pearl free floaters
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I have two(2) 14" x 8" Pearl Free Floating Snares, one a solid maple shell and the other a brass shell. The systems allows me to choose other shells and shell depths as well...without having to buy the entire drum.
I bought mine in the 80s when the FFS were the rage and 8" deep shells were the must have then. Both are in mint condition and I personally consider them among the best snare drums ever made, and even at the prices sold then, great value for money.
The beauty of these snares is the tuning range attainable..from the low fat sound of the JR Robinson era ballads..to the high tight crack that later styles require...without ever choking. The snares are adjustable at both ends, and the rims are 10-bolt cast alloy chrome, allowing for very precise tuning and little overtones. The sensitivity depend on the heads used. I use the Evans Genera Dry (Vented) and I get exactly the sound I need without any need for damping or tapes.
I have not come across anyone else in my own contact network in Singapore that owns one of these FFS snare drums..and would really like to compare notes.
BTW mine are not for sale at any price.
I bought mine in the 80s when the FFS were the rage and 8" deep shells were the must have then. Both are in mint condition and I personally consider them among the best snare drums ever made, and even at the prices sold then, great value for money.
The beauty of these snares is the tuning range attainable..from the low fat sound of the JR Robinson era ballads..to the high tight crack that later styles require...without ever choking. The snares are adjustable at both ends, and the rims are 10-bolt cast alloy chrome, allowing for very precise tuning and little overtones. The sensitivity depend on the heads used. I use the Evans Genera Dry (Vented) and I get exactly the sound I need without any need for damping or tapes.
I have not come across anyone else in my own contact network in Singapore that owns one of these FFS snare drums..and would really like to compare notes.
BTW mine are not for sale at any price.
drum_hobbyist
New member
I also have a 14" FFS brass piccolo from the 80s. With a change of the head and tuning, it can even achieve a rock sound... Dave Mcguire the drummer for Heritage had tried it before and couldn't believe his ears as he was sceptical before trying...
RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
Yes it's true, I tested the Snare at Frank's place last time, the Snare sounded superb......It has long lugs and it's deep and it's a Pearl - That's the one right Frank.....but I dont know whether is that the Maple one I tried....solid.ddddd.
i've checked out the le soprano at cole gillies drum shop afew years back, they were nice. but the quality was too inconsistent. in the same model scope some sounded awesome and some were really bad. might have been the tunning.
i actually visited the sleishman factory and had a litle chat with don's son. damn i cannot remember his name. but boy they sounded damn gd. only prob i have with them is the top head cannot be tuned separately and they dun answer my e mails!!!
maybe u can come up with a free floating design. played ur little popper of a snare u gave alvin. it goooooood
Frummer
New member
I've always wanted a free floater ( then again...I always want good snares..heh )...
Ok maybe some info. I've always frequented forums like Pearl Drummers Forum...it seems that Gretsch had/have made deeper Free Floater Chasis. Not too sure whether they are still in production/or on order.
I guess if you have the chasis, you can simply order Keller shells (informing them that you're gonna use it as a free floater...different bearing edges what not...
I'm not too sure which thread I learnt this in...so I can't prove it...but it would be stupid for me to make this stuff up...haha
So blurred...if you do get one...let me stroke it hehe!
Ok maybe some info. I've always frequented forums like Pearl Drummers Forum...it seems that Gretsch had/have made deeper Free Floater Chasis. Not too sure whether they are still in production/or on order.
I guess if you have the chasis, you can simply order Keller shells (informing them that you're gonna use it as a free floater...different bearing edges what not...
I'm not too sure which thread I learnt this in...so I can't prove it...but it would be stupid for me to make this stuff up...haha
So blurred...if you do get one...let me stroke it hehe!
malmbas
New member
Thanks man. made that snare so long ago, glad it's still in action. I've actually been looking into making a 'LeSoprano' type free floating thing for my upcoming builds, just haven't had time, i'll post pics when i get round to it
malmbas
New member
Dunno about tuning independently...... but i'll try and make some free floaters. for independent tuning on a free floating system you'd need artificial bearing edges to contact each head, and then have the shell somehow move independently within those..... which would be interesting but would really detract from the shells integrity...
i think about it
wat mean detract? as in the shell's intergrity wld be comprimised with a system like u mentioned?
i've taken a look at a free floater, and noticed some chipping where the wood meets the metal flange. i feel the wood would be under alot of strain bashing against the harder metal.
malmbas
New member
Yeah, the system i mentioned would have to have multiple functioning layers to work so i don't know whether the resonant qualities of the shell would survive that well.
what free floaters have you been looking at? the shell is only meant to come in contact with the heads. that's why they resonate so well. If the FF system is touching the shell, you're right, that's really not a good thing
been looking at te pearl free floaters
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