Tama Bell Brass

[matskull]

Hi guys, I was reading about the snare sound on some albums I really like (Nirvana Nevermind and Rage Against The Machine) and I realized that they both used a Tame Bell Brass snare.

Those seem to be super rare and expensive.
Is there anything else, new if possible, that sounds pretty much the same? Fat, clear, low and punchy?
It sounds like it's tuned high and low and the same time, I love that!

[biggator6]

There are other cast bronze/bell brass snares out there.. They pretty much all sound great, too... They're also all extremely expensive.

The closest to the tama would probably be the ocheltree..which costs even more than a used tama.

[Chris Lago]

Bell Brass snare is what you need, get a used one

[Dr. Mordo]

The sound you like so much has more to do with mixes by Andy Wallace than with the type of snare used. The guy's a genius.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Dr. Mordo

The sound you like so much has more to do with mixes by Andy Wallace than with the type of snare used. The guy's a genius.

I know the mix and recording play a big part of the sound but I red an interview with the drummer of Rage Against the Machine and he said the Tama snare could be tuned really high and still sound deep.
That's what I hear too on those album so it must sound that way live too I guess.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by biggator6

There are other cast bronze/bell brass snares out there.. They pretty much all sound great, too... They're also all extremely expensive.

The closest to the tama would probably be the ocheltree..which costs even more than a used tama.

That must be quite a bit of money!

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Chris Lago

Bell Brass snare is what you need, get a used one

Which brand exactly? There are so many and I don't know a lot about drums, I play drum but I always played on my old pearl export, I'm more of a guitarist.

[j2dafo]

deep drums (8 inches) can tune higher and still project low end. you are looking at around 1k for a drum like this. I just got a used Keplinger black iron snare that is pretty killer. more Soundgarden Superunknown (same drum maker). Last time I looked there is a 14x8 Keplinger steel drum on Ebay for about 900. sound files sound good on there.

ps. on a budget the Pearl 14x6.5 free floating brass snares are cool. a little more mellow but good tone.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by j2dafo

deep drums (8 inches) can tune higher and still project low end. you are looking at around 1k for a drum like this. I just got a used Keplinger black iron snare that is pretty killer. more Soundgarden Superunknown (same drum maker). Last time I looked there is a 14x8 Keplinger steel drum on Ebay for about 900. sound files sound good on there.

ps. on a budget the Pearl 14x6.5 free floating brass snares are cool. a little more mellow but good tone.

Thanks, that's the kind of education I need, I really appreciate that.
I red somewhere that the thickness of the drum has a lot to do with the sound to, what do you think about that?

Which brand would be worth looking at? Not too cheap but not 5K neither.

Thanks again

[Jax]

Just an FYI - they weigh a good 20 lbs. Make sure your snare stand is up to the task, and not some wobbly old piece of garbage.

[DamoSyzygy]

Look for shells that are thinner. They wont be as loud as those with a thicker shell, but this is next to irrelevant when you're miking anyway.

Something around the 14x6.5 size should be both easy to find and reasonably inexpensive, be it wood or metal shelled.

[biggator6]

Originally Posted by matskull

That must be quite a bit of money!

In the $3k range
Products - Gear Guruz

[dylanr]

Another option in similar territory is the Sonor Danny Carey signature snare (14"x8"). Although it's not spun/cast brass it's a lot cheaper than the others mentioned and still is a really well made drum and has very similar sonic characteristics.

In terms of the sound you're after Grohl/Wilk/Cameron are all very serious hitters - not just loud but they also have great 'touch' on the drums which is probably 90% of your drum sound.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by dylanr

Another option in similar territory is the Sonor Danny Carey signature snare (14"x8"). Although it's not spun/cast brass it's a lot cheaper than the others mentioned and still is a really well made drum and has very similar sonic characteristics.

In terms of the sound you're after Grohl/Wilk/Cameron are all very serious hitters - not just loud but they also have great 'touch' on the drums which is probably 90% of your drum sound.

Thanks I'll look at it.

Of course the drummers have a lot to do with it but my pearl export doesn't really satisfy me, I can deal with it but I was curious to learn more about those brass snare.

[biggator6]

That Danny Carey snare is awesome, but not sure how it compares to a cast bronze.. haven't listened side-by-side. I think the weight has a lot to do with it, because I have one of the carbon-steel Ocheltree snares (the cheap one) and it weighs about 20lbs.. it sounds closer to 'that' sound than most.

[matskull]

All those 20lbs deep snare look crazy, I'd really like to try one.

I'm broke though so in the meantime I bough an emperor X head for my snare, hopefully I'll be able to put more tension on it and get some more thickness.

Where do you guys shop for those snare? On musiciansfriend I don't see a lot of snare that sell for more than 500$...

[biggator6]

Originally Posted by matskull

All those 20lbs deep snare look crazy, I'd really like to try one.

I'm broke though so in the meantime I bough an emperor X head for my snare, hopefully I'll be able to put more tension on it and get some more thickness.

Where do you guys shop for those snare? On musiciansfriend I don't see a lot of snare that sell for more than 500$...

I was using Emperor X for a bit.. decided it was a little TOO heavy - have been using Remo CS reverse dot or equivalent (Evans power center reverse, etc).

I don't buy snares new..

[matskull]

Originally Posted by biggator6

I was using Emperor X for a bit.. decided it was a little TOO heavy - have been using Remo CS reverse dot or equivalent (Evans power center reverse, etc).

I don't buy snares new..

I'll see, now I tune my regular emperor head pretty low to get more body but it sounds a bit lifeless on my pearl export. Maybe with the X version I'll be able to tune it higher and retain some body in the attack...

At some point I'll definitely invest in better drums and I enjoy educating myself about them.

[Axelrod]

its not a cast bronze shell, but i love my lars ulrich model tama snare.
it's 6.5x14, made out of steel, and weighs 18lbs. sounds like it weighs 18 tons. i got mine for $52o brand new.

say what you will about lars, but his snare drum is pretty killer, especially for only $520!

[Jax]

Originally Posted by biggator6

- have been using Remo CS reverse dot or equivalent (Evans power center reverse, etc).

A Remo coated CS reverse dot is waiting on the storage shelf at my rehearsal space until the Ambassador has had enough. The Amb is quite 'pingy' on my BB, even with gels. Need to tame the overtones quite a bit. I'm hoping the CS reverse takes care of it.

[surfspank]

OK it's not giant. 14x5. It's easy to tote around from gig to gig based on it's size. It's pretty heavy and brass. Records excellent, cuts. Wide tuning range and sounds excellent in all of them. I've had numerous compliments from live and recorded sound guys and on how good it sounds (gig weekly)...and you won't have to mortgage a testicle to add it to your kit. TAMA Stewart Copeland Signature. I picked mine up used for around 200, it's my main snare and probably always will be for the reasons I stated. If I lost it, it would be replaced immediately. (I can send you a couple of samples from both live and recording sessions if you are serious about gaining knowledge about one.)

PS. I'll be cold dead in the ground before any of my gear has the name Lars on it...even if it was the best snare on the planet.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by surfspank

OK it's not giant. 14x5. It's easy to tote around from gig to gig based on it's size. It's pretty heavy and brass. Records excellent, cuts. Wide tuning range and sounds excellent in all of them. I've had numerous compliments from live and recorded sound guys and on how good it sounds (gig weekly)...and you won't have to mortgage a testicle to add it to your kit. TAMA Stewart Copeland Signature. I picked mine up used for around 200, it's my main snare and probably always will be for the reasons I stated. If I lost it, it would be replaced immediately. (I can send you a couple of samples from both live and recording sessions if you are serious about gaining knowledge about one.)

PS. I'll be cold dead in the ground before any of my gear has the name Lars on it...even if it was the best snare on the planet.

Seems nice, yeah post a sample if you want, that'd be nice to hear it.

[surfspank]

I'll PM them to you later. I'm in BC so it might be late. I'm just setting up to do some vocal recording with our singer this afternoon. I'll pick a couple of hits out while I'm mixing tonight.

[biggator6]

I've heard nothing but good things about that Copeland snare... no idea how it compares to a bell brass, but I've heard that they're great.