haven't found much definitive info on how to handle that multi-hole end.
Hey Kenny, it seems like no matter what I do I can’t get the snare wires on my DW snare level. It has a mag-throwoff. Does that change things? When I flip the drum over and turn the strainer off and let the wires hang they’re never level and hanging more on one side. When I hit the snare there’s always weird buzzing afterwards unless I tighten them a lot. I tried your video to the best of my ability and it’s not really helping. Can you suggest anything? Thanks By the way, they’re 16 strand wires and the snare is 6.5x14
Thank you so much for watching. Like I mentioned in the video, it’s not always going to be level when it’s right, but in general it can be a good indicator your are on track. I have a DW mag on my custom GK. If you want to do an online lesson I can walk ya through it no problem, and we can look at any other issues that might be causing the excess buzz. It’s a bit different on this drum than the ludwig. Do you have the 3 position butt plate?
@@KennySharretts Yes, it has the 3 position butt plate. I just changed it back to the original DW 20 strand snare wires and I think it’s better but I can’t really test it out because it’s night here.
Halfway is a guesstimate for anyone’s strainer. Try going to the tightest point then back off between 4 and 8 1/4 turns. Start there. Also once there engage the strainer. Finally really tug hard to lock in those wires. If you need more help I will return to teaching online lessons after a period of mourning for my recently deceased wife. 🙏🙏🙏
+swinthom That sir is a pair of DW Drum Keys. When tuning I'm a big fan of the Evans Knurled tip key, and their drill bit key.The ergo keys feel great in my hand, and give me a bit more sensitivity. But for high torque/one hand adjustments like snare wire installation/balancing, I like to use a heftier key. Those definitly do the trick.
Gifted_By_Nature it can be. Some strainers are hard to keep perfect, snares, and the wires/straps you use to tie em of can stretch. As long as you are happy rock on!
I put a new reso head and snare wires (Steel Pearl) on my Ludwig Acrolite 6.5x14 and it sounds so dry and dead, I can't seem to get that nice ring it had when it came out of the box.
+jaydoode15 What kind of redo head did you put on? Some bottom heads have dryer characteristics than others. Also if you stretched it a bit, but not too much it should liven up the sound versus dry it up, HOWEVER, stock Ludwig redo heads tend to be VERY bright, and ringy.
it was an evans hazy 300 reso, my friend suggested it even though I usually use an ambassador clear or evans g1, but the evans hazy 300 is papery thin, so I just put the Ludwig stock reso head back on because its fairly new anyway. Im thinking its an issue with the snare wires, either that, or because I replaced the batter from a Ludwig weathermaster medium head to a remo ambassador. I just cant get that open, bright and ringy sound that my acrolite had right out of the box brand new!
Hi Kenny, great video. I do have some trouble my snare drum though, I can't get the wires to stop a horrendous buzzing. I have a TAMA Silverstar (Birch Schell) 14" x 5 Snare drum. I use Remo Ambassador Hazy and Remo Powerstroke 4 for the batter side. I've really stayed hours just tuning and trying to find out the problem but I really think it's completely due to the snare side. Should I tighten it even more? Or am I putting the wires wrong? Thank you!
+Erwin Del Castillo G If you follow my videos instructions, you "should" have a relatively tight snare sound. A bit of Moon Gel/Dotd/Buzz Kills can be useful in controlling sympathetic buzz without killing your tone. If you are using the Tama "Nylon Cloth" straps that come stock on most Tama snares you may want to try a traditional nylon strap or Trick cords. The Tama Fabric straps can stretch out over time, and tend to not always give a even pull to the snares. IE, you can be leveled, centered, and it will still pull the snares out of alignment. When your snares are engaged turn the drum over, and look at how the snare are sitting. If they are crooked, or end up pulling to the bearing edge, that is the source of your problem. Also, like I said in the video, even when you put the snares on properly, they can still shift due to the strap/cords/ the strainer, or just from the snare wires themselves being bent out of shape over time. You may still have to "level" them. Disengage your snare strainer, and hold your snare horizontally at eye level to see if your snare wire beds are level with your snare drums bearing edge. If not, adjust the straps until they are. A couple of notes/questions:1. Are the snare wires in good shape? If they have been on the drum "incorrectly" for any amount of time, the wires could be bent to the point where no leveling or centering can help. 2. ARE THE SNARES LEVEL (see above)? 3.How tight/loose do you have your snares. You should have them tight enough to have no sloppy buzz, but loose enough to where a light stick touch at the drum's center still produces an unchecked snare buzz. If you haven't visited my page Kennysharretts.net please do. Look under my tech tips blog, and there is a 2 part article about reducing unwanted sympathetic snare buzz. It goes super in depth. Thanks for watching and I'm very happy these vids have been helpful. Peace, Kenny Sharretts
+Kenny Sharretts The snare wires are from TAMA but they are quite new actually, I'll use all of your tips and look at the other videos. Hopefully the beautiful sound of the snare will be accomplished. Thanks a lot!
+Erwin Del Castillo G Awesome! I'm sure with a little tinkering you will find it. Try the old school nylon straps if you aren't already. The stretchy fabric straps (if that is what you are using) can be troublesome.
Oh nooooo. It could be a multitude of things. The first question is what kind of snare is it? With most snares it Usually has to do with where the strainer dial is, and how hard you tug the wires while setting them. If a Ludwig Try again with the dial a little tighter , and make sure the strainer fully engaged when setting the wires. Also sometimes butt plates and strainer plates slip. Make sure they are gripping, and aren’t stripped.
Kenny Sharretts I just put on a 3 switch butt plate. When attaching the wire to the butt plate what position is best to start. The lowest, middle or high? Thanks for the reply, love your videos. 🤘🏼
thanks for sharing. i just resurrected my gretsch round badge set, put evans 300 on bottom and guy at store talked me into a puresound 30 wire. first it only came with the strings after he said it had the strap also, but main thing is i removed it and the wires at the ends gouged the shit out of my brand new snare side head, where the soldering happens, lots of protruding wire ends, WTF? Should i contact evans/daddario and bitch or is that the new normal? (the 20 year old remo head i removed looked like new in comparison)
No. That is not the goal of any brands snare wire. I would 1. Inspect the wire beds on any new set of wires before installing in case there is a defect. 2. I'd send an email to D'addario/Puresound explaining the situation, and send pics. Most products in drum world have a defect from time to time. My gut instinct is it's not intentional, and that it's actually something of which they need to be made aware. 3. If by string you mean the coated wire they send with some models? Don't use the wire. It will shred your head, and cut into your drum. Use straps, ribbon, or string. Thank you for watching.
No The throwoff is engaged . That way you have something to pull back against. If you did this method with the strainer disengaged you would not be ablee to engage the strainer. It would be too tight.
its a ludwig accent combo but the shells r basswood or as they say select wood its not a high end kit i was just wondering if u had any thought i got evens hydraulics on the batter and g1 on the reso side
hey really enjoy the input thanks for sharing they just ring alot iv tried bout everything prolly gonna get some iso mounts next get my toms outta the bass drum
Hey Kenny! 3 of my snare lugs broke in half...the snare is about 14 years old (Tama superstar custom) whre can i get some parts for it? Do recomend any brands? Generic?
Kenny Sharretts awesome. I've got a Ludwig Black Beauty 6x14 that I haven't sussed out yet. Rings like crazy when it's pitch perfect. Tried moongel but still. Super excited to learn from you. Thanks for imparting your experience and wisdom.
Kenny Sharretts I was using a CS Dot but no matter what I did, I'd get a resonant frequency that would have to be EQ'd out. Tonight I switched to a coated powerstroke 3 and it's exactly how it should sound. Loud, huge crack, no offending resonance. No moongel either. Love the channel btw.
So the instructions written on the packaging of These Puresound wires are actually wrong? And I was wondering why its not working at all. This method is working a LOT better
I wouldn’t say wrong. They simply have a different approach🤗🤗🤗. I do agree, however, that my method is pretty effective for getting the job done. Thank you for watching, commenting, and for shouting out the method. 🙌🙌🙌
No sir. As discussed in the video you want to set the strainer around the middle of the tension range. Then engage the strainer before you set the butt plate. Hence it keeps a loose setting from backing out,, and plenty of room to tighten as you like.
I do the same thing. I lift up over my head to make sure everything is level. I actually have a 42 strand that is not as long as it should be. It's actually 1" shorter on each side. That has to be perfectly straight or your gonna have a loose strand and create a buzz
Jose Carlo Barreto yes. I was using a perfect 4th on the drum. It was a fourth away from the snare. If this was when Drew was using C/F on his snare than I believe it was an F/B flat. Thank you for watching! 🙏
Watch his video on tuning the Tama SLP G Maple 13 X 7 snare as he goes into detail with tuning a 13” snare and the reasonings behind the batter/reso relationship. I bought that snare right after watching the video.
1. Your strainer could be worn out. Old or cheap strainers tend to back out over time. Simply wear, and tear. 2. You may have started with your strainer in too loose of a position. If you don't have it at least to the middle of it's rotational range you may not get enough "Grip/Tension" on the threads to keep the strainer from backing out as you play. 3. The material you use to attach the wires may be stretching. I tend to use nylon straps for this very reason. Try these tips, and let me know if they help
Right on man I dig Train! I'm putting a P.S. Pro Custom Steel 24 on my sons snare. I just got him his first kit. I'm a "Gitar" player and I've never done this before. Your vid has been super helpful. BTW what was that tune at the end of the vid? That was cool. I'd love to hear the whole thing. Thanks man!
It's a song I wrote called Empty as performed by my band So Called Underground. I was blessed to have some fabulous players on this song. You can find us on iTunes, Facebook, Reverb Nation, and CD baby. Figured I have the songs might as well use 'em. LOL!!
Hell yeah! Just the little snippet I heard was freaking groovy. You got talent man. Btw my sons snare sounds tight thanks to your vid. It sounded like a dung heap before. I've changed all the heads now with Evans stuff. The snare was the last one. I'm going to see if I can find your band now Thanks a bunch man!
The Maple Classic and Carl Palmer snares have similar style strainers so unless I'm missing something it should work when using straps. Are you using the string it came fitted with?
Kenny Sharretts Tried both, and even tried a zero collar snare side head. The snares just do not drop down far enough to clear the bottom head and not rattle. Ludwig should be ashamed for selling this poorly engineered snare drum.
Pure sounds never worked for me. If you put them on a flat surface and push down on the ends, the wires bow up. That is what happens when you put more tension on the wires. You get less sizzle because the wires bow outward away from the head. This doesn’t happen with other brands.
Some models of Puresound wires have pitch. Some models very little. The pitch of the plate is possibly what is doing that. If you have a drum with shallow or no snare bed. The pitch helps the wires seat well against the head. Check out Fat Cat wires. They have a ton of pitched, and non-pitches wires. Thank you for watching.
Depending on how much you play 2-4 months is actually a pretty good span of time for a stick to last if you play a lot. I work for many players that will go through a pair in 2 shows. That being said it can also depend on the type of wood you are choosing (oak can tend to be a bit more durable than hickory), and also what size of stick you use vs how hard you play/what type of music you are playing. What model of stick are you using? What type of music, and how often?
This is WRONG. It is almost correct that's why it works, probably for a little while. The correct way is to set the snares position on the Anchor side first. Set position of snare end to be just on the inside of the drum about 1/16 inch from bearing edge on the inside of drum shell. lock it down. Then set the snare throw side with the snare throw closed, and the adjustment tension screw set to max loose with only a few turns on it. That will give maximum adjustment to the tension screw and prevent the snares from ever hitting the bearing edge on the snare throw side. The way it is being done in this video the snare end on throw will eventually be pulled and stretched to the throw side bearing edge and damage the drum. Thats is because the snare strings stretch over time and you want all the buffer space you can get on the snare throw side to allow that stretching to happen without reaching the bearing edge of drum
Wrong? Damage the drum??? Bahahaha. Dude I’ve been an A-Level Tech for 24 years now. This method absolutely works. In fact you describe pretty much THE EXACT method that I use in this vid except 2 things. 1. I secure the strainer side 1st so I can lock it in at its best distance from the bearing edge, and then lock in the butt side by using the strainer knob to center the wires. When they stretch after 5-10 shows you readjust. You don’t just let them stretch. I even say that in the video. 2. Because you say to start with the tension knob at it’s loosest that actually WILL cause you to go over the bearing edge because you have to pick up the slack. The method works for Stevie’s drummer, RiRi’s drummer , Janet’s drummer, Train’s drummer, Mickey Hart of the Dead. Etc. for what drummers have you used your method on tour?
@@KennySharretts your a disgrace to the art spreading wrong information to teach others to be an idiot like you. . I been playing drums longer than you been alive. I told you the strainer strands stretches over time and it always stretches toward the throw off, because it is pulled that way . If you set the strainer to be as close to the throw off side first it has no where to stretch to, except over the bearing edge. damaging a bearing edge deadens the drums resonance .You are ignorant.
I have a Ludwig 8x14" snare that I've been struggling to get a good snare response. I remembered this video, made a few minor tweaks to the snare set up after watching it again and BOOM....it's right where I want it. Your videos are invaluable! Thanks for all that you do, Kenny.
Thank you so much for the kind words. I’m stoked the vid helped. Tons more coming, and please note my new website is up with single stream lessons, or via lesson packs that go deeper/step by step into my drum tuning method. Kinda like a Patreon but you walk away with an in depth step by step lesson! Thank you so much for watching.
That's why I need a drum tech lol. Or prewired in the stoeet or factory
This has always been my go to reference every time I'm removing installing snare wires. Great help Kenny!
My pleasure. Thank you for watching, and for commenting
Not gonna lie, I really like this guy. Super chill.
Thank you 🙏
I don’t know why but I keep coming back to watch this video. Everything is so well adjusted.
Thank you Olli!!!
I've been playing drums for 30 plus years and have always struggled with changing snare wires. This video has helped tremendously! I never thought how important it is to have the snare strainer engaged with a middle tension on the knob.
It helps a ton. If you start too loose, the strainer doesn't hold the tension you set it at, and backs out. Start too tight, and you will not be able to get it to the proper tension.
Putting on the wires is the ONE part of tuning drums that I don't like. Great video!
Thank you 🙏
Awesome Kenny! I have many years of experience as a musician and engineer and I really appreciate how you cut through all the extra stuff and just get down to "Look, this is how I do it, and it works great for me" style of advice. I could have saved a lot of time back in the day if there were more dudes like you around then. ;)
Thank you so much Robert. You are simply too kind.
Very helpfull… this was the only instructional video I could find addressing strainers with straps. Thank you!
Thank you so much for watching. Stoked the video was helpful. Please feel free to Like, share, and subscribe to help support my channel.
Hey Kenny, a polite encouragement. 25,000+ people watched this video. So that many have an interest and (as you know) you have 2 1/2 thousand subscribers. So you are - at least - educating this many people...and there is 'downstream' impact of that by those who pick up on the information you provide, share it, and (of course!) make things sound/play/work better. I hope you please keep putting in the effort to produce your vids b/c they are sure not without big impact! Best! Terry
Wow thank you so much for the kind words Terry. I try to make them when i can, and there are more to come. Thanks for watching.
Kenny Sharretts Welcome and thank you for the time and guidance!
This is a great video. In all my years of playing, no one has even mentioned the snares being level. It was always just about tension. This is how I have been doing my snares since watching this video 2 yrs ago, and it works great!! Thanks for wonderful video.
Same here. Never even considered them being level.
Thanks Kenny!! Your no BS & common sense approach to the turning & maintenance of the drums is unmatched. It has helped me a lot. I'm amazed how much better my drums sound & maintain their durability on that hard road of rock n roll!!
Wow I can’t believe I missed this awesome comment. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ No BS thank you so much for the kind words. 🙏🙏🙏 I’m stoked to hear my tips help you get the sound you love. Thank you for watching, and again i’m sorry I missed your comment. I’m finding many that have been buried in my feed, and it bums me. I truly appreciate your watching, and commenting.
Simple and to the point, the way instructional vids should be! Always top notch tips Kenny, thank you!
Wow thank you so much for the kind words. Sorry it took a year to reply. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ comments often get buried in my feed. Thank you for watching, and i’m stoked the vids help.
You have saved me so much time and headache. I new at playing drum and have had a hard time tuning my snare to a sound I like. This fixed most of my problems. Thank you.
Dewayne Sloan IKR!!?? 😂😂😂 this is the A#1 issue with most kits I re-setup for local drummers. Same with Backline rentals. Thx for the kind words, thx for watching, and please like, share, and subscribe
I always like playing around on my cousins kit but never got one of my own. Then my son decided to pick up guitar and that really pushed me into get my own kit. Love my Ludwig 5 piece.
Never knew to set the tightening knob to middle tension to create a wider range of tightening/loosening. Helpful and thank you.
It’s not necessarily an obvious thing. 🤣🤣🤣 Took me awhile as well to figure it out as I was growing up. 🤗🤗 It really does allow the drum to have the widest range of sounds at your finger tips. Thank you for watching, and for commenting. 💪🏻
NO MORE PHILLIPS SCREWS AND SCREWDRIVERS FOR LUDWIG'S THROWS AND BUTT PLATES , AND IT'S ABOUT TIME TOO, RIGHT KENNY ?? LOL ! NEW P-88 Looks great .That millennium P-86 strainer was horrible. I once bought it to install on my vintage Supraphonic, and the screws and small parts just kept getting loose, falling out, etc. Good thing Ludwig has addressed this issue ! Awesome video as usual !
Hey! Awesome Mr Sharretts! The best video for have "THE SOUND" of a Snare Drum! I'm a monster in snare wires settings now! Thanks!!!!!
Thank you so much. Im so happy the video helped. Please keep watching.
Kenny, LOVE this! Thanks for sharing your talents. You have such an amazing background and SO talented. See you again soon.
Great video. One of my favorite throw-offs too!
Thank you so much. Yes it’s a solid strainer. So many strainers are like this that I know this vid will serve many. Thank you for watching 🤗
Awesome advice thanks again!!!!
Wilbert Tecla you are quite welcome. Thank you for watching
Nice Kenny boy😊
Thank you so much 😊
You were a tremendous help! Thanks!
Excellent! That makes me happy to hear. Thanks for watching, and keep an eye out for new videos coming soon.
natural teacher, THANK YOU
Thank you so much for the kind words, and for watching. This is the #1 thing you can do to fix your snare sound. As i’m telling everyone Super Thanks for tipping for tips is now available on my vids to help support my channel. 🙏
Nice work Kenny!
TheKellySHU thank Kelly Fam. Can’t wait for y’all to hear the vid I just shot using the Flatz. AND the one I’m about to do using both models with a 91, and a Heil PR48
You sir have my dream job. Great info in your vids and is helping a lot. Thanks mate 👍
Customwinder 1 you are quite welcome 🙏 thx for watching
that's a nice looking snare drum!
Yeah it was a sweet side snare for sure.
This was awesome- helped a ton!
Awesome . Stoked to hear it. Please check out more step by step lessons at www.kennysharretts.com
Thank you for the kind words, and for watching. 🤘🏻
I usually center the wires on the head, then use a little gaffer's tape to hold them in place while I attach the straps or cords.
Nice!!
Great vid thanks man, helped me!
That makes me so happy to hear. Tons of new videos are up sir. Please stop by and check em out.
Received drums for Christmas. Was looking for some basic "how-to" maintenance information when I stumbled on this video and thought..."hey, I know that guy from Trace Foster's garage..."
What Up Phillip!!! Hope you are well sir. Thanks so much for watching, and I hope you find them useful.
I did (do.) Got my snare sounding good, toms are next!
I have new heads coming today and your "minor third at the kit" video has sold me on trying that tuning as soon as they get here. I'm having trouble getting the pieces positioned in relation to each other where they're truly comfy. I can't get as much practicing done as I'd like because I'm moving my snare or hi-hat every five minutes. Any resources or advice you can offer without actually being able to just lay hands on the kit?
I've got a 13in Steve Jordan signature snare I've been trying to dial in and i think this video will help 👍
Awesome 🙆 That was my hope. Thanks for watching!
Thanks Kenny! Very useful info!
You are welcome Jeremy. Thank you for watching.
I’ve More recently been getting back into drumming after many years away.. you’re videos are amazing.. and very thorough and informative. You’re a drum guru🙏🏽🙏🏽
Watching these vids have really helped me put the finishing touches on a beautiful 76 Ludwig vistalite restoration that I finished to commiserate re discovering my love of drumming! Thank you so much & all the best to you man!!
Kenny this helped a bunch! Could you recommend your go to snare straps? Thank you!
Plain old Gibraltar straps do just fine.
Thank you Robert!
Great info my brother. Rock out man...
Thank you, and thank you for watching! :)
Hey kenny, im following this vid to sort my tama slp bubinga, and while the drum is sounding great in the decay of the wires when i play a rimshot im gettin this wierd metallic noise and i don t know what is causing it the wires are not choked any ideas?...
Alas it could be many things. An unbalanced Reso or a Reso that’s too loose. A Reso that’s too tight. Tuned to the resonant frequency of the hoop.
Check out some different tuning intervals as well such as a Major 3rd or Perfect 4th or 5th between the heads. If the problem persists, we could always do an online lesson to see if we can solve the problem. Thank you for watching.
Hey kenny had a fiddle w/ reso head
And boom u were spot on needed rebalancing tensioned up quarter turn using ur 1×2 little x big x technique , wires need changing but sounds so sweet thanks for ur help u r an oracle!!!! ❤ luv u man!!!!
@@cajonosaurus man that is so awesome to hear. I’m glad I could help. As I’m telling everyone Super Thanks is now available on my videos for tipping for the tuning tips. That in turn helps to support my channel. Thank you so much for watching. 🙏🤗🙏
Shouldn't one set them a bit offset to towards the butt plate end so that when they're tightened they move towards the strainer side and hence more towards the center?
When this method is used the snares are pretty engaged already. A half turn usually does it for getting them perfectly tight. A turn at best. That is why the snares are installed while the strainer is engaged, and why I adjust the knob to "center" them. If you feel you need to offset them just a bit to allow for more pull towards the strainer do it during the centering part of the process. IE go more towards the buttplate when you are adjusting with the strainer knob. This method totally accommodates that choice. :-) Sorry I didn't go that deep in the vid. I'm trying to make quick vids. LOL! To the point. LMAO. :-)
Great tips there thank you so much.I'd like to know in what notes are you tuning your snare usually.Most of us have a 14 inches snare i guess....thanks
If I remember correctly on that tour I tuned Drew's 14" Black Beauty to an A # (med-low tension) on the batter, D# on the reso, and I had the 13" tuned a perfect fourth above the 14" Snare so that 13" Ludwig Maple drum is most likely at D# batter and G# on the reso.
That's low there on the black beauty,but of course if it fited the style....D# forth octave the reso and A# 3rd the batter right?I tune the big black steel like that 12 inch for a more rock/metal sound to cut through the gtrs.....supraphonics sound great at any tuning though....it's amazing
I like higher tuning like a CF for a super crack on both BB's and SP's. For Train though the A#/D# was the perfect blend of fat, and cracky.
Hi Kenny great video as always! A problem i have been having with my snare drum is that i install the wires in the exact way you have instructed on this video. The wires are brand new puresounds and they are central to the bottom head. But when i strike the top head slighty off centre tge wires buzz so much i can barely hear the head itself??? Have you any idea where im going wrong?
Duuude I can’t believe I missed this comment. What drum are you working with? What model pure sounds?
@@KennySharretts No worries! I kinda sorted the problem out. I just spent a bit more time getting the wires exactly straight and centered. Still not perfect but loads better than before! Its a 14" x 6.5" ludwig acrophonic with 20 strand custom pros i think. Anyway keep up the good work👍. Loving the vids!
Hi Kenny! Love how concise this video is. Would you happen to have a video on how to do this using snare cord? I recently picked up a vintage Ludwig snare with the original P83 strainer and it doesn't allow for the use of a strap. I'd prefer not to put a different strainer on the drum. Any advice?
First of all thank you for the kind words, and secondly you must be psychic as I am all set up to do a video on my 62 Ludwig supraphonic with the multi hole strainer. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks.
Awesome news! I'll go ahead and subscribe to your channel so I don't miss it. I haven't found much definitive info on how to handle that multi-hole end.
This guy is great!
Jack James thank you sir. I like how that sounds 😆😆😆 Thx for commenting, and for watching
that's cool and easy, thanks.
You are welcome. Thanks for watching. Please share if you wish.
Hey man. My snares won't sit on my drumhead. I did forget to double loop the strap though. Would that have anything to do with it??????
Probably not. It might have to do with the depth of your snare bed or the pitch of the wires.
Hey Kenny, it seems like no matter what I do I can’t get the snare wires on my DW snare level. It has a mag-throwoff. Does that change things? When I flip the drum over and turn the strainer off and let the wires hang they’re never level and hanging more on one side. When I hit the snare there’s always weird buzzing afterwards unless I tighten them a lot. I tried your video to the best of my ability and it’s not really helping. Can you suggest anything? Thanks By the way, they’re 16 strand wires and the snare is 6.5x14
Thank you so much for watching. Like I mentioned in the video, it’s not always going to be level when it’s right, but in general it can be a good indicator your are on track. I have a DW mag on my custom GK. If you want to do an online lesson I can walk ya through it no problem, and we can look at any other issues that might be causing the excess buzz. It’s a bit different on this drum than the ludwig. Do you have the 3 position butt plate?
@@KennySharretts Yes, it has the 3 position butt plate. I just changed it back to the original DW 20 strand snare wires and I think it’s better but I can’t really test it out because it’s night here.
How do you figure out how to put the snare strainer halfway.Because I cant get this right no matter how much I work at it.
Halfway is a guesstimate for anyone’s strainer. Try going to the tightest point then back off between 4 and 8 1/4 turns. Start there. Also once there engage the strainer. Finally really tug hard to lock in those wires. If you need more help I will return to teaching online lessons after a period of mourning for my recently deceased wife. 🙏🙏🙏
@@KennySharretts Thanks for the help man.Im so sorry for your loss.
That is an impressive drum key. Can anyone tell me what make it is? Thanks
+swinthom That sir is a pair of DW Drum Keys. When tuning I'm a big fan of the Evans Knurled tip key, and their drill bit key.The ergo keys feel great in my hand, and give me a bit more sensitivity. But for high torque/one hand adjustments like snare wire installation/balancing, I like to use a heftier key. Those definitly do the trick.
Is it normal for the snare wire to be a tad bit off just a little? I'm getting the response I need out of It. Solid! Just curious?
Gifted_By_Nature it can be. Some strainers are hard to keep perfect, snares, and the wires/straps you use to tie em of can stretch. As long as you are happy rock on!
Thanks btw for watching
No problem at all! Music/drums is my life! Thank you for the help! Just had to make sure! 👍👍
I put a new reso head and snare wires (Steel Pearl) on my Ludwig Acrolite 6.5x14 and it sounds so dry and dead, I can't seem to get that nice ring it had when it came out of the box.
+jaydoode15 What kind of redo head did you put on? Some bottom heads have dryer characteristics than others. Also if you stretched it a bit, but not too much it should liven up the sound versus dry it up, HOWEVER, stock Ludwig redo heads tend to be VERY bright, and ringy.
it was an evans hazy 300 reso, my friend suggested it even though I usually use an ambassador clear or evans g1, but the evans hazy 300 is papery thin, so I just put the Ludwig stock reso head back on because its fairly new anyway. Im thinking its an issue with the snare wires, either that, or because I replaced the batter from a Ludwig weathermaster medium head to a remo ambassador. I just cant get that open, bright and ringy sound that my acrolite had right out of the box brand new!
Hi Kenny, great video. I do have some trouble my snare drum though, I can't get the wires to stop a horrendous buzzing. I have a TAMA Silverstar (Birch Schell) 14" x 5 Snare drum. I use Remo Ambassador Hazy and Remo Powerstroke 4 for the batter side. I've really stayed hours just tuning and trying to find out the problem but I really think it's completely due to the snare side. Should I tighten it even more? Or am I putting the wires wrong?
Thank you!
+Erwin Del Castillo G If you follow my videos instructions, you "should" have a relatively tight snare sound. A bit of Moon Gel/Dotd/Buzz Kills can be useful in controlling sympathetic buzz without killing your tone. If you are using the Tama "Nylon Cloth" straps that come stock on most Tama snares you may want to try a traditional nylon strap or Trick cords. The Tama Fabric straps can stretch out over time, and tend to not always give a even pull to the snares. IE, you can be leveled, centered, and it will still pull the snares out of alignment. When your snares are engaged turn the drum over, and look at how the snare are sitting. If they are crooked, or end up pulling to the bearing edge, that is the source of your problem. Also, like I said in the video, even when you put the snares on properly, they can still shift due to the strap/cords/ the strainer, or just from the snare wires themselves being bent out of shape over time. You may still have to "level" them. Disengage your snare strainer, and hold your snare horizontally at eye level to see if your snare wire beds are level with your snare drums bearing edge. If not, adjust the straps until they are. A couple of notes/questions:1. Are the snare wires in good shape? If they have been on the drum "incorrectly" for any amount of time, the wires could be bent to the point where no leveling or centering can help. 2. ARE THE SNARES LEVEL (see above)? 3.How tight/loose do you have your snares. You should have them tight enough to have no sloppy buzz, but loose enough to where a light stick touch at the drum's center still produces an unchecked snare buzz. If you haven't visited my page Kennysharretts.net please do. Look under my tech tips blog, and there is a 2 part article about reducing unwanted sympathetic snare buzz. It goes super in depth. Thanks for watching and I'm very happy these vids have been helpful.
Peace,
Kenny Sharretts
+Kenny Sharretts The snare wires are from TAMA but they are quite new actually, I'll use all of your tips and look at the other videos. Hopefully the beautiful sound of the snare will be accomplished. Thanks a lot!
+Erwin Del Castillo G Awesome! I'm sure with a little tinkering you will find it. Try the old school nylon straps if you aren't already. The stretchy fabric straps (if that is what you are using) can be troublesome.
Curious how you feel about using Nylon straps to hold your snare wires?
I like it. String is great too. Ribbon is ok. Wire sux. Thank you for watching.
I tried changing mine and it still mostly disengaged what did I do wrong?
Oh nooooo. It could be a multitude of things. The first question is what kind of snare is it? With most snares it Usually has to do with where the strainer dial is, and how hard you tug the wires while setting them. If a Ludwig Try again with the dial a little tighter , and make sure the strainer fully engaged when setting the wires. Also sometimes butt plates and strainer plates slip. Make sure they are gripping, and aren’t stripped.
When you’re using string does the same method apply? For the life of me I can’t seem to get my snares level like yours.
Jonathan Dorman yes you just have to be really attentive. Make sure your butt end strings are tied in a loop.
Kenny Sharretts I just put on a 3 switch butt plate. When attaching the wire to the butt plate what position is best to start. The lowest, middle or high? Thanks for the reply, love your videos. 🤘🏼
thanks for sharing. i just resurrected my gretsch round badge set, put evans 300 on bottom and guy at store talked me into a puresound 30 wire. first it only came with the strings after he said it had the strap also, but main thing is i removed it and the wires at the ends gouged the shit out of my brand new snare side head, where the soldering happens, lots of protruding wire ends, WTF? Should i contact evans/daddario and bitch or is that the new normal?
(the 20 year old remo head i removed looked like new in comparison)
No. That is not the goal of any brands snare wire. I would 1. Inspect the wire beds on any new set of wires before installing in case there is a defect. 2. I'd send an email to D'addario/Puresound explaining the situation, and send pics. Most products in drum world have a defect from time to time. My gut instinct is it's not intentional, and that it's actually something of which they need to be made aware. 3. If by string you mean the coated wire they send with some models? Don't use the wire. It will shred your head, and cut into your drum. Use straps, ribbon, or string. Thank you for watching.
awesome stuff. great video. I got a stupid question. do you have the throw off disengaged the whole time?
No The throwoff is engaged . That way you have something to pull back against. If you did this method with the strainer disengaged you would not be ablee to engage the strainer. It would be too tight.
Thank you so much. great to know as i've never had to replace the snare wire before. keep up the great videos on drum tuning . cheers
Thank you sir. Please keep watching, and please share my videos if you wish.
Thank you so much for watching. You rock. Please share with your fellow drummers if you wish.
hey kenny any combination on basswood as far as batter head and reso cant find good combo thanks
Not off hand, is this a snare or a whole kit?
its a ludwig accent combo but the shells r basswood or as they say select wood its not a high end kit i was just wondering if u had any thought i got evens hydraulics on the batter and g1 on the reso side
That's a solid combo for a tight sound. I'd also be into trying an EC2 Clear or Clear Pinstripe on the toms tops.
hey really enjoy the input thanks for sharing they just ring alot iv tried bout everything prolly gonna get some iso mounts next get my toms outta the bass drum
ik what i wanted to ask u get tone from the top or bottom head
I was looking into getting a classic maple snare. 13x6.5. How did you like this snare?
I loved that snare drum. Cracks, with a thick tone. All 13", but could be coaxed into sounding like a tight 14". Awesome drum.
Hey Kenny! 3 of my snare lugs broke in half...the snare is about 14 years old (Tama superstar custom) whre can i get some parts for it? Do recomend any brands? Generic?
Try Drum Factory Direct. They should be able to get you sorted . Thank you for watching, and commenting. 🤘🏻
@@KennySharretts thank you for the sharing your knlwledge! And i will look into it :)
Thanks
Please do more snare tuning tips.
Coming as soon as i can.
Kenny Sharretts awesome. I've got a Ludwig Black Beauty 6x14 that I haven't sussed out yet. Rings like crazy when it's pitch perfect. Tried moongel but still. Super excited to learn from you. Thanks for imparting your experience and wisdom.
I felt lined my entire Black Beauty, and it toned it down perfectly
Kenny Sharretts I was using a CS Dot but no matter what I did, I'd get a resonant frequency that would have to be EQ'd out. Tonight I switched to a coated powerstroke 3 and it's exactly how it should sound. Loud, huge crack, no offending resonance. No moongel either. Love the channel btw.
So the instructions written on the packaging of These Puresound wires are actually wrong? And I was wondering why its not working at all. This method is working a LOT better
I wouldn’t say wrong. They simply have a different approach🤗🤗🤗. I do agree, however, that my method is pretty effective for getting the job done. Thank you for watching, commenting, and for shouting out the method. 🙌🙌🙌
I tried those drumheads with the gray dot in the middle, but they suck a little.
Yeah I used to hate coated dot heads to. Then I learned how to make em pop. Now I love em. Even on toms.
Hey Kenny! Hoping you still read comments on this video. Do you loosen the restrainer all the way when applying the snare wires? Thanks :)
No sir. As discussed in the video you want to set the strainer around the middle of the tension range. Then engage the strainer before you set the butt plate. Hence it keeps a loose setting from backing out,, and plenty of room to tighten as you like.
Aright thank you !! No need to call me sir. I'm just a 15 y/o kid that's learning :) Thank you sir
I do the same thing. I lift up over my head to make sure everything is level. I actually have a 42 strand that is not as long as it should be. It's actually 1" shorter on each side. That has to be perfectly straight or your gonna have a loose strand and create a buzz
Exactly. The key is to make sure the snares sit evenly. Thank you so much for watching.
Hi Kenny, do you still remember your tuning intervals on this particular snare? Amazing sound! :)
Jose Carlo Barreto yes. I was using a perfect 4th on the drum. It was a fourth away from the snare. If this was when Drew was using C/F on his snare than I believe it was an F/B flat. Thank you for watching! 🙏
Watch his video on tuning the Tama SLP G Maple 13 X 7 snare as he goes into detail with tuning a 13” snare and the reasonings behind the batter/reso relationship. I bought that snare right after watching the video.
Hey Kenny! my snare wires loosen up while im playing what can be going wrong?
Hi Angel, There are several factors that could be affecting the snare wires loosening up.
1. Your strainer could be worn out. Old or cheap strainers tend to back out over time. Simply wear, and tear. 2. You may have started with your strainer in too loose of a position. If you don't have it at least to the middle of it's rotational range you may not get enough "Grip/Tension" on the threads to keep the strainer from backing out as you play. 3. The material you use to attach the wires may be stretching. I tend to use nylon straps for this very reason. Try these tips, and let me know if they help
Awesome thanks Kenny !
great ....great stuff
Thank you so much for watching.
Thank you!
Dennis de Ramos thank you for watching 🤗
Right on man I dig Train! I'm putting a P.S. Pro Custom Steel 24 on my sons snare. I just got him his first kit. I'm a "Gitar" player and I've never done this before. Your vid has been super helpful. BTW what was that tune at the end of the vid? That was cool. I'd love to hear the whole thing. Thanks man!
It's a song I wrote called Empty as performed by my band So Called Underground. I was blessed to have some fabulous players on this song. You can find us on iTunes, Facebook, Reverb Nation, and CD baby. Figured I have the songs might as well use 'em. LOL!!
Hell yeah! Just the little snippet I heard was freaking groovy. You got talent man. Btw my sons snare sounds tight thanks to your vid. It sounded like a dung heap before. I've changed all the heads now with Evans stuff. The snare was the last one. I'm going to see if I can find your band now Thanks a bunch man!
He has the same exact drum key I have
Lol awesome. Sorry it took 3years to reply to this comment. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ thanks for watching.
Dream job
Great, now I know
Shanoa it helps right? Thx for watching!!
thats seriously involved---i get it.
There are few essential steps, but it really works. Thx for watching.
P.S. Thank you
P.S thank you for watching. Sorry it took so long to reply. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ comments often get buried in my feed.
Try that on a Ludwig Carl Palmer signature.
Bet you can't get them to work.
The Maple Classic and Carl Palmer snares have similar style strainers so unless I'm missing something it should work when using straps. Are you using the string it came fitted with?
Kenny Sharretts
Tried both, and even tried a zero collar snare side head.
The snares just do not drop down far enough to clear the bottom head and not rattle.
Ludwig should be ashamed for selling this poorly engineered snare drum.
Aaahh I see. I've had snare drums like that, and yes QUITE annoying. The Breakbeats can be like that.
Actually Ludwig fessed up to the problem on the Carl Palmer.
It was a design flaw.
Pure sounds never worked for me. If you put them on a flat surface and push down on the ends, the wires bow up. That is what happens when you put more tension on the wires. You get less sizzle because the wires bow outward away from the head. This doesn’t happen with other brands.
Some models of Puresound wires have pitch. Some models very little. The pitch of the plate is possibly what is doing that. If you have a drum with shallow or no snare bed. The pitch helps the wires seat well against the head. Check out Fat Cat wires. They have a ton of pitched, and non-pitches wires. Thank you for watching.
dat thumbnail doe
Looked so much better when small lol
Why do my drumsticks keep breaking every 2 - 4 months?!? ITS FRUSTRATING CUZ IM NOT RICH ENOUGH TO BUY £11 STICKS
My current one only lasted 1 month
Depending on how much you play 2-4 months is actually a pretty good span of time for a stick to last if you play a lot. I work for many players that will go through a pair in 2 shows. That being said it can also depend on the type of wood you are choosing (oak can tend to be a bit more durable than hickory), and also what size of stick you use vs how hard you play/what type of music you are playing. What model of stick are you using? What type of music, and how often?
Kenny Sharretts at least 1hr everyday, 5 days a week minimum. Punk/rock genre. Zildjian TB series. I play quite hard
Have you considered AHead drumsticks?
This is WRONG. It is almost correct that's why it works, probably for a little while. The correct way is to set the snares position on the Anchor side first. Set position of snare end to be just on the inside of the drum about 1/16 inch from bearing edge on the inside of drum shell. lock it down. Then set the snare throw side with the snare throw closed, and the adjustment tension screw set to max loose with only a few turns on it. That will give maximum adjustment to the tension screw and prevent the snares from ever hitting the bearing edge on the snare throw side. The way it is being done in this video the snare end on throw will eventually be pulled and stretched to the throw side bearing edge and damage the drum. Thats is because the snare strings stretch over time and you want all the buffer space you can get on the snare throw side to allow that stretching to happen without reaching the bearing edge of drum
Wrong? Damage the drum??? Bahahaha. Dude I’ve been an A-Level Tech for 24 years now. This method absolutely works. In fact you describe pretty much THE EXACT method that I use in this vid except 2 things. 1. I secure the strainer side 1st so I can lock it in at its best distance from the bearing edge, and then lock in the butt side by using the strainer knob to center the wires. When they stretch after 5-10 shows you readjust. You don’t just let them stretch. I even say that in the video. 2. Because you say to start with the tension knob at it’s loosest that actually WILL cause you to go over the bearing edge because you have to pick up the slack. The method works for Stevie’s drummer, RiRi’s drummer , Janet’s drummer, Train’s drummer, Mickey Hart of the Dead. Etc. for what drummers have you used your method on tour?
@@KennySharretts your a disgrace to the art spreading wrong information to teach others to be an idiot like you. . I been playing drums longer than you been alive. I told you the strainer strands stretches over time and it always stretches toward the throw off, because it is pulled that way . If you set the strainer to be as close to the throw off side first it has no where to stretch to, except over the bearing edge. damaging a bearing edge deadens the drums resonance .You are ignorant.