As some of our viewers already know, not so long ago, we locked ourselves away at Perlazza Studio (based in Poznań, Poland), where we tested quite a number of vintage drum kits and snares provided by Mateusz Wysocki and his MW-Vintage company, which (as the name suggests) specializes in vintage drums. We performed the test under the sonic supervision of musician, award-winning producer, studio owner and, most of all, a drum maniac, Przemysław Wejmann. To be more exact, it was drummer Max Psuja, who tested all the gear while the beatit.tv team recorded the video and the sound engineer/producer took care of the sonic side of things.
Max Psuja, as an utter vintage drum maniac, a former employee of a drum shop, and a great drummer, who has collaborated with a host of popular acts in Poland, such as Kumka Olik, Holak, Lilly Hates Roses or Yoachim, was perfect for the role of ’lab tester’. Needless to say, he was more than eager to do the job.
We are testing an 80s Remo Acousticon snare drum
1. Product
It is a professional snare made by Remo from acousticon (a material obtained from multiple thin plies of 100% recycled wood-fiber materials, laminated under pressure into a solitary tubular structure. According to MW-Vintage owner, Mateusz Wysocki, the instrument was manufactured in the late 1980s. Obviously, it was made in the US.
2. Basic snare drum specification:
- Manufacturer: Remo
- Year of production: Between 1985 and 1989
- Material: Acousticon
- Size: 14” x 8”
- Shell thickness: 6 mm
- Rims: Classic hoops, 8 tuning rods
- Lugs: Remo Quick Release
- Snares: Pearl, 20 strand
- Heads: WS Classic Coated / Snare Rezo
- Finish: Quadura
3. Test and sound
When testing the Remo snare, we also used a 1990s Fibes drum kit (see a separate test HERE), Impression cymbals and Aquarian heads (Response 2 Coated on the toms, Texture Coated on the snare and Super Kick I Coated on the bass drum).
Max first presented the sound of the snare drum produced by single strokes at different levels of dynamics. Then, he proceeded to do a number of rudiments to finish off with a rhythm figure using all the kit elements as well as performing a groove.
Just as it was in the case of the Fibes kit, this snare is pure ear candy for any classic hard rock fan – all John Bonham fans out there should be in seventh heaven once again. It has a lot of depth, space and body, but delivers great warmth and sensitivity at the same time. We decided not to use any dampening in order to bring these features out. Mateusz Wysocki knew exactly what he was doing having paired this Remo Acousticon with this very kit.
4. Summary
The summary will be brief and it comes from our ’lab tester’, Max Psuja: “As far as the sound characteristic goes, I would say it’s somewhere between wood and metal. The instrument responds very well, both when tuned very low as well as extremely high. This refers to dynamics, and response to an equal extent.”
The snare drum is available for purchase on MW-Vinage website: http://mw-vintage.pl/remo-acousticon-quadura-14″-x-8″/
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the Remo Acousticon snare drum to the most important test of all, i. e. the en.beatit.tv viewers’ test! Exclusively for you, we give you Max Psuja!
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