12" as a main snare

[sugabear]

Just trying to get some feed back on using a 12" snare as a main snare. I wasn't thinking about doing it until I seen someone using a the Pearl Soprano 7x12" as a main. I gathered he didn't have it tuned really tight because it had a nice sound tone to it; kinda mid-range.

[dwdrummer]

8O  :? i dont think i would ever use it all da time as my main snare jus b/c i dont think it would have that nice thick warm sound that i need under my pop. u kno :?:  
out :wink:

[Freddy229]

If you use the right head, you can get a really open sound out of your 12". I use an Evans J1 Etched head and it is really great. I like it because it doesn't have all that excess ring like a 14". Try that, you might like it!

[CalKel2]

I use that Pearl Soprano 12 x 7 as my primary snare. i love the tone that it has. I use a Evans Genera Dry head on there. And it gives you a nice pop. Although sometimes it will be inappropriate for some work, you just have to use your judgement on that.

[Jedi3]

I have two 12 inch snares that I would consider my "primaries."  One is a 5 x 12" Pork Pie and the other is a 6 x 12" DW. Both have maple shells and I tune them similarly.  The extra inch of depth on the DW adds a bit more warmth of tone overall but for the most part, they're pretty evenly matched.  A lot of cats tend to crank up then tension really, really high on smaller snares to maximize the "crack" that they can produce.  I have found that if you tune them medium tight on top and the bottom only slightly tighter, you'll keep the majority of the crack and at the same time add a little more depth to the sound of the drum and musically it will fit more situations for you.  My only real complaint about using a 12" primary is that it can be difficult to get a consistently good side-stick sound...but I guess a groove wedge or small jam block could settle that for you.  Hope this helps.

B