I recently recorded, took 4 snares with me 14x7" 40's radio king14x6.5" Ludwig 402 supra 70's14x4" 20's Ludwig heavy brass shell14x5" Ludwig supra 65For the room we were in the 402 slayedSo that's what we used for all the songs
I'd love a 70s 402, but I just ordered a new B stock blue olive version. I've heard the sound is almost identical to the older versions with respect to a 402.
Exactly! why complicate everything just bring a supa and a change of heads make it sound like you want it to and be done with it .. 3 4 5 snares is nutz music today is so freekin complicated it is no longer fun, in the 60 and 70's recording was fun sometimes exhausting but fun, seems like the fun factor has been taken over by tech, tech tech....and bunches of drums, guitars etc...
If the session was for Scottish bagpipes, I would take my 60's Premier supersensitive sidedrum w/ a snare on each head.
Exactly! why complicate everything just bring a supa and a change of heads make it sound like you want it to and be done with it .. 3 4 5 snares is nutz music today is so freekin complicated it is no longer fun, in the 60 and 70's recording was fun sometimes exhausting but fun, seems like the fun factor has been taken over by tech, tech tech....and bunches of drums, guitars etc...
^This. Just recorded several tracks with painstaking retakes because the guitarist couldn't even manage a scratch track without forgetting arrangements. After all this work, come to find that the engineer had pulled the mic on the kick out to add more damping (I was given strict orders to stay in my seat) and forgot to reinsert the mic into the port. There wasn't enough kick captured to use in the mix.
Here's the part that angers me: when I offered to come in to lay in a kick track, he casually brushed it off and said, "Nah, I can just insert a sample..."
Disgraceful.
On topic, I would bring a Radio King, a BB, and a ply drum, depth contingent on type of music and the overall "brightness" or "darkness" of the band's material.
Exactly! why complicate everything just bring a supa and a change of heads make it sound like you want it to and be done with it .. 3 4 5 snares is nutz music today is so freekin complicated it is no longer fun, in the 60 and 70's recording was fun sometimes exhausting but fun, seems like the fun factor has been taken over by tech, tech tech....and bunches of drums, guitars etc...
Putting a snare up on a stand is tons easier than changing heads, especially if you're on the clock....plus, if everyone is in the zone and nailing takes, it's a vibe killer to get too retentive about the snares, etc.
Luckily, I have worked in the same few studios over the years, so I know which snares from my arsenal work best. If I have the luxury of pre-production, I can usually pick out a snare during that time.
I almost never go to a session without my 8x14 Slingerland 5-ply Magnum. It just has that "something". A close second is my early 50's solid-shell Radio King.
Others I'll bring: 6-1/2x14 Ludwig Hammered Bronze, 5x14 Black Beauty, the rest depends on the song. Sometimes, I'll grab a 12" snare just to have something different to go to. Ironically, I have rarely used a Supra, though I love them deeply!
Dan
I bring about 12 to 15 snare's with me.They are 1940's R.K.1 ply maple shells 5.5x14,6.5x14.Ludwig 1940's supra wood snare 5.5x14,two 1930's B/B 5.5x14 and 6.5x14,1959 trans badge supra 5.5x14, 1960's arco 5.5x14,60's student 5.5x14 6 lug snare,rogers 1960's 3x13 skinny snare,1970's Fibes 5.5x14 F/G shell,1960s Gretsch 4x14 wood shell.60's 5.5x14 C.O.B.,1940s Leedy 4x15 C.O.B. 6 lug snare and the big daddy 7x14 O.C.D.P. 40 ply maple snare...Mikey
well to each his own and all be happy ,Ginger baker recorded all the cream LP's with one snare, same for Ian paice for In rock and machine head, John Bonham used one snare during his led zep career,I'm just saying.....
what I meant about the take a change of heads was if you use a ambassador take along a drier head as well it take just a few min to make a head change.. but if you got em haul them along what the hey... :)
When I recorded recently (http://www.reverbnation.com/instigatorband), I used a 6.5 Slingerland blakrome TDR. The engineer got a sound in about two minutes with half a square of moongel and we used it for all five songs.
I also brought a 5.5 Supraphonic, a 5.5 Slingerland metal TDR, and a 5.5 Yamaha Oak Custom, but once they got the sound, the engineer and songwriter wouldn't even let me open the other cases.
I'm happy with the result, but I would have liked to try a different snare on one of the more rockabilly-type tunes.
Lucky for me the guy that owns the studio that I go to is a drummer and you can just use his. He already knows what each sounds like, which one is best for what your recording and how to mic them. No guess work.
Not completely on the subject of recording, but had some friends over yesterday and showed them my drum stuff. Did a demo of many of my different snare drums. Two of the drums that received praise out of the bunch were my vintage COB 5x14 Ludwig Super and my Elvin sig snare...
