Reference Snare Different Lugs/Tension Rod Size?

[sixplymaple]

I recently acquired a 6.5”x13” Pearl Reference 6 lug Snare for a crazy cheap price. But not everything on it is original. It has cheap/ugly brass lugs, tension rods, and hoops. I am going to order a new set of Mastercast hoops for it immediately and I would like to replace the lugs asap too. My issue is that after I buy the lugs, I have no idea what size tension rods to get...

What size tension rods fit the stock Pearl BRL-65 Reference lugs?

What size tension rods fit the Pearl TB-65 tube lugs? Same size?


PS - Is there a part number for the long screws that mount the stock BRL lugs to the extra thick Reference snare shell?

Thanks!

[Alan12]

According to the 2020 Pearl catalog, a 6.5x13 Reference snare’s stock tension rods are part # SST5047 for the BRL65 lugs. To my knowledge they can be purchased in packs of 6, which would be part number SST5047/6 so you’d need two sets of those if it’s remaining a 6-lug (one set for the top, one for the bottom).



The part # SM-432B would be the screws you need to mount the BRL65 lugs to your 20-ply Reference shell.



As for the tension rods for TB65 lugs, they appear to be the same as for the BRL65’s (part # SST5047) based on the Sensitone snare listings.



Hope to see pictures of your newest addition.

[MusicMan]

What size tension rods fit the stock Pearl BRL-65 Reference lugs?

Thanks!

You can also use the 42mm (SST-5042) tension rods with the BRL-65. I just bought a 20-pack of them on Reverb that was a lot cheaper than buying the 6-packs.

[sixplymaple]

Thank you both so much. This answered my question perfectly and I do appreciate it.

Turns out I had ordered #T-061L/6, which were way cheaper. It’s crazy how expensive the #SST5047/6 rods are!

[sixplymaple]

You can also use the 42mm (SST-5042) tension rods with the BRL-65. I just bought a 20-pack of them on Reverb that was a lot cheaper than buying the 6-packs.

The 42mm aren’t too short? They still give you enough thread to comfortably tune the snare?

[sixplymaple]

Thanks for all the help! I ended up buying this 6-lug 6.5”x13” Reference Snare on Ebay for $215 including tax + shipping. The lugs, tension rods, and hoops were all horribly cheap aftermarket parts. I thought the drum looked horrible without the factory hardware, so I tracked down the stock Mastercast hoops, tension rods, and lugs online. All of that stock hardware plus some new Puresound snare wires and Evans drumheads only cost me another $225. So I’m only into this drum for a total of $440! I think that’s a steal considering it looks and feels brand new! Plus I’ve never seen a 6-lug snare drum in my life, so that’s pretty cool. Here are some pics...

Before:



After:

[Alan12]

Thanks for all the help! I ended up buying this 6-lug 6.5”x13” Reference Snare on Ebay for $215 including tax + shipping. The lugs, tension rods, and hoops were all horribly cheap aftermarket parts. I thought the drum looked horrible without the factory hardware, so I tracked down the stock Mastercast hoops, tension rods, and lugs online. All of that stock hardware plus some new Puresound snare wires and Evans drumheads only cost me another $225. So I’m only into this drum for a total of $440! I think that’s a steal considering it looks and feels brand new! Plus I’ve never seen a 6-lug snare drum in my life, so that’s pretty cool. Here are some pics...

Before:



After:

She’s certainly a beaut! Definitely a score (even after having to put money into it for the OEM hardware)!

And likewise, I didn’t know they had Reference snares in 6-lug patterns until I just happened to notice one 6.5x13 I was looking at on eBay that I really liked also was a 6-lug.

[Josh Conover]

A lot of the older 13” Reference snares were six lug because Pearl only recently started making 13” Mastercast hoops with the 8 holes in the past couple of years.

Beautiful snare, and what a deal! Nice work!