The Stealth Line
The Stealth line looks like a conventional snare drum — and it can be used as one.
At the same time, it gives you the option to turn it into a free-floating snare. The prototype shown here uses the Stealth tube lugs: modified, centre-based lugs that allow the drum to function either as a traditional lug-mounted snare or as a floating system.
This flexibility also makes it an effective way to improve tuning. In a floating system, the tension from the lugs is shared between the hoop and both heads. This naturally reduces many of the overtones that make a snare sound unstable, out of tune, or simply unpleasant.
With the Stealth series, the hardware is mounted to the shell, just like a conventional snare, but by using centre-based tube lugs, the amount of metal touching the shell is kept to an absolute minimum.
Simplifying the Sound
One way to simplify that complexity is to allow air inside the shell to move freely. Unobstructed airflow helps the drum speak more clearly and reduces competing frequencies.
Because the stave shells used here are relatively thick, the fixing bolts for the hardware can be countersunk. This means nothing protrudes into the inside of the shell. The interior remains smooth and uninterrupted, allowing the drum to resonate more naturally.
The converted tube lugs can also be fitted to your own snare, giving you the option to turn it into a floating system without significantly changing its appearance.
One Lug, Two Modes
On the left, you see a standard tube lug as found on many drums. A small grub screw at the base secures the lug, sharing the same hole as the main fixing bolt.
On the right, that grub screw has been relocated to the outside of the base.
This small change makes a big difference. With a simple turn of a key, you can choose whether your snare or tom functions as a conventional drum or as a free-floating one.
Same look. Same drum. A different way of letting it sound.
Easy tune lugs for perfect pitch
I produce the ‘easy tune’ single-point tube lugs in-house for the Stealth Line snares to lower the cost of production. This keeps the price of the premium Z Drums snares down. But you can order them for your snare too, for a major upgrade that will greatly improve the sound of your snare.
Keep it light weight.
On the right you see the aluminium version of the easy-tune tube lugs by Z Drums. The reduction of weight compared to factory made lugs are significant. Just by reducing the weigh of hardware attached to your snare will greatly improve the sound and playabillity of it, order yours now!
Please contact me if you have any questions or requests.
