This was the title of the ad. Got it for 30 Canadian bucks. 8 lugs, cheap shell (bottom is a little out of round, bearing edges are rough).
Anyway, before looking at it in details, I've bought a set of nylon snare cords and two heads (Ambassador Coated X and Ambassador Clear reso). Also got an used muffler for it (was missing).
Details: no badge, Pearl lugs (could be a replacement still), StarClassic (Tama) snare wires and mixed bolts...
So, yesterday, replaced the heads and put the muffler. There was also a broken piece in one of the lug but fortunately, I had an old lug with a similar piece (the thing that goes on top of the spring where the bolt goes in). Then, snare cord but the throw off was crap so there was almost no tension on the snares. Tuned it grossly and the sound was bad, lot of nasty overtones and boingy as hell! The only way to make it sound decent was to put an e-ring and engage the muffler.
This morning, I've decided that it needed a new throw off so I bought a Gibraltar SC-STO. So 30 bucks, then 65 yesterday and 45 this afternoon. Yes, 140 CAD but... sounded bad still!
A bit of tuning later (whole evening), 250 Hz on batter and 350 on reso (gives F3) and now there's only a good ring to it and it sounds good finally. Was it worth the expense? Yes for me as I learnt how to repair a beaten to death snare...
As for the out-of-round shell, not a big deal as it looks it can stay correctly tuned. BTW, I didn't had to fill the old strainer holes as the new one hides it! The important thing, it was fun and rewarding... but sure I could had bought a 150$ snare and got the same result. Does it sounds as good as my Ludwig Heirloom Brass or DrumCraft Maple? No for sure but it has its own sound and I like it.
Attached is the original ad pic, looks a lot better now!
Anyway, before looking at it in details, I've bought a set of nylon snare cords and two heads (Ambassador Coated X and Ambassador Clear reso). Also got an used muffler for it (was missing).
Details: no badge, Pearl lugs (could be a replacement still), StarClassic (Tama) snare wires and mixed bolts...
So, yesterday, replaced the heads and put the muffler. There was also a broken piece in one of the lug but fortunately, I had an old lug with a similar piece (the thing that goes on top of the spring where the bolt goes in). Then, snare cord but the throw off was crap so there was almost no tension on the snares. Tuned it grossly and the sound was bad, lot of nasty overtones and boingy as hell! The only way to make it sound decent was to put an e-ring and engage the muffler.
This morning, I've decided that it needed a new throw off so I bought a Gibraltar SC-STO. So 30 bucks, then 65 yesterday and 45 this afternoon. Yes, 140 CAD but... sounded bad still!
A bit of tuning later (whole evening), 250 Hz on batter and 350 on reso (gives F3) and now there's only a good ring to it and it sounds good finally. Was it worth the expense? Yes for me as I learnt how to repair a beaten to death snare...
As for the out-of-round shell, not a big deal as it looks it can stay correctly tuned. BTW, I didn't had to fill the old strainer holes as the new one hides it! The important thing, it was fun and rewarding... but sure I could had bought a 150$ snare and got the same result. Does it sounds as good as my Ludwig Heirloom Brass or DrumCraft Maple? No for sure but it has its own sound and I like it.
Attached is the original ad pic, looks a lot better now!