OpenTube

Converting a Drum Set Snare into an Orchestra Snare-Dialtune Vs. Pearl Philharmonic

rickdior

11,477 views

In this video I show you how to convert a drum set snare drum (a Dialtune NOB snare) into a drum suitable for orchestra playing. I talk about changing the heads to thinner Diplomats and changing the snare system as well as tuning the drum.
I compare newly tweeked Dialtune against a Pearl Philharmonic NOB 4"x 14" snare.
I try 2 different types of snares on the Dialtune: Grover 13" SX Orchestral Silver/Bronze snares (model GRO-13SX) and Black Swamp wrap-around snares (model W14CS)
Here are the Time Stamps
0:00 Introduction
2:21 Pearl Snare
3:39 Dialtune Snare with stock curly snares
8:54 Different Orch. Snare Systems
9:40 Grover Snare System
13:08 Pearl vs Dialtone with Grover Snares
14:58 Pearl vs Dialtone with Black Swamp Snares

The sticks I am using are 70 gram leopardwood which I make and sell. If you are interested in a pair, you can contact me at rickdior@gmail.com. You can find out more about the sticks here https://rickdior.com/sticks/
I have more complete reviews of several orchestra snare drums in this playlist Rick Dior's Orchestral percussion instrument playlist: Rick Dior's Orchestral percussion instrume...

20 Comments

@davidperaza9526 4 years ago

I've been waiting for you to make this video!!!
I have so many drum sets snares but not a single concert snare and sometimes I've tried the conversion but never have nailed it in my opinion. Thanks for all the insight Rick, you are truly a drum guru.

@jmfs3497 3 years ago

This video came up on drumforum. I play in the grey area between jazz and modern classical, and the wetness of my snares is always something I'm trying to dry out. I will try changing to non-curly wires.

@tuknchuk 4 years ago

I would love to see a tutorial on how you teach / develop your buzz strokes and how you maintain them.
Thanks 🙏 another great video and contribution to the drumming community. All the best !!!

@mikeanderson1610 4 years ago

I agree with you about the clip included with the Puresound snare wire. It's a PITA and takes longer to re-fit than simply removing the strap from the clamp.

@pdwsmith 1 year ago

Thank you so much for this Rick 🙏

@michaeljhintonpiano 1 year ago

So much fun! Thank you!

@HankNinja 4 years ago

Yay! Been looking forward to this.

@Georgesavvas 4 years ago

Great video! Thank you Rick

@brichpmr 4 years ago

Very informative, Rick. I actually purchased a base 6.5/14 Black Swamp Maple sd a few months back, which came with the non-wrap around version of those snares, and I liked the crisp response and tone to the point that I installed the same snares on my Tama 6.5/14 drum set snare drum....I like the easy responsiveness and control of the ring. I am using (on both drums) a Freer leather drum mute.

@ronaldohribeiro 4 years ago

Aprendi muito com seu vídeo Sr. Rick, obrigado.

@HankNinja 4 years ago

I was more than half expecting to hear the Scheherazade excerpt.

@LordLeonardoCWrottesley 2 years ago

3:16 Ravel reference!

@jerrytanenbaum2374 3 years ago

I love the clarity of the concert snares. How do you feel about using them for jazz with the drum set?

@ringofan101 2 months ago

Can you try converting an orchestral snare into a drum set one

@zoohuman 4 years ago

love your playing and knowledge, your channel is amazing, which is why I'm turning to you for a question I can't find the answer to. Why are cymbals from the fifties and back bendable and shake a lot when you hit them, but cymbals from the late fifties and up don't.
Thank you!

@christianborres 3 years ago (edited)

Great video! I just want to ask if the black swamp wrap around snare wire requires deep snare beds for it to work well?

@PMAHockey 3 years ago

I only have maple orchestral drums, so I don't currently have the benefits of a metal drum. I'd be interested to see what my acrolite sounds like doing a conversion like this. Have you ever tried this with an acrolite or superphonic?

@TheDirtyblackRiverDouglasGByeH 4 years ago

Rick, I get paid tomorrow, live in Kansas.... Can you send me a link so I can buy some sticks ? Thank you

@theobosters8487 1 year ago

hello rick, i;m looking for a specific sound just like in this video, one question about the black swamp 14 cs, do they fit on a Premier 2000 drum?

@supmet2 3 weeks ago

When you said you tuned the piccolo to an A, were you referring to the top head?
It would be great to know what pitch the resonant side head produces when the top head is muffled, and then the reverse: when the resonant side head is muffled, what pitch does the batter side head produce?