u/crashpdx55

Wanting to add a piccolo snare to four wood snares (Sonor 13 x 6 poplar; Yamaha Recording Custom 14 x 8 birch; Ludwig Jazz Fest 14 x 5.5 mahogany; Mapex Black Panther 14 x 5 maple) and a metal snare (Ludwig Suprasonic 14 x 5, LM 400T chrome over aluminum).

Just want to start with one; considering Mapex Maple/poplar 14 x 3.5 or Pearl 14 x 3.5 black steel. Can’t find much in local drum stores to try out, except for vintage/collector expensive stuff that I’m not into. Want a sharp attack, thinking maybe the Mapex maple/poplar might be a good starting place. May not use it that much, so I don’t want to drop a lot of coin. Obviously it’s personal taste, etc.,, but any input on piccolos would be appreciated.

Are pedals better than others for heel-down playing?

Decided on a Speed Cobra 910 for the Cobra Coil return spring and longer footboard, but what is the difference with the Iron Cobra, which is about the same price? I play heel down.

On a bop-kit bass drum, is a port—for potential muffling, not miking—beneficial, harmful, or neutral? Will have a single felt strip on the batter head, an Evans HD Dry at the moment, but considering Remo Fiberskyn.

Got a Mapex Black Panther Equinox 14 x 5—which I totally love—and it came with a Remo Fiberskyn Diplomat head. Love the sound of the drum, actually better than the Yamaha Recording Custom 14 x 8 with an Evans HD Dry. Both are tuned similarly. I understand that they are different drums: 5 vs 8 inch depth and maple vs. birch, which is probably the biggest difference. Really tempted to try a synthetic calfskin on the Yamaha, and maybe the Yamaha Recording Custom toms as well. I’ve read reviews that indicate some Calftones have durability problems right away and don’t last, although I’m mainly interested in the sound and playability, e.g., for brushes. I might just get both and try them, unless the consensus is that one is clearly better. If they’re close, I’ll try both.

Any difference, other than price, between these bass drum heads with built-in muffling? Looking for solid punch in an 18” bop kit, mainly for jazz. Probably will tune higher than is standard, for the jazz sound, but don’t know if that works with these heads.

Thoughts on the differences between a Ludwig Jazz Fest 14 x 5.5 mahogany shell and a Ludwig Classic Maple 14 x 6.5? Looking for a warmer sound than I’m getting from my current birch snare.