Wood Hoops

[Frank Briggs]

A student of mine brought his snare drum in for me to tune and check out. A Tama something or other. It has wood hoops, which for some reason I never got around to checking out. Long story short I am loving them. the feel the sound... everything.

Question;

Who's using them?
Where did you get them?
What company would you recommend?

Here is where he got his > http://www.stellardrum.com/
The drum is still at my studio... he may not get it back:)

If this subject is already addressed here, please point me to it.
Thanks in advance
-fb

[DSOP]

I know Yamaha makes wood hoops, and Ayotte used to equip all their high-end kits with wood hoops. I've never tried them personally, but have been very curious.

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical- ... ies/hoops/

http://www.ayottedrums.com/pop-up/Wood_Hoops.htm

[deseipel]

I think drumfoundry.com has some wood hoops for sale too.

and precision drums

http://www.precisiondrum.com/html/maple_hoops.html


and drummaker

http://www.drummaker.net/1-800-NEW-DRUM ... e.htm&-new

I've never played them though. I'd be curious if they are similar to die cast hoops (deaden the sound/make it sound 'thicker')

[Gavin Harrison]

I just got a 13" and 14" wood hoop from custom drum maker Gary Noonan in the UK http://www.noonandrums.com/

he makes them with brass inserts so you don't mash the hoop with rim shots and you have "two tone" side stick sound. You can side stick the wood or the brass.

you can see a photo of the 14" here https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

it changes the character of the drum (in a very nice "earthy" way).

cheers
Gavin

[gretsch-o-rama]

Steve Jordan uses them...

[bstocky]

I just wrote a long response and it was lost. Oh well.

I like them. If they weren't so expensive I'd try them on all of my drums. I've used Yamaha and Ayotte wood hoops. They both eq'd the drum and gave it a slightly mellower sound. The wood seems to take away the weird high frequencies that can sometimes be annoying.
Stellar and Precision have good reputations. Stanbridge makes wood hoops but only if you buy a complete drum from him.
http://www.stanbridgedrums.com/Hoops.html

Gibraltar/Dunnet make a hybrid hoop too.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibraltar-D ... 1394973.gc

The Noonan looks awesome.

[Joe Nocella]

This is slightly off topic, and I posted it in a separate thread. But since you guys mentioned Precision Drum Company, I thought I'd chime in as I was there this weeked..


Mark,

At your recommendation I had the edges recut on my 2010 Pearl Masters Maple MCX toms by Precision Drum Co. in Pleasant Valley, NY. First off, let me say that Gary came in on his day off to accommodate my schedule. Very nice guy.

Second, he put my drums on a granite block which was flat to within .001" It was shocking to me just how imperfect the drums were. I mean this is a mid/high-end range kit. This inspection proved to me that about zero attention was paid to cutting a quality edge. The drum rocked back and forth on the granite. Shining a light into the shell exposed all the flaws that were making these drums a frustration to tune.

Within a half hour, Gary had all my toms recut. He recommended putting a double 45 router cut on the edge. This would move the edge over slightly and allow for the head to make contact with the shell on the flat part of the head and not the curved collar. What a difference all of this made!!!

End result: My drums now sing!!! The head is completely married to the edge, allowing the head and shell to resonate together. Tuning is now a breeze.

Conclusion: If you are even slightly concerned about the condition of your edges. Bring them to someone who is qualified and can show you what can be improved upon. I can speak first hand that Gary at Precision, knows his stuff, does top-notch work, and is passionate about drums and committed to quality.

Highly recommend!!!!

-Joe

[mind_drummer]

Frank

Contact Frank (François) at Unix Drums, he'll custom makes them to your needs & preferences with any wood species you want.

http://www.unixdrums.com


I personally own a TAMA Oak Monoply with cherry wood hoops (yamaha style) and these are absolutely lovely sounding when playing the rims (click) and they are beast when rimshot.

[nomsgmusic]

Frank,

I use them on some snares. I really priced around, and started using the drummaker ones. Their wood rims' profile seem a little lower, but the Yamaha ones were just too expen$ive for me. As were many of the other companies' wood rims. I am going to experiment with putting them on a whole set soon. A lot of the young jazz guys around NYC are doing this. I have an extra jazz set that I can do this with. On sets they just seem to warm them up, and round out the sound a bit. They are cool on metal snares too.

If anyone has some wood hoops that they don't want, I am open to used ones as well, pm me!

They really dry out a drum, and warm it up a bit. From my experience rimshots seem to have a little less (or maybe a slower) attack, therefore the sound a little "fatter." Cross sticks sort of suck on them though. I would be anxious to try some of those "hybrid" hoops that Gavin mentioned, interesting!!!

I played a few of Jordan's drums a while back, he had a few of the same drum with wood hoops, and without. That is really the only way to tell what they do. A side by side "taste test." I like what they can do to a snare sound, it gives every drum you own, another sound. Therefore doubling your snare sound palette to choose from.

I have a custom Gretsch drum with wood hoops that is the warmest snare that I own. It just screams "Big 80's Fat Rock Snare" without the annoying gating. That result is definitely a combo of warm edges, hoops, a good strainer, and head selection. And in my opinion the wood hoops really MADE that drum. I did experiment with that drum with die casts, double flanges, and triple flanges, and the woods just make THAT drum.

Be careful when choosing snares to put them on, some strainer handles come up too far and scrape the rim, or won't engage with wood hoops.

Good luck,
Mark

[Frank Briggs]

Thanks so much "everyone". Keep the feedback coming. Wood hoops are a pricey upgrade, from what I can see so far. I am in the process of cleaning up and upgrading my 1989 yellow N&C Horizon kit, and am thinking about wood hoops all around. I want to try some on toms first, but I have a strong feeling I am going to dig it. I may also upgrade my Oak Custom kit. I saw a picture of Steve Jordan behind some Oaks and he had wood hoops on just the floor toms... which i get totally.

The snare I have in the studio has Stellar hoops which are 32 plys. I have been playing it for a couple weeks now, no sign of wear... not a mark on it. Side stick is outrageous sounding and the rim shot sound is just as bright as anything i have heard. That being said there is also a warmth and a feel i like.

I found a good deal on a 60's Gretsch snare shell COB. I may try a set of Stellar hoops on it. In case you're wondering I do not have any deal with Stellar Hoops, it's just my only experience at this point and I would certainly recommend them.

I may try some of their thinner old school hoops. I would need bass drum claws to do that... anyway should be some fun experimenting. I will keep you posted.