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For ages I have been contemplating building/constructing a snare that matches my 1984 DX series Pearl kit (see sig).
The snare that came with these kits is a "Professional series" 6 1/2 x 14" steel shell.
I prefer wood shell snares live and for decades have used an 8 ply maple '80-83 Pearl snare (see sig for resto of that)
The toms have outer birch ply and I always thought/wondered if a birch shelled snare may suit my kit better. For some reason, Pearl didn't build birch shelled snares when the DX series came out.
Finally, last year, I found an Australian distributor for Keller shells.
Alan "Tucker" Weir owns disturbance drums:
http://www.disturbancedrums.com
Tucker specialises in stave shelled drums if you're inclined to go that way, but has also worked hard to source ply shells.
Tucker is awesome, cannot do enough to help, has a great service ethic and nothing is a problem!
So after to ing an fro ing with e-mails and prices, discussing snare beds and options, I started the order process. Mid way into that, Tucker came up with a new/another supplier from the UK, with thicker shells and less ply's. So less glue.
I was happy to be guinea pig...
We arranged for an all birch 6 1/2" x 14" shell, with snare beds around 3mm deep, and double 45 degree bearing edges, in keeping with the era and the rest of the kit. I decided to have the vent hole put in using the golden ratio. The vent hole, vent hole drilling and bearing edges were included in the shell price. Lug drilling was up to me, Tucker will drill if you use his lugs.
I also ordered a pair of 2.3mm hoops and some Puresound wires from Tucker.
On to the hunt for hardware.
I bought another Professional series snare to strip. In the meantime I was involved in a question about these snares in the Vintage section, when PDF'er scoopyx said he had one in pieces that could be mine for postage.
The shell was out of round and warped and he had no inclination to repair it.
Done deal.
While I was tempted to use the extended gladstone strainer from the shell, I half wondered if somewhere not to far down the track, Pearl may elect to discontinue the S-025 snare wires that fit it.
So I went halfway, getting a Sensitone S-017 Strainer and butt from my local Pearl supplier.
scoopy's gear turned up first.
One of the issues with the old Pearl spring loaded coffin lugs can be that the inserts not end up seating properly due to burrs. 6 lugs required attention. This is no reflection on scoopyx at all, it happens to many of us.
You can see the problem here:
So out with the small triangular and round files.
Then wrap the spring in felt, reassemble, and hand cut rubber gaskets for the lugs:
Next came a box from Tucker:
You can clearly see the thickness of the shell
Tucker left the markup tape on for me:
Skyline of the bearing edge:
It turned out the fundamental pitch of my bare shell was slightly sharp of B.
Taking my time, I marked out and drilled all the holes. One tiny error, which isn't evident at all. I was happy.
While I have done my own finishes in the past, my band's guitarist, who is also a luthier, elected to finish it for me.
Internally, the shell was sealed with shellac after a 120 grit sanding.
Externally the finish (after 360 grit sanding) was stain with 16 coats of nitrocellulose, sanded and buffed.
Due to weather, this took a while.
After I got the shell back I polished it with a high quality furniture polish, then buffed again. I rubbed the bearing edges with cabinet makers wax and 0000 grade steel wool, then buffed them too.
Assembly took no time.
So here it is:
A snare inspired by what many consider to be perhaps the best Pearl shells of all, the early to mid 80's, but in Birch.
scoopyx's shell donated the lugs, superhoops (series1) and internal damper
The snare has had one rehearsal.
A review after it's first gig this coming Friday night...
Enjoy!
Grant
The snare that came with these kits is a "Professional series" 6 1/2 x 14" steel shell.
I prefer wood shell snares live and for decades have used an 8 ply maple '80-83 Pearl snare (see sig for resto of that)
The toms have outer birch ply and I always thought/wondered if a birch shelled snare may suit my kit better. For some reason, Pearl didn't build birch shelled snares when the DX series came out.
Finally, last year, I found an Australian distributor for Keller shells.
Alan "Tucker" Weir owns disturbance drums:
http://www.disturbancedrums.com
Tucker specialises in stave shelled drums if you're inclined to go that way, but has also worked hard to source ply shells.
Tucker is awesome, cannot do enough to help, has a great service ethic and nothing is a problem!
So after to ing an fro ing with e-mails and prices, discussing snare beds and options, I started the order process. Mid way into that, Tucker came up with a new/another supplier from the UK, with thicker shells and less ply's. So less glue.
I was happy to be guinea pig...
We arranged for an all birch 6 1/2" x 14" shell, with snare beds around 3mm deep, and double 45 degree bearing edges, in keeping with the era and the rest of the kit. I decided to have the vent hole put in using the golden ratio. The vent hole, vent hole drilling and bearing edges were included in the shell price. Lug drilling was up to me, Tucker will drill if you use his lugs.
I also ordered a pair of 2.3mm hoops and some Puresound wires from Tucker.
On to the hunt for hardware.
I bought another Professional series snare to strip. In the meantime I was involved in a question about these snares in the Vintage section, when PDF'er scoopyx said he had one in pieces that could be mine for postage.
The shell was out of round and warped and he had no inclination to repair it.
Done deal.
While I was tempted to use the extended gladstone strainer from the shell, I half wondered if somewhere not to far down the track, Pearl may elect to discontinue the S-025 snare wires that fit it.
So I went halfway, getting a Sensitone S-017 Strainer and butt from my local Pearl supplier.
scoopy's gear turned up first.
One of the issues with the old Pearl spring loaded coffin lugs can be that the inserts not end up seating properly due to burrs. 6 lugs required attention. This is no reflection on scoopyx at all, it happens to many of us.
You can see the problem here:
So out with the small triangular and round files.
Then wrap the spring in felt, reassemble, and hand cut rubber gaskets for the lugs:
Next came a box from Tucker:
You can clearly see the thickness of the shell
Tucker left the markup tape on for me:
Skyline of the bearing edge:
It turned out the fundamental pitch of my bare shell was slightly sharp of B.
Taking my time, I marked out and drilled all the holes. One tiny error, which isn't evident at all. I was happy.
While I have done my own finishes in the past, my band's guitarist, who is also a luthier, elected to finish it for me.
Internally, the shell was sealed with shellac after a 120 grit sanding.
Externally the finish (after 360 grit sanding) was stain with 16 coats of nitrocellulose, sanded and buffed.
Due to weather, this took a while.
After I got the shell back I polished it with a high quality furniture polish, then buffed again. I rubbed the bearing edges with cabinet makers wax and 0000 grade steel wool, then buffed them too.
Assembly took no time.
So here it is:
A snare inspired by what many consider to be perhaps the best Pearl shells of all, the early to mid 80's, but in Birch.
scoopyx's shell donated the lugs, superhoops (series1) and internal damper
The snare has had one rehearsal.
A review after it's first gig this coming Friday night...
Enjoy!
Grant
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