A really lovely and often overlooked snare. I’ve had a couple of these in the past and after watching your video, wished I hadn’t sold them! Greetings from New Zealand.
Definitely - this was my 1st 6 lug drum and I really enjoyed making this vid. Here's to finding a new one soon - thanks for leaving a comment and checking out the vid!
The Pioneers are awesome snares. I've got several 5.5x14 WFL and Transition Badge era Pioneers - or Supreme Concert Models - as they were called back in the WFL days. I've got a few 6.5x14's - those are on another level.
@@NickCostaMusic Not very common, but they are out there. I’ve had two WFL 6.5’s and both were very gut punchy. I’ve got an 8-lug WFL 6.5x14 but I prefer the 6-lug with its more open tone and feel.
I really appreciate that, thank you @carlupthegrove262 ! I think we can both agree that an open snare allows you control overtones simply by adjusting pitch - plus, it doesn’t sound choked!
It really has a nice crack. The after tone definitely goes away when you crank it. It doesn't need dampening at the higher tunings. Really underrated drum. And I think the idea that the more lugs you have the better you can tune it. I think many manufacturers are going in the opposite direction.
Yet another nice drum. It's aging like me; still able to play & work well since 1966 under various amounts of tension! Thanks for the review. btw, I never noticed the tattoo before.
lol and sounding great while doing it! Appreciate the continued support, @timm1139. I don't think I've posted too many videos with short sleeves on, though my entire left arm is done.
Looking forward to this one. I keep seeing them, and hear people talk about them sometimes. Never really heard one the way you do the demos. I've passed up on a buying a few.
Very nice snare! It’s very versatile. It sounds like when it’s on the low to medium tune that the snare wires breathe more and sounds out more. There’s a beautiful overtone, as you said, up to the mid-high. The muffler just kinda suppresses, but not so much. When it goes to the high tunes, it really becomes a direct cut, with less snare wires “breathe” and seems like a metal snare with that wood warmth and more solid cut. The overtone is very subtle with the muffler and it’s removed with the muffler. But still very solid to play “The Police”, for example. Great sound!
I really appreciate that, especially coming from you a few times on different vids, @mpcvore ! This drum has a unique sound for sure, and I think it still fits any style of music in today’s world 🥁
I really appreciate that, thank you @carlupthegroove262 ! I think we can both agree when a drum is open, you can control the ring based on tuning. I like it since it doesn’t sound choked!
@@NickCostaMusic the heads on the Ludwig rental kit that Steve Gadd played on “Aja” we’re black dots. Not sure if the kit came with black dots or if Steve installed them himself.
@@NickCostaMusic Steve Gadd arrived at the recording studio about an hour early for the “Aja” Session to record drum tracks for another artist. The artist was Leo Sayer and the song was his hit “ you Make Me Feel Like Dancing.“
I think in a blind sound test this could pass as a metal snare instead of wood at higher tunings. To my ears it sounds close to steel or brass. This is another Ludwig sleeper snare. Great video and thanks for sharing.
This drum is definitely open sounding. From what I understand (not sure) less lugs also make it easier to maintain lower tunings. I heard they make them less likely to put of tune, especially really low. Like on a big floor Tom.
For sure. Biggest eye opener for me was when we were building a kit at MCD - and did 8 lugs for the kick instead of 10. We realized vintage kick drums were 8 lug and super open sounding. It’s the same concept with snares. 8 is more open then 10, so 6 is even more open! This has a decent sound at lower tunings, but I think there are others out there that might do it a bit better - especially 8 lug drums!
@@NickCostaMusic Makes sense. I had a PDP kit before the one I have now that had 10 lug kick and snare. My current one has 8 lug kick and snare. I absolutely loved that snare. Wish I never got rid of it. The 10 lug kick however didn't matter to me. I think my 8 lug sounds slightly better (same exact heads). The 8 lug snare I won't even use though. I hate it. I never understood it. I keep looking for the 10 lug to match mine.
I have this drum, although mine is a 50's WFL. It's in much worse shape though. The shell finish is dull and badly scratched, the nickel plated hardware is completely grey and gross from tarnishing (and possibly some rusting as well), the muffler is missing, and I had to replace all of the tension rods and the wires in order for it to be playable. I haven't spent much time with it, but so far, I've had no luck with lower tunings - the drum is way too ringy. I'm gonna have to fiddle with it some more and see if I can get it to sound like yours, and maybe try different wires. I never would've bought this drum in this condition; luckily it was a gift.
Sorry to hear about that! I thought this drum had a lot of ring in the lower tunings too - it's one of the few drums I preferred the internal dampener engaged to help control it. For your drum, try some cape cod cloths - they work wonders on nickel plated hardware! New wires is a good idea you have there - even the ones on this drum should be replaced. They can make a big difference in response!
The 🚨 giveaway 🚨 is LIVE to win a 6.5x14 Chrome over Brass LB402B 🥁 at shop.nickcostamusic.com !
Bello/Magnifico.💪💪💪💪💪💪
Molto apprezzato, grazie
A really lovely and often overlooked snare. I’ve had a couple of these in the past and after watching your video, wished I hadn’t sold them! Greetings from New Zealand.
Definitely - this was my 1st 6 lug drum and I really enjoyed making this vid. Here's to finding a new one soon - thanks for leaving a comment and checking out the vid!
One thing that’s hard to tell from the video is how sensitive the snare is? It’s sounds great but what did it feel like?
This is a great sounding drum to my ear, would love to play one.Great playing as well!
Love the sound of this drum - pretty unique IMO. Appreciate the kind words, thank you🙏🏼
Its actually 1.6 mm hoops. Great sounding snare and demo. Great job, Nick !
The Pioneers are awesome snares. I've got several 5.5x14 WFL and Transition Badge era Pioneers - or Supreme Concert Models - as they were called back in the WFL days. I've got a few 6.5x14's - those are on another level.
Love how open they sound for being such a thin shell. I didn't even know they made a 6.5X14 pioneer! I bet that thing is super open, too
@@NickCostaMusic Not very common, but they are out there. I’ve had two WFL 6.5’s and both were very gut punchy. I’ve got an 8-lug WFL 6.5x14 but I prefer the 6-lug with its more open tone and feel.
That's awesome - I can only imagine how open that thing sounds. Now I have something else to search for!🤣
You made this drum sound really good ...at all tunings. Like you I prefer and 'open' sound for my snares ...and all the drums really. Well done.
I really appreciate that, thank you @carlupthegrove262 ! I think we can both agree that an open snare allows you control overtones simply by adjusting pitch - plus, it doesn’t sound choked!
It really has a nice crack. The after tone definitely goes away when you crank it. It doesn't need dampening at the higher tunings. Really underrated drum. And I think the idea that the more lugs you have the better you can tune it. I think many manufacturers are going in the opposite direction.
Totally agree - another vintage 3 ply mahogany surprising me with the sharpness it can create. This drum is pretty wild!
Yet another nice drum. It's aging like me; still able to play & work well since 1966 under various amounts of tension! Thanks for the review. btw, I never noticed the tattoo before.
lol and sounding great while doing it! Appreciate the continued support, @timm1139.
I don't think I've posted too many videos with short sleeves on, though my entire left arm is done.
Looking forward to this one. I keep seeing them, and hear people talk about them sometimes. Never really heard one the way you do the demos. I've passed up on a buying a few.
You’re in for a treat - this might (read: will) make you wanna grab one!
Very nice snare! It’s very versatile. It sounds like when it’s on the low to medium tune that the snare wires breathe more and sounds out more. There’s a beautiful overtone, as you said, up to the mid-high. The muffler just kinda suppresses, but not so much. When it goes to the high tunes, it really becomes a direct cut, with less snare wires “breathe” and seems like a metal snare with that wood warmth and more solid cut. The overtone is very subtle with the muffler and it’s removed with the muffler. But still very solid to play “The Police”, for example. Great sound!
That's a fantastic observation, thank you for that! Pretty wild all the sounds that come out of this drum
This snare sounds great no matter how it's tuned. But you are definitely a tuning wizard ... !
I really appreciate that, especially coming from you a few times on different vids, @mpcvore ! This drum has a unique sound for sure, and I think it still fits any style of music in today’s world 🥁
I really appreciate that, thank you @carlupthegroove262 ! I think we can both agree when a drum is open, you can control the ring based on tuning. I like it since it doesn’t sound choked!
I would really like to try that snare drum with a black dot head. I think that would take care of some of those overtones.
That's a great idea! I'll have to give that a try - appreciate that!
@@NickCostaMusic the heads on the Ludwig rental kit that Steve Gadd played on “Aja” we’re black dots. Not sure if the kit came with black dots or if Steve installed them himself.
They might have - though they were a popular head at that time. Either way, I didn’t know that - thank you for sharing that info! 🥁
@@NickCostaMusic Steve Gadd arrived at the recording studio about an hour early for the “Aja” Session to record drum tracks for another artist. The artist was Leo Sayer and the song was his hit “ you Make Me Feel Like Dancing.“
I think in a blind sound test this could pass as a metal snare instead of wood at higher tunings. To my ears it sounds close to steel or brass. This is another Ludwig sleeper snare. Great video and thanks for sharing.
I thought the same thing editing the video - it's wild how similar the overtones are to metal drums. Appreciate the continued support, @sam-drums !
High to cranked. No damping.
It’s pretty great - almost has a metal snare overtone to it, which is pretty neat!
Hey Nick, can I ask you what ride cymbal did you use for the video? I love it!
Sure can! It's a @zildjiancompany Concept Shop 24" Classic Orchestral Ride
I liked the high and cranked tuning the best by far without dampening. It seemed that there was a lot of snare buzz. Was that the case Nick?
There was - either the wires being way past their prime or maybe the snare beds need some work
This drum is definitely open sounding. From what I understand (not sure) less lugs also make it easier to maintain lower tunings. I heard they make them less likely to put of tune, especially really low. Like on a big floor Tom.
For sure. Biggest eye opener for me was when we were building a kit at MCD - and did 8 lugs for the kick instead of 10. We realized vintage kick drums were 8 lug and super open sounding. It’s the same concept with snares. 8 is more open then 10, so 6 is even more open!
This has a decent sound at lower tunings, but I think there are others out there that might do it a bit better - especially 8 lug drums!
@@NickCostaMusic Makes sense. I had a PDP kit before the one I have now that had 10 lug kick and snare. My current one has 8 lug kick and snare. I absolutely loved that snare. Wish I never got rid of it. The 10 lug kick however didn't matter to me. I think my 8 lug sounds slightly better (same exact heads). The 8 lug snare I won't even use though. I hate it. I never understood it. I keep looking for the 10 lug to match mine.
@spagz what type of snare is it? For the kick - yeah, the 8 lug is gonna be a bit more “boom” and less attack than a 10 lug.
@@NickCostaMusica PDP 5x14 maple 8 lug (made in Mexico/DW shell). I just don't feel it....
I have this drum, although mine is a 50's WFL. It's in much worse shape though. The shell finish is dull and badly scratched, the nickel plated hardware is completely grey and gross from tarnishing (and possibly some rusting as well), the muffler is missing, and I had to replace all of the tension rods and the wires in order for it to be playable. I haven't spent much time with it, but so far, I've had no luck with lower tunings - the drum is way too ringy. I'm gonna have to fiddle with it some more and see if I can get it to sound like yours, and maybe try different wires. I never would've bought this drum in this condition; luckily it was a gift.
Sorry to hear about that! I thought this drum had a lot of ring in the lower tunings too - it's one of the few drums I preferred the internal dampener engaged to help control it. For your drum, try some cape cod cloths - they work wonders on nickel plated hardware!
New wires is a good idea you have there - even the ones on this drum should be replaced. They can make a big difference in response!
The poor man's jazz festival 😊
Throw off has been replaced. Came from an older Ludwig snare. Possibly 1930-40’s
It did? It looked like a P83 from the 60s to me. I don't know much about the 1930-40s throws - do they look similar to the P83?