I have never given much presentation of my Lite snare, and I think it's time to rectify that. This particular model is the most bare bones of the bunch; ten lug, triple flange chrome rims, with a Throwoff-II strainer mechanism. Built in '84. Curiously, the painted shells were no less expensive than the Karelian birch veneered shells.
The black nitrocellulose lacquer paint has plenty of the oxidation common to lacquer, so it is a bit dull. The chrome on the 3T hoops is in great condition, but the substrates of the upper hoop were never filled or polished, and so it looks as if someone chromed a pebble beach.
The sound is immediate and bright with good sustain, and depending how you tune, fat or crisp, and it has a characteristic when you get it going that sounds like mixing dough in a clay bowl with a wooden spoon, underneath all the surface activity. The snares are as sensitive as the more expensive and bulky, though surely gorgeous, parallel throw. The Aquarian vintage head fattens it out the sound a good deal, and I use the muffler to adjust to the musical purpose.
I thought I'd put together some photos: It's handsome but business-like.
The critter in its element. Surely not attention getting, and I like it like that:
The Throw-off II butt side:
The brains of the strainer:
Batter side hoop. These are extremely beefy, 3mm thick, so there is not really much difference in the way these tune over the die cast, although it does ring like a bell. Rim shots crack! But look at that chrome...
As you can see, the strainer projects from the side of the drum more than standard strainers, but it doesn't have nearly the bulk or weight of the parallel. It's much easier to work around, and it fits, sort of, in standard snare cases. The thickness of the top hoop is clearly shown here:
