Van Halen snare sound - duct tape

[Dom]

If anybody tried this back in the day, I'd be really interested to hear
about the results!! Did you put the tape (1) on the playing side of
the batterhead or on the non-playing side inside the drum, (2) on the
snares side of the reso-head or on the non-snares side inside the drum,
or (3) any combination!!

How did it work out? What did you use for tuning and heads? I'm going
to experiment and mess about with combinations, but I'd be really
interested in your experiences!

Many thanks!

Dom

[Frisco]

Why is duct tape in the mix at all?

Post by Dom
If anybody tried this back in the day, I'd be really interested to hear
about the results!! Did you put the tape (1) on the playing side of
the batterhead or on the non-playing side inside the drum, (2) on the
snares side of the reso-head or on the non-snares side inside the drum,
or (3) any combination!!
How did it work out? What did you use for tuning and heads? I'm going
to experiment and mess about with combinations, but I'd be really
interested in your experiences!
Many thanks!
Dom

[dikledoux]

Post by Frisco
Why is duct tape in the mix at all?

I'm wondering the same thing... That definitive "toonk" (copyright nick
amoroso, I believe) sounds like an unmuffled deep snare smacked with a
relatively consistent rimshot. I could be wrong.

dik

[Pat McDonald]

Post by Frisco
Why is duct tape in the mix at all?

Post by Dom
If anybody tried this back in the day, I'd be really interested to hear
about the results!! Did you put the tape (1) on the playing side of
the batterhead or on the non-playing side inside the drum, (2) on the
snares side of the reso-head or on the non-snares side inside the drum,
or (3) any combination!!
How did it work out? What did you use for tuning and heads? I'm going
to experiment and mess about with combinations, but I'd be really
interested in your experiences!
Many thanks!
Dom

I tried it years ago and it worked pretty well. Got that same thick, fat
"boink" he gets. The secret seemed to be to put the tape on the
underside of the head to avoid wearing the tape thin when you hit it and
eventually spreading the adhesive all over everything. I've seen a few
backstage shots of his snares and I think that's what his tech does.

I didn't do anything to the bottom head but crank it tight. The batter
head has to be pretty tight as well to overcome the mass of that extra tape.

You can try it first by just taping up the batter head and seeing if it gives
you what you want. If you dig it, you can take the head off and put the
tape on the underside later. I remember that it definitely was the
ticket though......



Pat

[Steve Yost]

Always worth considering is that gaffer's tape is a good substitute for
duct tape, and doesn't leave a sticky residue when you remove it.
Available where stage supplies are sold. I use it all the time to
experiment (though lately I'm sold that for live performances the
audience doesn't hear all the overtones I do, so let 'em ring).

[Ryan Eibling]

In my younger days I put a piece of tape across the snare wires near the
edge and got closer to something of an AVH sound. That's what I recall
thinking at the time, anyway.

[Rev. Poindexter]

Post by Ryan Eibling
In my younger days I put a piece of tape across the snare wires near the
edge and got closer to something of an AVH sound. That's what I recall
thinking at the time, anyway.

Didn't Alex also use a batter head on the snare side? Thought I read
that somewhere.

RP

[Dom]

Hi guys - just to let you know. Mild success with duct tape covering
the underside of the batter. (Tip - white duct tape under a coated
head cuts down on the visual horror of tape everywhere!). Definitely
changes the whole feel of the drum - gives more boom and thud. Still
not quite where I want to be, so I'll keep experimenting! (hey ho ...
lifetime's work and all all that! : ) ). Many thanks for all
suggestions! All best wishes, Dom

[Steve Turner]

Post by Dom
Hi guys - just to let you know. Mild success with duct tape covering
the underside of the batter. (Tip - white duct tape under a coated
head cuts down on the visual horror of tape everywhere!). Definitely
changes the whole feel of the drum - gives more boom and thud. Still
not quite where I want to be, so I'll keep experimenting! (hey ho ...
lifetime's work and all all that! : ) ). Many thanks for all
suggestions! All best wishes, Dom

Try a bead of silicon caulk around the perimeter of the underside of the
head, no more than an inch from the edge.