Snare of the Week, Episode 25: Ludwig 6.5x14 Supraphonic (1970s)

[@crosscheck8920]

That wide open up high tubing at 6:03 is straight up one of the best sounding snares I’ve ever heard. I love this drum. Had one, regrettably sold it, missed it for so long I had to get another one!

[@HGH44309]

Hell yes. I love my 6,5 Supra so much. It was my first pro-level drum and i always come back to it. Just feels like home every time i play it.

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

True that! Home base.

[@rainsong7327]

Hey Mike new subscriber here , I picked one up for 5 bucks at a yard about 10 years ago .I know its crazy . About the same condition as yours only there are no serial numbers on the blue and olive badge, no date stamp. Maybe 1970. Love it

[@mikeevangelista1177]

Picked up one new a short while ago I love it. I find that it plays to every room I bring it to. Never sounds bad. 30 strand pure sound emperor coated

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

That's what's up!

[@guygallagher3830]

I just recently got one after a long search 79-80 model and yes it’s one to have in the collection no doubt.

[@carlupthegrove262]

Sounds great... I'm now going to look into each dumpster I pass in hopes I'll find one too :-) I would be VERY interested in a vintage drumset shoot out.... I have a vintage Slinglerland and am considering a vintage Rogers kit that is available in my area right now.

[@DavidEpstein]

That is a killer drum with an awesome story!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Thanks for checking it out, David!

[@7MACHINE100]

Great demo

[@WarrenDrivel]

Your snare-version of a rescue dog story!! Can't believe it was left for "dead" by your HS band director!!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

They threw out so much gear. Long lost is my all-time favorite burgundy/gold sparkle Ludwig kit.

[@rushxanthemtcg5607]

@@MikeDawsonDrums guessing he was a trumpet player or something. No way a percussionist would be that disrespectful

[@domokornmusic]

Funnily enough, I have my Supra out of those very same circumstances. 5x14, Love it!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Dig that!

[@Eurodrummer666]

How did you do to get that from garbage?! Here in Europe, you have to spend loads for this snare, even as second hand...

[@zach_mizzi]

Love this! I have the 5" (or 5.5"?) X 14" and yes it does detune after a few rim shot. But man, what a fantastic tone. Great demo Mike

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Awesome! Thanks for checking it out. I'll post a video of my 5x14 Supraphonic next week.

[@pheachshorbet916]

And yes. Please do the vintage shootout. Kick is bananas!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

On the docket!

[@bonzoligist6330]

Wouldn't it be awesome if Ludwig made a kit,all out lud alloy.

[@rushxanthemtcg5607]

That would honestly be awesome. Aluminum is such an underrated material

[@jazzdrummer000]

06:02 - 06:30 best sound for me

[@billbachman8372]

Ha! I also have one that was rescued from a band hall junkyard. It's from the NC era with a keystone badge, but still pretty old and existed with one head and a broken strainer for at least a decade. Free for me! I got new 1.6mm hoops, rods and a P-85 strainer for it and it's pretty darn nice--lots of elbow grease in the overhaul too. I regret the P-85, instead of trying to stay original I should've gone with an inDe or similar instead. Does yours have 1.6mm or 2.3mm hoops on it?

[@rushxanthemtcg5607]

To be honest with you, I can't stand the dang p-83. I upgraded my battleship Grey acro to the p88 and have not regretted it at all. The p-83s and 85s just jam constantly

[@mbeeker3073]

Great sounding drum! But if your a rim shot hitter, supraphonics are not a good choice?

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

Nonsense. It’s a great drum. The end.

[@ronaldzeoli7528]

Great price for yours. But I have a 6.5 x 14 aluminum sensitone snare drum that sounds very similar and is a lot cheaper it also has a seamless spun shell. Try them it's a good copy

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Those are great drums!

[@bonzomio]

Mike-Are those 15" or 14" hats? thx

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

15” crashes.

[@bonzomio]

@@MikeDawsonDrums Thanks, Mike! The hats sound good! The 15 K Con crashes unfortunately are currently discontinued. :-( Were you able to select weights when you got those? Love that junkyard Supra!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

I don’t know the weight. It was just whatever they shipped me. The bottom is a 15” A medium thin crash. I love this combo.

[@Robert-h6r7g]

It needs an emperor COATED.....but depending on sound ya want...

[@pheachshorbet916]

So nice. I have a new one (2010). Honestly, it makes me mad. Sounds good in the mix with music but it never seems to be all that inspiring by itself. It sort of sounds badly tuned no matter what I do to it. Prob need to rotate heads and wires. I have a CS on top, original Ludwig head on bottom, and Puresound Custom 20 wires. Tips?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Only thing I can suggest is to crank the bottom head really tight and pitch the top head just below the point where the low end starts to choke out. That's where I have it for the tighter sound. Then I just start detuning lugs to get the lower/fatter vibes.

[@pheachshorbet916]

@@MikeDawsonDrums hmmm I'll give it a try! Thanks!

[@bluesgut]

Awesome. I've got a 70s super sensitive I got because I couldn't find any supras but it doesn't sound as good as yours does here. Do you know of any tips to get such a tight sound?

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Crank the bottom head pretty much as tight as it can go. Then pitch the batter just below the point where the low end starts to choke out when you hit the drum with the snares off. That should give you a pretty tight crack that still has some body.

[@bluesgut]

Thanks Mike. Love this series and the podcast of course. Cheers.

[@FrogMagus]

I love how grimy it is! Never clean it!

[@MikeDawsonDrums]

Not since 1995!