A snare will sound like that if you didn't turn the wires on. (Lever on/up position) Or the snare wires may be adjusted too loose to start with. Turn screw to tighten wires, but not too tight. Just a little, turn wires on and try it. Repeat the process if needed. Also check the tension of the bottom snare head. Make sure the bottom head and the wires aren't too tight. That will choke the action of the wires, will sound like your hitting a box. Remove the tom, hit the snare. You need to determine if the problem is with the snare or the tom. 

Tightening the head worked.  Thanks.
I appreciate your suggestions.  The snare was fine on its own and I had already tightened the thing more that usual but this time it needed even more.  Much more that any of the other heads I have used.

Jen

I have never been a great drum tuner (even though I've been at this game for 30+ years).  Sympathetic vibrations are the bane of my existence. Tral and error, re-tune, de-tune, sigh.