Michael’s Drums 20

Michael’s Drums 20

March 2025

Current favorite snare setup — Remo Fiberskyn Diplomat batter head on my phosphor bronze snare. 1.6mm triple flange hoops both sides. Remo diplomat snare side resonant head. The fiberskyn very slightly fattens up that leading leading edge bite and adds all kinds of meaty timbre to the rest without muffling clarity. It somehow added an extra layer of awesomeness at all playing levels.

The 1.6mm triple flange hoops — versus the ‘stock’ 2.3mm heavier hoops — give a ringier tang overall and allow much easier detuning of lugs. Turns out I dislike an uniformly tuned head and much prefer localized oddities, patches of detuned-ness, areas on the head having different flavor, tang…maybe something like a steel drum but instead of wildly (purposely) differing tones only the nuances change…and maybe it’s all in my mind … reminds something like how some drum sticks develop a kind of ‘feel’ when held in one orientation, then a slight twist gives an entirely different feels and response…it’s not noticeable from the outside, but holding it, you can feel it instantly…that’s kind of like the detuning available with a 1.6mm (thinner) triple flange hoop and also inherent in the fiberskyn heads, no two of which are alike…very far from uniformity. Maybe it’s a phase of flavor…

I ordered 1.6mm triple flange hoops for my 12″ and 13″ toms and also some Remo Diplomat fiberskyn batter heads. I have another set of 14″ 1.6mm triple flange hoops…I’ll probably put them on my Ludwig aluminum/chrome Supraphonic w/ Remo Diplomat coated batter head.

Next up is to play around with different snares. Apparently there’s all kinds of wonderful options there, too.

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Here’s a structured analysis contrasting the key drum hoop styles—specifically 1.6mm triple-flanged, 2.3mm triple-flanged, die-cast hoops, and other notable variants—highlighting their distinct impacts on playability, resonance, tonal characteristics, and tuning behaviors:

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1. 1.6mm Triple-Flange Hoops

Playability and Feel:

• Very flexible, offering more give during rimshots, resulting in a lighter, responsive feel under the stick.
• Encourages subtler playing dynamics due to less rigidity, enhancing sensitivity.

Resonance and Ringiness:

• Maximum resonance with greater openness, higher sustain, and pronounced overtones due to the reduced mass and stiffness.
• Tends to sound more open, lively, and “ringy,” ideal for vintage, jazz, or subtle acoustic settings.

Tone and Complexity:

• Rich, complex overtone structures; more harmonic variation due to hoop flexibility allowing head vibrations and non-uniformities.
• Can produce a less controlled, but characteristically nuanced tonal response.

Head Hold-Down:

• Moderate; thinner hoops exert less even downward pressure, allowing minor tension inconsistencies.
• Easier to detune intentionally or accidentally; local lug adjustments significantly impact immediate vicinity, introducing non-uniform tonalities and micro-varieties.

Tuning and Lug Interaction:

• Lug detuning spreads less uniformly across head, permitting intricate variations in tension and subtle tonal coloration.

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2. 2.3mm Triple-Flange Hoops

Playability and Feel:

• Offers balanced rigidity and flexibility; comfortable rebound, with more pronounced, defined rimshots compared to 1.6mm.
• Popular choice due to balanced feel suitable for diverse genres, from rock to jazz.

Resonance and Ringiness:

• Medium-high resonance, retaining a bright ring, though slightly less pronounced overtones compared to the thinner 1.6mm hoops.
• Provides an effective balance between controlled sustain and tonal openness.

Tone and Complexity:

• Slightly more focused sound, yet retains significant harmonic complexity and openness.
• Noticeably balanced overtone profile: versatile, consistent, nuanced response.

Head Hold-Down:

• Improved uniformity in head tension compared to 1.6mm, leading to a more evenly distributed tuning.
• Moderate resistance to accidental detuning, yet still allows localized tension variations that subtly affect neighboring lug areas.

Tuning and Lug Interaction:

• Lug detuning still localized, but slightly more controlled than 1.6mm, yielding predictable tuning adjustments and tonal responses.

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3. Die-Cast Hoops

Playability and Feel:

• Stiffer, heavier, providing pronounced attack, solid rimshots, and defined cross-stick sounds.
• Less forgiving; increased rigidity yields a harder playing surface, requiring more precise playing technique.

Resonance and Ringiness:

• Significant reduction in head resonance and overtones; provides focused, controlled sound.
• Minimizes ringiness, making it preferred for precise tuning and studio environments or heavier genres that require clarity and reduced sustain.

Tone and Complexity:

• Clear, focused fundamental tones with fewer harmonics and overtones.
• Reduced harmonic complexity; favors attack and projection over subtle nuances and resonance intricacies.

Head Hold-Down:

• Excellent, even head-tension distribution; offers the highest consistency and stability in tuning.
• Least susceptible to accidental detuning due to high rigidity; lug adjustments spread evenly and smoothly across the entire drum head.

Tuning and Lug Interaction:

• Lug detuning uniformly affects adjacent areas due to hoop stiffness, leading to predictable but less subtle tonal variations.

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4. Other Styles (Wood Hoops, S-Hoops, Single-Flanged Hoops)

Wood Hoops:

• Playability: Softer rimshots, warmer tactile feel, more forgiving on sticks.
• Tone: Warmer, rounder resonance with controlled harmonics.
• Complexity: Adds unique coloration to tone, reducing metallic brightness and ringiness.
• Tuning: Even pressure distribution, moderate rigidity, relatively uniform tension spread.

S-Hoops:

• Playability: Blends triple-flanged flexibility with increased hoop mass and rigidity; comfortable rimshots and enhanced durability.
• Tone: Slightly darker and focused compared to standard triple-flanged hoops, while retaining notable resonance.
• Complexity: Balanced harmonic control with a warm overtone structure.
• Tuning: Moderately uniform tension; slight lug adjustments affect neighboring areas predictably, though subtle complexity remains.

Single-Flanged Hoops (with Claws):

• Playability: Maximum flexibility, softest feel, most responsive.
• Tone: Exceptionally open and resonant; highly ringy with vibrant overtones.
• Complexity: Highest harmonic complexity; allows drumhead nuances and nonuniformities to flourish.
• Tuning: Least uniform hold-down pressure, easy intentional detuning, highly localized lug interaction creating unique tonal colors and variations.

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Summary Table

Attribute	1.6mm TF Hoop	2.3mm TF Hoop	Die-Cast Hoop	Wood Hoop	S-Hoop	Single-Flange Hoop
Playability & Feel	Soft & responsive	Balanced	Firm & precise	Warm, forgiving	Balanced rigidity	Extremely flexible
Resonance & Ringiness	Very high	Medium-high	Low	Warm, medium-low	Medium, controlled	Highest resonance
Tonal Complexity	High complexity	Balanced	Low complexity	Warm complexity	Moderate, warm	Maximum complexity
Head Hold-Down	Moderate	Good	Excellent	Good	Good	Low, uneven
Tuning & Lug Interaction	Highly localized	Moderately local	Uniform, predictable	Even, moderate	Moderate uniformity	Highly localized

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Conclusion

• Lighter (1.6mm, single-flange) hoops enhance subtlety, openness, complexity, and nuanced responsiveness, ideal for players valuing intricate overtones, tonal complexity, and personalized drum tuning behaviors.
• Medium thickness (2.3mm, S-hoops) provide versatile, balanced performance suitable for diverse musical applications, striking a compromise between resonance, control, complexity, and rigidity.
• Heavier (die-cast) hoops offer superior tuning stability, focus, projection, and tonal predictability at the expense of resonance complexity and subtle overtone nuances, favored for heavier genres, precision tuning, and clarity-driven playing styles.

Drummers prioritizing intricate, non-uniform resonance patterns and tuning subtleties benefit significantly from thinner, flexible hoops, whereas stability-oriented, clear, uniform tonal responses favor heavier, more rigid hoop choices.

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Further Reading:

• Drum Hoops Comparison (Drum Magazine)
• Hoops and Tuning Interaction (Modern Drummer)