All interesting suggestions, but here's the quick, easy, unexpected answer.

Cut out a 13½" circle from a new 14" head. Tune the snare higher than you think it should be. Not 311 or No Doubt high, but med-high to retain some definition and attack. Then place the cutout on the batter. Pitch will drop, sound gets wet, you even get a little gate to it. Works on 5-6½" deep snares the best.

This is an old studio secret, a sound you cannot get with any other kind of damping - wallets, rings, gel, tape, towels, doesn't matter.

If you tune the drum way down, and use the overlay, the sound is just wet and sloppy and cool (think Bev Bevan and E.L.O.) You will never get that with any other head or damping combination.

Have fun!

Bermuda

* Note, you should use a 1-ply head as the overlay, coated or clear is fine. Also works wonders on toms!

Thanks Bermuda. I hope Guitar Center doesn't catch me wandering around with my scissors tomorrow.

Cool! I'm gonna try that tomorrow !

It's important to use a new (or barely used) head for the overlay, so it lays flat on the snare batter. Otherwise, the effect is diminished.

Cool to keep an overlay on the gig to instantly change your snare sound for songs that need a deeper sound. You can use two overlays and get an even deeper, wetter sound, but you'll lose some attack.

And yes, someone did try to market these back in the '80s -

[img]http://www.bermudaschwartz.com/images/studios.jpg[/img]

but they didn't do very well. It didn't take much for drummers to figure out how to make their own. :)

Bermuda

Tuning low and muffling will probably do the trick. A 402 will do that. Wood shelled snare drums are pretty great for that as well. I have a Ludwig 8x15 from 1964 that does a great job with that sound.

By the way, I had always thought Craig Krampf played on Hot Child in the City and it was his white, double bass Rogers kit in the video. May be wrong though.

Well, there is another secret used (maybe invented) by Stephen Bladd... he reveals this secret of the fat, wet sound at about 2:50 in this video. Watch the entire thing, as the scenery ain't bad either.

Oh yeah, it may have an ad... roll with it.

http://youtu.be/BqDjMZKf-wg

Funny you mention that. I researched who played that song yesterday, and your right, it was Craig Krampf I was Googleing to find out what drums he used. I found an e-book where he was discussing his migration to Rogers. He was playing Camco when he recorded that track and started the Nick Gilder tour with Camco. He was having a lot of trouble with toms falling during the show and the hardware was just shot. He had been using the same set for years and years and it was just done. He and another guy walked into the Rogers facility and asked for anendorsement. They accepted and he walked out into the manufacturing floor and picked out his new set. He finished his career with Rogers. Maybe I should go drive to Nashville and talk to Pearl.....lol Just thought I would share since you posted about Craig Krampf.

Too funny....that is definitely a way to get that wet sound. I love that song and video. My best friend Anthony and I knew every lyric to that tune back in 6th grade. The J Geils band was great. Man, I miss those days. At the time I had a four piece Slingerland jazz kit from the 60s. I did my best to make it modern by ripping off the lower heads, putting black dot Remo's on them, and muffling everything. At the time, I hated that kit. Big kits with power toms was the rage. You couldn't be cool with a 4 piece set that was brown. It is funny how all the kids today want a four piece kit but back then, I couldn't give that drum set away. Granted, I wish I had it now but that is life.

Yep, you're right Craig Krampf. Jimmy Hunter played drums on later Nick Gilder albums and tours.

-Tim

I haven't seen the E-Ring mentioned. Evans has them in packs with several sizes, or just cut out a ring from an old drumhead. The outside diameter should be near the inside diameter of the hoop.

This and the above are all cheap fixes that do not involve a new drum, which you don't really need, but might just want a lot.

There is a lot of truth in that now isnt there? Not that I would ever find an excuse to buy something Keep on Pl