S-Hoops

User avatar
Rhythmatist
Posts: 220
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:46 pm

S-Hoops

Postby Rhythmatist » Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:19 pm

I'm really loving the S-Hoops I recently added to my SOTA snare. For those unfamiliar, SOTA (State Of The Art Percussion) was a custom drum built in the Chicago area back in the mid 80's. They have a segmented shell of hardwood such as Padauk or Rosewood approx 1/4" thick with vertical reinforcing dowels evenly spaced around the entire circumfrence. Extremely versatile with a very wide tuning range and dynamic range to match (the deeper rosewood drums were considered by some almost too loud when hit hard). For many years I was using a combination of Pearl Super Hoop triple flange on the top with a Ludwig die cast on the bottom of my prized Padauk snare; something I stumbled across when trying different hoop combinations. It worked very well until...

Being the inquisitive gearhead that I am I decided to try the S-Hoop...the drum is slightly drier and a bit more focused tonally. The cross stick sound is killer and rimshots are not as brittle as on a traditional triple flange...and stick shock is almost non existent. I was wondering if anyone else has used S-hoops and if so what kind of results have you had?
User avatar
willyz
Posts: 538
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:10 pm
Location: New York Adjacent

Re: S-Hoops

Postby willyz » Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:00 am

I'm pretty sure Gavin uses them...

Curious, would you say that the hoops "opened up" the drum a bit more?
Got Blushda?
YamahaPlayer
Posts: 537
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:23 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby YamahaPlayer » Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:04 am

Gavin uses em for sure.

I'm still out on even trying them, I'd get one for a snare to give it a whirl I suppose - but that's what a $40 risk on just 1 rim? I'd rather get wood hoops for the price of S-Hoops.

It's the fact they've been out for so long, and most people do not use them that clues me into the product not really being all it's cracked up to be.


I don't see how they can "save" the sticks. Force is still force, and it still has to go somewhere. If it's not being distributed from the stick wearing externally, where is it going? your hands? the drum? internally into the stick?
bstocky
Posts: 374
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:31 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby bstocky » Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:21 am

I tried them on a Ahead snare. I didn't like anything about that drum including the hoops but if they work for you, great. Enjoy them.
jean krupa
Posts: 240
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:45 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby jean krupa » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:35 pm

$ 40 per.....NO Way !!

You must be speculating...

Retail at your local music store should be b/t $13
and $16 each for a 14" 8 or 10 hole.
User avatar
Rhythmatist
Posts: 220
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:46 pm

Re: S-Hoops

Postby Rhythmatist » Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:33 pm

WiilyZ - I wouldn't say "opened up" but rather focused and tamed down some of the harsher overtones I was getting before. It seems to sing a bit more. Most important to me in the situations I have found myself in is that I can get a nice round tone at a much lower volume when needed while still getting all the balls I need when I have to hit hard.

AFA wood hoops go I have played a couple and didn't care for them playing-wise...different strokes I guess. I love the sound from the audience perspective of some I've heard though. Anton Fig's sound great even through TV speakers.

The aspect of saving sticks comes from the fact that you're hitting a flat as opposed to a ridged surface. More accurately, I think it just takes a bit longer to get a hickory stick to begin to fray on them. The shock definitely is not going to my hands...way less than the triple flange. I did a hard-hitting gig last week and had no problem in that department at all.

Yes, closer to $40 for the pair. I don't remember the exact final cost as I picked up a couple other items at the time. During my research I found them to be maybe $3-8 more than a triple flange. They aren't all that cost prohibitive or I wouldn't have gone there without trying somewhere first. I was going to replace the hoops no matter what as the Pearl Super-Hoop I had was pitting and beginning to rust in spots.

One thing for certain is that the drum is significantly lighter. The Ludwig Die Cast was a heavy SOB and I don't miss lugging that extra weight.

The one negative I've had is the lower profile. It has taken a while to get used to
YamahaPlayer
Posts: 537
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:23 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby YamahaPlayer » Sat Nov 20, 2010 8:44 am

jean krupa - they are $20 on drummaker, so figure $25+ in a retail store. The $40 was a bit high for sure, but still.

I was thinking about it, and I should clarify my previous statement. I bet they work great for a specific number of people - because every persons rimshot is slightly different, from angle of attack, etc that they would apply to a particular group of people who strike the drum within some given parameters.

Rhythmatist - As far as weight goes, you gotta check out the Yamaha Aluminum rims, they kill everything on the weight. Even lighter then S-Hoops.
bstocky
Posts: 374
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:31 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby bstocky » Sat Nov 20, 2010 1:12 pm

The aluminum Yamaha hoops are awesome. I couldn't believe how light my 16" MCA Nouveau tom was when I picked it up. Yet, another reason to like Yamaha.
Flamaque
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:34 pm

Re: S-Hoops

Postby Flamaque » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:21 pm

My drummaker turned me on to them and I really like them. I've had the whole gamut of rim styles and these feel real nice.
In my band, I rimshot about 80% of the performance and these rims take a bounding and sound great.

All my snares are 13" (various depths) and are maple. The S hoops too me, give a slightly fatter rimshot but it still cuts through without any problems.
Also, since it is a flatter surface it does save your sticks a bit.

I don't use them on the toms because clip on mics won't work with these rims.

But I highly recommend going out and buying a top rim for your snare and give it a try.

Thanks for listening.
perksworks
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:39 am

Re: S-Hoops

Postby perksworks » Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:56 am

I've been using S-Hoops on the tops and bottoms of my toms for a couple of months now. I went to these from die cast hoops and they opened up the sound of the drums about a country mile. I highly recommend checking them out. All of the positives that have been mentioned above are very true in my experience. Especially the part about them "focusing" the sound of the drums while at the same time getting much more output per stroke. I definitely am getting a much bigger sound with these.

Return to “Drumming Chat”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests