Hello ya'll, I'm new to this here forum.  I tour full time and have been doing so for almost 3 years.  My inexperience with equipment may "shock" you, but hey, if I didn't ask questions, then I wouldn't have gotten anywhere in the first place, right?

I play a dw collectors snare drum.  It's 6 inch's deep.  It's loud as hell.  I have learned to play softer and atempting to have great feel while playing soft.  But I want the rim shot sound and no matter how lightly you play a rimshot on this baby, it cracks like thunder.  Which for a rock situation would be great.  I'm not in a rock situation, I need something much more quiet.

So my guess would be that it is the depth of the snare that is killing me....as well as the thickness, which is 10ply with 6ply reinforcement hoops.

Has anyone had a similar situation and does anyone have any suggestions for me to try?  I'm ready to buy a new snare drum for softer situations, so if you have ideas on types of snare drums that would be softer, let me know.

I have tried dampening the drum, which is fine, but I like the full rich tone of the drum to sing through in most cases.

Thanks for any help,
Charles

When you say this, do you mean a "rim shot" like in marching band, or a "rim click" like in a country tune?  lol...two completely  different methods, just wanna clear that up.  

Actually, I think the best way to isolate all of your drum sounds is to get behind plexiglass, but make sure you have all your drums and cymbals miked properly, have a good sound man and most importantly (this ones for you Batrman!) WEAR EAR PROTECTION!!!  

Yeah, I see where you're coming from charbull.  You're one of the lucky ones, to be able to play in the situation you are.  Maybe if you incorporate what felix had to contribute and what you already have, it'll work out for you.  Good luck!!  

True Nullify, but why make your snare look like crap when they make drumheads that have the same effect?  Didn't mean to sound like a "richard cranium" there.