Sounds like this will make for an interesting discussion indeed. I have a couple of supersensitives and have never tried a Dynasonic, though I've been on the lookout for one at a reasonable price. I'd love to hear what the gurus have so say on this topic. Thanks for posting it Yes Sir

In The Rogers Book, there is an interesting discussion about the inadequacies & weaknesses of the supersensitive mechanisms of the past, & the desire to design a much better snare /head contact. One problem w/ the Dynasonic , then & now, is that it has to be set up properly, & many drummers do not understand how to do this, ( hence some of the unfair criticism or dismissal of the system).

Interesting discussion? Oh boy, have you opened up a Pandora's box with this one! Let every member get their 2 cents in on this one. First, ignoring brand loyalty (I'm a Rogers guy), we should consider the features/design differences between the two, and then discuss our subjective preference on which one sounds better.

Both have somewhat complex snare systems, but with the Super-Sensitive's ability to adjust separate tension on each, individual snare wire, I'll concede that Ludwig wins out in the design catagory:

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/images/ludwig_snaredrums/1961_LUDWIG_SNARES1.jpg

That being said, it's actually easier to set up a Dynasonic... one adjustment knob on the snare frame tensions all snares evenly, and then one twist on the strainer knob to get the snare frame to just kissKiss the resonant head. Granted, failure to set up the Dynasonic properly has soured a lot of drummers to Rogers, but for my money, nothing, nothing sounds prettier than a properly tuned, wood Dynasonic!

Just my :2Cents:

Mike C.

I own two Ludwig SuperSensitive snare drums.

Both are from the mid 90's, so, neither of them have individually adjustable wires.

#1 is a 5x14 Black Beauty with Imperial Lugs.

#2 is a 6.5x14 COL Ludalloy, also Imperial Lugs.

Both have a single ply coated on top, with a stock Ludwig snare side. Both are excellent drums. Both have very different tonal qualities than a COB Dynasonic of the same size.

I also own five COB Rogers Dynasonic 5x14 snare drums that cover several eras of production. One naked brass, and three late production wood Dynasonics.

Of the 5x14 drums....

#1 is a first gen Beavertail drum from 1963, actually one of the very first Beavertail Dynasonic snare drums built for production.

#2 is an early Dayton period seven line drum near the end of the seven line production, 1967.

#3 is a Dayton period in the 13xxx range, 1968

#4 is a Fullerton, #53004, 1974-75

#5 is a 1977 Big R

#6 is a 1981 Big R 6.5 Naked Brass drum that has been relacquered

#7 is a 1983 Big R 6.5x14 XP10 All Maple ten ply

#8 and #9 are Big R 6.5x14 XP10 All maple ten ply with consecutive serial numbers.

Many of these have original Dynasonic wires, some have Puresound Dynasonic replacement wries. All have correct frames in good condition. All tune beautifully with single ply Ambassador weight or lighter coated batter heads, with Ambassador Snare Side. My preferences are the Remo Ambassador, the Remo Diplomat, and the Evans J1 Etched. Tuning tension on all of these drums is aprox. 1.75-2 turns above fingertight, with care to evenly seat the head prior to using the key. Depending on the head this will be at or about 85-90 on a drum dial, which I never use to set tension. The glorious thing I have found with all of my Dynasonic drums is that...... if you start right with the finger tight tension, there is very little leveling for tone needed (if any) when that last rotation is finished on the key.

I have found the Ludwigs like just slightly less rotations of the key to reach the sweet spot, aprox. 1.75 above careful finger tight.

As for a comparison of sensitivity between the two drums, I find both will give good snare response out to the bearing edge with (I believe) the "edge" going to the Rogers. The Rogers will have more 'ring' to them than the Ludwigs, always. This, I believe, is due to the backing plates on the inside of the shell that give support to the Supersensitive mechanism.

I like my Supersensitives. They will stay with me for a long time.

That is about as unbiased as a Rogers guy can get.

I love my Rogers.

I am a dyed in the wool Rogers guy but i just could not get into the dynasonic i have always played a 400 or 402 supr and the 402 with Gretch 42 strand power snares freakin rocks..

I can say that the Supersensitive is older - Ludwig originally patented the system in 1924. And I think the Ludwigs have a larger margin of error. I am certainly no expert on setting up a Dyna - but one properly set up does sound really nice.

I think a few members are confusing Super-Sensitive with Super-Ludwig...

The Super-Ludwig is the 1924 Pat. model parallel mechanism...the Super-Sensitive is the 1929 model with the Super mechanism on the bottom and the Sensitive mechanism under the top head, ergo, Super-Sensitive....and to confuse things even more; Ludwig discontinued the Super-Sensitive in 1939 and then in 1959 they named what we know as the Supra-400, the Super Ludwig and the parallel version of that was now called the Super-Sensitive model...there will be a test on this at the end of the day...Glad to help, I think...

Mike Curotto

I have both a 1966 Covington-built COB Dyansonic and a 70's (early) Chicago-built Super-Sensitive. I love both... but each is different. The Dyna is properly set up, with a Diplomat head, and sounds superb for the playing I do. The SS has also been properly set up, with Ludwig Weather Master heads top and bottom, and also sounds wonderful.

The trick to each is taking the time and patience to learn how to adjust each mechanism. As has been previously stated, I feel the Dyna adjusts much quicker! However, once you know how to adjust each one, it's very easy!

Now, what I would like to mention is that, in my opinion, a Super Sensitive is a drum with extended snare wires. By that definition, I wouldn't consider the Dyna to be an SS drum. Is it a Super Sensitive snare drum? You betcha!!!

Another issue to consider with the Ludwig SS is that, most times, the mechanisms and hoops are bent or otherwise out of alignment. The SS cannot be thrown about during gigs and/or packing up. I had to replace parts on my SS to be able to have everything in alignment and working properly. My SS is in XLNT mechanical condition!

I was just referring to Ludwig and the concept of the wires being pulled up at both ends by a parallel mechanism. I will gladly admit that the Dyna doesn't work in necessarily the same fashion, but it seems the same basic idea.

But while I might be taking liberties with the notion of extended snare wires acted upon at both ends, I try to compare apples to apples. Or at least "way-more-adjustable-than-necessary-snare-drums-from-the-mid/late-'60's."

Like I said - I think the 60's Supersensitive is easier to get where you can live with it, but I think a Dyna set up perfectly sounds heavenly. It really is a "6 of one, half-dozen of the other" kind of situation".