Ply or Solid Shell comparison - Which is better?
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- This #snaresaturday video is a bit different because it's time to discuss the question of "Ply or Solid shell - which is better?" In this video, I'll compare 2 snare drums of the same size, diameter, and wood species. One is ply and the other is solid construction. Hear the differences for yourself and decide which one is best!
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Time Stamps
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Backstory
01:26 - Drum Specs
04:15 - low Tuning
05:46 - medium-low tuning
07:12 - medium tuning
08:29 - medium-high tuning
09:45 - high tuning
10:57 - closing remarks
Ply or Solid Shell - Which is better?
#snare #drum #snaredrums - Hudba
I've got a regular old ply-construction snare (Tama Superstar Classic) and a solid-shell construction snare (Guru Tour series Walnut segmented), and like Leo Getz said at the end of Lethal Weapon 3, they're not better than each other, just different 😂obvs you got a "comes with the kit" $200-ish snare against a handmade bespoke collectible that is worth many times more, but I have gigs where I'll choose the Tama (or another snare) over the Guru for the specific qualities it brings, same as why I'm playing a brass snare tonight. That's the beauty of owning so many snares! Great video and excellent discussion once again, thanks Nick!
Well said, @alsdrumhang ! That’s exactly it, they all have their place because of the different tonal qualities. What did you think of the drums in the video - did either stick out to you over the other?
@@NickCostaMusic the solid shell seemed more focused and the attack emphasized; the ply shell seemed a bit warmer and "fuzzier", if that makes sense?
Totally does!
I've got a ply Rosewood snare, and 2 solid shell Brazilian Rosewood snares. I enjoy both and can't tell entirely too much difference between the 2. I feel more difference between the 2 rather than sound
Oh interesting! What in particular feels different between the two, @aparker507 ? Is it more of a response kind of thing, or touch/rebound?
What you said at the end was what I noticed. The solid drum softer notes seemed more defined and the snare reaction was a little better. Both sound great though.
The ghost notes really stick out with the solid. Even another viewer mentioned it sounded like I had just a room mic on for the ply, and close for the solid - it’s THAT much of a difference!
Very interesting! I agree that the Solid Snare drum on low tuning has a more distinct and pleasant sound whereas the Ply has a more open, loose and resonant sound. It seems like the ply doesn’t tune well for low tuning. The sound has many overtones. The Solid cuts short with more attack. On higher tuning, the difference is very subtle. But still seems like the Solid shell tunes more precisely and cuts shorter than the Ply one. Good video! I’m intrigued now with Solid Snares.
Steam bent solid (like the one in this video) will give you the purest sound of the wood species - Solid piece with less glue. I wonder if the sound differences are due to the shell thicknesses ? I’m pretty sure the solid is slightly thicker 🤔
I have a solid maple 1937 Leedy Broadway standard and it is one of my all time favorite snares
I’m sure that thing has some mojo to it! Steam bent solid is my favorite wood construction. Such a killer tone!
Your ghost strokes are really solid. I know it's 2nd nature now, but it did take some work. About the snare, I preferred the ring of the ply snare. Maybe more or a different vibration from the shell? But both are great. Thanks for this.
Wow, thank you for the compliment @mikej3888 . Being as relaxed as possible really helps with them.
It’s interesting to hear a few viewers commented the same - the ply drum sounded more airy/ring. Has to be the shell construction or thickness between the two?
@@NickCostaMusic -- I think so, Nick. It makes sense that plies vs. a solid piece would be the #1 difference, but hard to say how much lugs, throwoff, etc. may also play in the sound difference. Keep up the good work. Great channel and I'll stay tuned.
Very true - even if they're similar, definitely can make subtle differences. Guess we'll have to build out two drums from the same company - same shell thickness, hardware, hoops, and edges. That will really show the main difference!
It seems that the solid shell decays at the lower pitch. You can hear the lower fundamental in the solid shell. I heard if you put a shorter snare wire on the drum, it would have less chance of choking out. Like put 13 inch snares on a 14 inch drum. Could be an interesting experiment. As always, great job Nick!
Yeah I noticed that too when editing the video - maybe the 1/4” thick solid is thicker than the ply drum, so it doesn’t resonate as much unless you’re really digging in.
That’s an interesting concept, might have to try it out!
Yeah I'm curious about the idea too. I might pick up the 13 Puresound Equalizers and try it on my supra and try to choke it out.
Keep me posted on how it turns out!
This is where I got the idea. czcams.com/video/HxIufsxyXJ4/video.htmlsi=MzRZiJQfQ4v6wK3F
Both sounded good. I definitely liked the lower tunings of the solid snare over the ply. Higher tunings were more subtle to my ears. Cool video.
@johnplaysdrums the solid has a ton of body at the lower end for sure. It might sound a bit more controlled too since it might be a tad thicker shell.
I'd be interested in your take on stave snare drums. I have a mahogany stave snare from Joshua Tree Percussion (no longer in busines) that is a wonderful drum.
I think they're great! Because they're so thick compared to ply or even steam bent solid, they're usually the most direct. If you want a deep bass drum, nothing comes close to a stave beech shell
I preferred the Ludwig for the low and medium tuning. Just sounded more lively. They were much closer to each other at the high tuning. Obviously the tuning range for the solid shell is a big benefit for that drum.
Sounds like that's the reoccurring theme with a few comments, @eddieavakian ! Maybe because people feel the Ludwig ply is more "open" sounding?
I just love beech snares although I don't have too many of them. Thanks
You and me both @mrcymbalhead . Wish more companies would make them - what do you like most about them?
The resonance is different between the two. The solid is seems a little more open, relaxed, natural resonance and the ply seems a bit tighter, muffled with a narrower sound spectrum. I liked the increased crispness of the solid. Does it have a bit deeper snare bed? I have a 14 × 5 solId steam bent maple shell snare that I put a little deeper snare bed in and it is more crisp than most of my other snares with shallower beds. The trend for the last several years seems to lean toward shallower snare beds. What are your thoughts?
Pretty wild when you get them back to back, you can hear a difference like this video. We would cut a gradual bed that wasn’t too deep, though we noticed we would get a great snare response using world max German snare wires. Wish more companies did solid shell, especially snares
Great video
Thanks @stanfordkoch1271 ! What did you think of the two drums?
@@NickCostaMusic loved the solid shell the most but both sounded great
Pretty wild how there's a pretty noticeable difference between the two, even though like you said they both sound great!
Listening on phone speakers, it sounds like you had a room mic and a close mic on the ply snare and then switched to only close mic on the solid snare. So, the solid snare was definitely more focused sounding.
Crazy, right?! All the same mic setups, same volume on each track too…
@@NickCostaMusic have you listened on your phone? Do you hear what I mean?
@andthensome512 Just did now that you said something. I hear what you're saying - it's like there's more definition/snare response with the solid as if the close mic's are louder
Solid all the way. Less ringy.
Full of body, and louder IMO @pablokagioglu2546 . I wonder if that’s due to the shell construction, thickness, or both?