Alex Van Halen Ludwig Signature Snare Sound Demo

[@kevinwilkins3248]

The AVH Brown Sound. The GREATEST snare tone of all time.

[@Zepyhp]

hmmm, AVH copied the tone from John Bonham.

[@demikianlah]

​@@Zepyhpalex's snare is more dampered i think

[@RefRMart10]

My heavens that sound is just perfect

[@craigyost8443]

I think the tuning in the very beginning is pretty darn close. Good job!

[@BassManDan1018]

Words cannot describe how much more accurate this is compared to Beato’s vid. The second you hit the drum, it sounded like VH

[@joshkosh95]

4:52 is what dreams are made of

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

For real!! It’s so weird man... u get close, an then it’s gone 🤣 in the room it sounds a certain way, on tape different. The tuning, attack, room and processing really are the 4 factors.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

Those first 2 hits instantly sold me, jesus christ.

[@MissJulieBryce]

Released yesterday in full on youtube, here's a whole album using this snare, the Ludwig LM402AVH. Generally tuned to Diver Down, with P3 Perimeter Burn (already out as a single on all major streaming platforms) being specifically tuned to Diver Down, because it's 100% inspired by it. Genre is orchestral funk. kzbin.info/aero/PLVIt7ZSJ6c9miuZ4vATt2mFuPbgNBkaer&si=MIHFCYiyrMlOc_ap

[@mojodojo5533]

Your second tuning sounds spot on. Very cool. The most elusive drum tone in rock. The earlier AVH tuning sounds even more tuned down. Like hitting a cardboard box.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Yeah! Gonna do that again just a smidge tighter and it’ll be pretty close. His snare almost sounds like a cowbell ffs 🤣

[@kippertrace5808]

I tried to emulate his sound on an album I did using a premier heavy rock 9. Brass outer shell, maple wood shell. Everything tighter than a camels ass in a sandstorm. Worked great. Sounded spot on.

[@leelauder4411]

Most distinctive and bad ass snare sound EVER!!! Peace brother

[@kevinwilkins3248]

I'm jealous. I wanted this snare AND the Ludwig AVH signature Rosewood snare they came out with in 2008 or 2009.

[@richevans609]

Those intro snare hits got me!!!! I miss VH...

[@ralphbenites1312]

It sounds sweet I could get that sound on my accent 6x5x14 chrome snare from early 2000’s it has the same head

[@carltama]

Watching this snare video made me want to play mine!!! I have this snare and never even hit it once!!! However after hearing how it sounds why not play it. Got to enjoy it while I can right!!!! Thanks for the video

[@ciadella1971]

Same with me. Only hit it a couple times. I need to pull it out, change the top head and play it!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

I’m convinced Alex Van Halen has a cowbell mounted inside the snare against the head... call me crazy!

[@TavaresProject]

sure sounds like it doesn't it lol

[@badtripmoses]

Coolest most identifiable snare sound in rock & all recordings! Best snare sound ever!! I use a Custom TT 13x 7 slotted snare & I get a decent AVH sound but I customize it to make it my own of course! But u can get his sound on pretty much any snare! Just gotta experiment!!

[@JockeLundgrenTV]

Supercool! Thanks from Sweden! ❄️

[@artsal]

Freakin awesome video I’m going to pull mine out of the case tonight thanks

[@nathanwalsh3028]

Just like with guitar players dude it's in the hands. I'll guarantee you no matter what guitar rig you play through you still sound like yourself and the same for drummers. I had a chance to stand on the stage here in Rochester during the 5150 Toure and got a chance to hear the Tech play Alex's kit and I noticed it didn't quite sound the same and then Alex stepped on the kit and boom there was that snare tone. It's in his hands. You definitely came close though... Yes rim shots are the key and you hit those every snare hit!!

[@gagealbright]

cool, thanks for sharing that

[@mattdelany6799]

1980 tama rosewood 6.5x14 with 42 strand strainer. Fair warning.

[@stupid28273]

Don't forget part of Alex's tone was achieved by him using big marching sticks. Or baseball bats.

[@paistekid]

He stopped using 3s Regal Calato stick after 1988! It’s his touch and the way he played that makes the snare sounds the way it sounded 👍🏿

[@paulgiacalone4471]

Not huge sticks after 1988 , long but not fat. You can check out his signature sticks

[@ImprovUnedited]

This is an extremely important video for AVH snare obsessed people like me. Geez. As an orchestral bassist who writes Avant-garde jazz (jazz?) improvs and plays the drums too with a sick need for AVH snare sound, I found this video. Now I think it's decided that this snare has to enter recording studio so that I can sleep properly in peace.

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Haha thanks!! Gotta still figure out the correct tuning and maybe I’ll do another proper video 🤘🏻

[@ImprovUnedited]

@@JeremyWhiteShow the AVH snare arrived today. Can't touch it until I switch the heads and change top rim. Can't gig with it. So soon have to get the regular one too. Tuning and post production hours to follow. Damn this obsession.

[@SONORSQ2guy]

Alex Van Halen’s resonant snare side head is tuned on the lower side, in my opinion

[@Greggyboyz60]

I like the warm overtones. Reminds me a bit of a black beauty but warmer

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Of course the environment plays a role in the tone as well… bottom mic was missing here too. It’s a great sounding snare!

[@Greggyboyz60]

@@JeremyWhiteShow Yes very good demo I must say. I like the way it sounds low like Alex.

[@Greggyboyz60]

Towards the end of the vid when you tune the bottom head tighter it has a nice pop to it.

[@cdeck9867]

Dude thanks for posting this!!! Absolutely the most elusive snare drum/sound in the biz!! I always thought he played a Rosewood Snare shell. I was obviously wrong. Now how do I get my hands on one of these???

[@khollandtalks]

You're not wrong: Al played a Tama rosewood snare on parts of several albums: Notably, 'I'll wait'.

[@MarcusFenix50]

Ludwig Supraphonic was used on VH1 through Women and Children First. Tama Rosewood was used on Fair Warning through OU812.

[@JesseBatesDrums]

Very nice🥁

[@Coppercustomz]

Have you tried tuning both heads to the same pitch? That’s the Shinzo🖖🤘

[@adamh111169]

Great on JW!!!

[@24theMoney]

Does this snare come with a pair of carerra sunglasses and headband? 😁

[@johnpeterson6946]

sounds real close to the Bonham sound.

[@johnnybrown9581]

I’m not sure why I can name 20 guitar players off the top of my head that had an instantly recognizable sound, but I could probably only name maybe 3 drummers that are so recognizable just from the sound of their kits: AVH, Bonham, and Lars Ulrich from the Black Album on

[@AdamDobbs-j5k]

Jealous that's the best snare ever

[@BlueLionProject]

Wow...That's totally it.

[@24theMoney]

I think Alex had a bag of cocaine inside the snare the dampen the sound.

[@stevemcneill7154]

Thats interesting

[@ImprovUnedited]

Here's my latest using the AVH snare. More of these improvs using it where this comes from, since acquiring. Of course I swapped out the original heads and hoop. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonMhKetmLShaKs

[@ImprovUnedited]

Maybe should link Mov 1 of this tone poem. Better view of the snare. Key to the sound is the rim shot mid stick. Not all hits are such, but you can tell which ones are (15%?), since you can hear the signature pop. It's tuned to a d presently, the 1984 pitch. I started with the c# of Diver Down and might put it back on that. (I'm a bassist foremost, and a new engineer. Stil gradually working on the post production tone for the snare. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmbZdGZ4fZmhbLc

[@ImprovUnedited]

The AVH snare amongst my stuff begins with the tone poem Perspective or the lessor one off Hop to the Crab.

[@Elsewhen404]

It's feel and ears on the tuning issue.

[@SwiftSean11]

Uhh the “2 snare hits” described have a name… it’s called a flam…

[@cutitshaveit]

Stop tuning it .it sounds great no matter what you do to it

[@drumfanatik316]

The sound is in the drum itself. There’s no other snare on the planet as distinct sounding as the Ludwig LM402!!! You can throw 100 snares up there and only one of them being this snare, and you’d be able to pick it out of the bunch!!! What gives AVH’s sound so different from say Bonhams snare sound, albeit same snares, is the heads and tuning. AVH still uses that gaff tape on the underside of his drum I believe? That’s why it sounds lower and no overtones. Bonham, used a double ply head, triple flange hoops and wide open with no muffling!!!

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Actually AVH doesn’t use any muffling on his snare, since the 98 tour and John Douglas became his Tech. Snare is stock aside from millennium throw off, diecast hoops and tube lugs, 42 strand snare wire! All options if you order custom from the shop. My main snare is all those specs and it really is the tuning and your attack!

[@alm.7362]

How can I get a Wave of the sound to put into my drum module.

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

How much compression did you add?

[@matthewpaluch777]

FYI - It's Copper hardware.

[@bobc.5698]

That signature would be more like a 6.5x14 accrolite cause all the chrome is ground off.

[@michaeldutill9921]

Where’s the snare ?( wires) sounds like a roto snare

[@TavaresProject]

I barely hear the snare wire when you' hittting it.

[@kevinwilkins3248]

Just like Reverend Al.

[@rubenduartejr.7168]

What I’m hearing is the drum off snare

[@blam3329]

So good! I’m looking for a decent sample for GarageBand. Now if I can just find a good sample of that “sssssss” snake-hiss hi-hat (instead of everybody else’s “Tsssss”).

[@deans.4705]

use a compressor to smash the transient and extend the sustain. Easier said than done I know. Here's how messy they mix the cymbals. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKXOp4GFlrGdopo

[@bluesky6449]

Rebound... its a concept

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

Ha!

[@brohoop]

WAYYYYYYYY too many ads!!! You’re not Rev Al himself! Sheesh! I stopped watching at 8:35!

[@joerico9461]

It sounded better before you started turning on it

[@garyhanson7939]

Anyone know how to create that sound or Alex's drum kit on an electronic drum set

[@gagealbright]

thats what i'd like to know.....is there some electronic kit that gets pretty close to sounding like avh?

[@deans.4705]

you can get close with eq. here is a great video on how much eq is used on it. I use ez drummer with the vintage rock pack. it has the supraphonic. I just tune and add eq. kzbin.info/www/bejne/maOnn6ZvqcqssM0

[@johnlorenz4190]

Mic it up, play in front of 40,000 people. Close, but AVH.......

[@rhythmista7707]

That millennial throw off is absolute shit and extremely flimsy. Good thing Ludwig redesigned a new throw off with the P88..

[@JeremyWhiteShow]

I like the Millenium throw off! So does Al apparently 🤘🏻🤣

[@luigifestante6469]

Sorry but you do not know anything about Alex VH snare!!! It does not sounds like Alex VH sound, you just have the snare that's it

[@mikeb598]

You need an actual drummer to play that snare. You aren’t doing any rim shots which makes all the difference.