Tuning snare drum - Drum Tuning

[DrummingAllTheWayHome]

Hey, I have a Gretsch Catalina Maple snare drum, 14x5.5 I just got puresound snare wires for it, I was wondering does anyone have any advice how to tune it to get a nice crack out of it? at the moment I have both heads and the snare wires quite tight thanks!

[Pearl MCX Man]

To tell you the truth I don't think that you will get a nice crack out of it. Number one Maple shell are warm and soft sound compared to the Metal shell that will give you that snap, crackle and pop. I have both and use my Metal snare more cause it is brighter and louder than my Maple. Maybe you will get other opinions on this.

[SunDog]

Pearl is right on here. That drum is what it is. A decent quality instrument. You should be able to make it sound pretty good but it will always sound like a maple snare. Bonhams method for tuning his snare is effective and easy. Start by taking off the snares and heads. Next put the bottom head on finger tight to a quarter turn so there are no wrinkles. Now turn one bolt five times move directly across and turn five times move one right turn five times move directly across and turn five times. When you've gone around completely tap at the edge of the drum. Find the highest pitched bolt and tune all others to it again using a star pattern (always tune up, never down). Turn the drum over and repeat with the batter head. Replace the snares and off you go. Now you can de-tune the batter head a couple turns for a low fat sound, a couple turns up will give you a nice middle tuning, or couple more and you will get a bright snappy high sound. One note: every drum is different so five turns might be a little to much or not quite enough, but generally this method works really well.

[TonyFreeDrum]

TAMA all the way

[slinglander]

What works for me is a simple, thin, tight batter head and tight but not chokingly tight wires, maybe 16 strands with middle 4 removed(6////6) or even 13" wires for 14" snare with center 4 cut out.

[onegourd]

like some other Gretsch drums the Catalina's may have a 30 rounded edge, im not sure but if that's the case i will say i have had difficulty getting any really sharp crack out of such drums... not to say you cant get em to sound good, but crack is not exactly their thing, my maple Tama Artwood on the other hand could almost pass for a metal snare drum if your eyes are closed.

[DrummingAllTheWayHome]

Thanks all who replied, I might just stick with keeping both heads and the snare wires pretty tight for now.

[not him]

Trade it in on Metal snare. Not being smart just Maple is what it is. Or get yourself Chad Smith signature snare will give you what you want for cheap. Other snares also but seems these are on the cheap on that internet place lol

[itchie]

i have no problems with getting a nice crack from my maple snares

make sure the wires are not to tight and the heads are tuned so the resonate head is higher

like slinglander suggested take out the middle strands to get more strainer tightness with out extra buzz

[TonyFreeDrum]

Get a Pearl T-key that is usually used to tune marching drums, and get Remo EmperorX Coated abtter snare drum head, and get a Evans 300 Hazy drum head. I know you probly should match the heads with one brand but I got these heads for a maple snare drum and tuned it with a t-key and it sounded snappen, crappin' , and a poppin'. P.S. Tune higher than usual.

[Warren Wright]

Puresound makes an "Equalizer" wire that has the middle wires "removed" and it gives you a tight crisp sound .. I think they call it a "dry" sound. Ive used those wires for a long time and love em. Also helps reduce "snare buzz". My starclassic bubinga elite snare has a "Gunshot type Crack" that equals any metal snare and is as loud as any metal snare Ive ever played. Gotta love Tama's craftmanship~~!

[tankman]

I have a Gretsch Catalina maple snare 14x6. I just changed my batter head to a remo CS coated. Now I got this head because I read in a drum mag that this head would give me that wet soggy sound lol. I don't like that ringy snare sound at all. I don't have the resonate head too tight and I have also loosen the tension on the snare wires. Is there any way to dampened my snare to get that Kind of sound? I know a lot of guys use tape. Any advise?
Thanks

[Warren Wright]

What works for me is a simple, thin, tight batter head and tight but not chokingly tight wires, maybe 16 strands with middle 4 removed(6////6) or even 13" wires for 14" snare with center 4 cut out.

Didnt know if you knew about Puresound snare wires, but they produce a high quality snare wire set with the middle wires already removed - in a 12 or 16 strand configuration - the are called the "Equalizer" wire series. I have both sets and swap them out on my Tama Starclassic Bubinga Elite 14 x 6.5 snare, depending on the gig.

[Warren Wright]

Here's an idea for ya - go on YouTube - type in Drum Center of Portsmouth snare drum tuning. The guy there is tuning up a brand new snare drum - and fast forward to the end of it so you can hear what his tuning sounds like - - if you like it - then go back to the beginning and when he gets to the tuning of the Reso head, try and get your snare head tuned up to approximately the same pitch or tone - then follow the video on to his tuning of the batter head. If you dont like the sound he gets ...YouTube has a ton of different drummers tuning their snare drums - find someone tuning up a Maple snare - metal snares produce more "crack" than most wood snares.
Just a suggestion - - its a way for your ears to decide what sound you like on a snare - and the video that shows you how to get that sound.

[scottyp]

for a good crack i usualy keep my reso skin on the bottom tighter. I have the top pretty tight.. then back it off a tad... toss on some moon gel and never have a problem with getting a nice crack.