Big Fat Snare Drum Pad

93
WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM OCTOBER 2016 |
T
he Big Fat Snare Drum company is
a US-based fi rm who design and
manufacture a range of snare
enhancing products. They claim
their Big Fat Snare Drum Pad will improve the
sound of any standard snare, transforming it
into something much beefi er – the “highly
sought-after” snare sound of the ’70s.
Build
Here we have the ‘Original’ Big Fat Snare
Drum Pad and aptly named Snare-Bourine.
Both models have a 14" diameter and are
made from a smooth plastic with an opaque
white fi nish. The plastic fi lm is around twice as
thick as a standard drum head, featuring an
extra black band (approx. 25mm wide),
running around the entire perimeter. To the
edge is a single, thumbsized cut-out (together
with a piece of raised rubber), designed as a
‘grab’, allowing the player to quickly and
conveniently lift the pad away from the drum
for an immediate change in sound.
The only difference between the original
BFSD and the Snare-Bourine, is the latter
has two sets of tambourine-type chimes
From £26 A brace of circular plastic discs designed to give any
snare an instantaneous bottom-end boost
BIG FAT SNARE
DRUM B IG FAT
SNARE DRUM PAD
WORDS: DAVE HOLMES
attached by rivets. These are positioned
towards the outer edge of the pad and said
to give the same effect as the ‘original’ but
with a little extra ‘click’ upon each strike.
There are also ‘Doughnut’ versions of both
pads – a similar basic design but with a
centre section removed to allow the stick
tips to make contact with the head while
maintaining some of the BFSD ‘thickening’.
Hands On
To test the BFSD discs I have two snares
lined up; a 14"x5" maple and a 14"x6½"
brass shelled model. While both are fi tted
with Evans ‘dry’ heads, the maple is tuned to
a relatively high pitch, whereas the brass is
both physically and tonally deeper.
Placing either snare pad in position is
ultra-rapid – simply throw it on and they are
ready to rock’n’roll. When striking either of
the snares using medium to hard strokes,
the sound is impressively fat, instantly drum
changing – as if we have put an entirely
different pair of snares into the basket!
With either disc in position, the pitch and
tone of the drum are effectively lowered and
PRICE
14" Big Fat Snare Drum
‘Original’, £26; 14"
Snare-Bourine, £35
MATERIAL
Plastic
OPTIONS
AVAILABLE
13" versions of either
pad
NUMBER OF
PLIES
Single with a perimeter
strip
CONTACT
BR Distribution
01207 282806
bigfatsnaredrum.com
Essential spec
RAISED RUBBER
Designed so you
can fl ick the pad
out for an instant
change of sound
the pitch of either snare reduced by around
a whole tone. This fattens up the sound
while removing any possible traces of
overtone – a recording engineer’s dream?
There is little noticeable difference in stick
response or any alteration necessary in
technique when hard hitting. But playing with a
little more fi nesse, the response doesn’t quite
match a standard head. The Snare-Bourine
does help in this regard, adding a touch of
delicacy to the performance. The two plastic
layers tend to reduce the snappy response and
I think this is where the ‘doughnut’ versions
would come into play, satisfying those looking
for just a little compromise.
VERDICT: A snare changing device
without the need to change your snare!
I am sure hard hitters and any fans of
’70s drum sounds will love the sound
produced with the aid of this product.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
RHY260.gear_jhs.indd 93 9/6/16 5:09 PM