8 lug free floating snare

[majicdrum]

I have several Pearl free floaters, in different versions. A drummer on Facebook posted that he previously owned an 8 lug free floating snare. Does anyone know if such a drum was produced?

[Josh Conover]

More than likely made by Gretsch.

I'm fairly certain Pearl has only made free floating snares in 14" diameter with a ten lug pattern. I believe they are on their fourth generation now. The first having "hex" shaped lugs and the filling three have round, tube style lugs with different strainers.

Gretsch however, has made (and maybe still makes) different sizes. I've seen 14",13", and 10" for sure.

[MusicMan]

I have several Pearl free floaters, in different versions. A drummer on Facebook posted that he previously owned an 8 lug free floating snare. Does anyone know if such a drum was produced?

I don't think Pearl has ever made a 14" FF snare that only has 8-lugs.

He might have been referring to a 13" marching snare drum.

[korch]

Agreed.... the 14" free floaters by Pearl have always been 10 lugs. i have owned both the original version with the hex lugs, and the newer generation models.

[Josh Conover]

I don't think Pearl has ever made a standard snare that only has 8-lugs. He might have been referring to a 13" marching snare drum.

What do you mean by "standard"?

[MusicMan]

What do you mean by "standard"?

I was referring to 14" FF size. It wasn't clear. My bad.

[majicdrum]

More than likely made by Gretsch.

I'm fairly certain Pearl has only made free floating snares in 14" diameter with a ten lug pattern. I believe they are on their fourth generation now. The first having "hex" shaped lugs and the filling three have round, tube style lugs with different strainers.

Gretsch however, has made (and maybe still makes) different sizes. I've seen 14",13", and 10" for sure.

Thanks J-Con. I knew this forum was the best place to post the question. I have both hex and round tube lug drums. I have all three depths. I didn’t know Gretsch made free floaters. How do they compare to Pearl?

[Josh Conover]

Thanks J-Con. I knew this forum was the best place to post the question. I have both hex and round tube lug drums. I have all three depths. I didn’t know Gretsch made free floaters. How do they compare to Pearl?

No prob. Glad we could help out.

As far as free floaters go, I have zero experience with them. I've only heard one in person. It was a maple shell in the shallower of the depths they offer. It sounded pretty good in the small venue I was in. Sharp crack, not a ton of overtones, very dry in fact.

It's funny you say "all three depths" because I thought there were four. Until a few days ago when a fellow drummer posted this on Facebook's Pearl Drums 4 Life page...

[RG1820X]

I didn’t know Gretsch made free floaters. How do they compare to Pearl?

Maybe Gretsch realized they should be going for 'that great' Pearl 'sound'!

[PatrickDC]

To Float or not to float

I understand it is difficult to even explain why or what through text; however; what are you looking for in the sound of the free floater? I also thought free floating means no lugs into the shell itself? In the free floater, is it the free floating that gives you the resonance you like or the whole composite; otherwise, its not just the free floater hoops but the whole drum and heads, wires and throw down

[majicdrum]

No prob. Glad we could help out.

As far as free floaters go, I have zero experience with them. I've only heard one in person. It was a maple shell in the shallower of the depths they offer. It sounded pretty good in the small venue I was in. Sharp crack, not a ton of overtones, very dry in fact.

It's funny you say "all three depths" because I thought there were four. Until a few days ago when a fellow drummer posted this on Facebook's Pearl Drums 4 Life page...

I meant to say that I have 4 sizes, 3.5, 5, 6.5, and 8. I forgot about the marching free floater. I don’t have that one.

[majicdrum]

I understand it is difficult to even explain why or what through text; however; what are you looking for in the sound of the free floater? I also thought free floating means no lugs into the shell itself? In the free floater, is it the free floating that gives you the resonance you like or the whole composite; otherwise, its not just the free floater hoops but the whole drum and heads, wires and throw down

Yes, I like the resonance of the free floater. I have played 10 lug drums for a long time. I recently got back into 8 luggers. I like the way the head feels. My current set up calls for fat back beats. It seems easier to get that out of an 8 lugger without muffling. I like being able to explore different shells with the free floaters, so I became curious when I heard about the 8 lug version. I know nothing about the Gretsch model. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Drumming-4-Life]

Yes, I like the resonance of the free floater. I have played 10 lug drums for a long time. I recently got back into 8 luggers. I like the way the head feels. My current set up calls for fat back beats. It seems easier to get that out of an 8 lugger without muffling. I like being able to explore different shells with the free floaters, so I became curious when I heard about the 8 lug version. I know nothing about the Gretsch model. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Here is my $0.02... after playing/owning many Pearl free-floating snares. I've owned a dozen or so, and still have 2 neat ones left... but I will say that they are not more resonant than other snare drums I own, and definitely NOT fat sounding. They are pretty rigid, and closer to marching-style snare drums than anything else.

I get the free floating philosophy, but there are a couple hiccups in the Pearl design that completely eliminate any extra resonance that may have been generated by separating the removable shell from the drum hardware.

1) They use a thick rigid cast chassis made of (I think) aluminum, which the snare side head sits on. So this chassis is a major part of the drum now... it is NOT a musical metal... when you tap it with a stick, you get a "tink" or "clink" sound... not a pleasant "ding" with tone or resonance, like you would get with, for example, the DW Edge snare drum. The metal Edge rings used on the DW are very musical.

2) They also also apply a felt ring to the chassis, where the removable shell sits, possibly to protect the shell from damage, but It's not applied to encourage resonance. Felt rings and resonance are like oil and water... they don't mix.

Like I said, I have a couple, but they are not full of fatness or resonance. If you want a fat-sounding (and playing) snare drum, I think the 8 lugs is much more important than the free floating style. Here are my free-floaters... collectable? Possibly. Fat or resonant, no.

3.5x14, Hammered Brass, Red Anodized


6.5x14, Copper


The fattest-sounding/playing snare drums in my collection are like what you said... 8-lugs. Some examples...

Dunnett Titanium
Tama Fat Spruce (it's in the title)
Tama Star Zebrawood
Tama Star Reserve Hammered Copper
Tama Mike Portnoy Signature 5.5x14 Maple
Oriollo Phantom 65

Pearl 5x15 Baritone Sensitone (10-lug, but the 15" diameter really adds to the deeper tone and fatter sound)

A couple snares I don't have that you might be interested in are.

Gretsch 8x14 Swamp Dawg (mahogany, 8-lugs)
Gretsch 6.5x14 Silver Series Ash (8-lugs)

[majicdrum]

Here is my $0.02... after playing/owning many Pearl free-floating snares. I've owned a dozen or so, and still have 2 neat ones left... but I will say that they are not more resonant than other snare drums I own, and definitely NOT fat sounding. They are pretty rigid, and closer to marching-style snare drums than anything else.

I get the free floating philosophy, but there are a couple hiccups in the Pearl design that completely eliminate any extra resonance that may have been generated by separating the removable shell from the drum hardware.

1) They use a thick rigid cast chassis made of (I think) aluminum, which the snare side head sits on. So this chassis is a major part of the drum now... it is NOT a musical metal... when you tap it with a stick, you get a "tink" or "clink" sound... not a pleasant "ding" with tone or resonance, like you would get with, for example, the DW Edge snare drum. The metal Edge rings used on the DW are very musical.

2) They also also apply a felt ring to the chassis, where the removable shell sits, possibly to protect the shell from damage, but It's not applied to encourage resonance. Felt rings and resonance are like oil and water... they don't mix.

Like I said, I have a couple, but they are not full of fatness or resonance. If you want a fat-sounding (and playing) snare drum, I think the 8 lugs is much more important than the free floating style. Here are my free-floaters... collectable? Possibly. Fat or resonant, no.

3.5x14, Hammered Brass, Red Anodized
[ATTACH=CONFIG]517596[/ATTACH]

6.5x14, Copper
[ATTACH=CONFIG]517597[/ATTACH]

The fattest-sounding/playing snare drums in my collection are like what you said... 8-lugs. Some examples...

Dunnett Titanium
Tama Fat Spruce (it's in the title)
Tama Star Zebrawood
Tama Star Reserve Hammered Copper
Tama Mike Portnoy Signature 5.5x14 Maple
Oriollo Phantom 65

Pearl 5x15 Baritone Sensitone (10-lug, but the 15" diameter really adds to the deeper tone and fatter sound)

A couple snares I don't have that you might be interested in are.

Gretsch 8x14 Swamp Dawg (mahogany, 8-lugs)
Gretsch 6.5x14 Silver Series Ash (8-lugs)

Beautiful drums! Thanks for the info. You have piqued my interest in the snares mentioned.