Sfzdrummer, unless you're planning on actually playing in a pipe band, I wouldn't get too hung up on the MTS option. It's more of a novelty than something you'd use with any regularity. If you play with a lot of power, you'll find that using the top snares is very uncomfortable on the ears (how often do you see pipe drummers high-sticking with rim shots?!? Not often, cause they'd end up deaf!).

I almost NEVER use the top snares on my SFZ/MTS.

o0o0o0o o.k thanks

I know this is a little late but for future reference...the easiest way I have seen to make a top snare system is this:

take 2 toothbrushes and cut off the handles, leaving the head with the brushes...remove the brushes leaving the holes open. Take the tennis string Hulka mentioned and weave it through the open holes until you have the desired "snare gut" and then tie off the end and melt it so the knot isnt huge and the string wont unravel. Make sure the length is barely over the diameter of the hoop. Then put your drumhead on top of that and put the rim back on....when you tighten the head, it will tighten the "snare gut" helping to create the desired sound.

how does the tightened tennis string affect your head and/or shell? Does it do any damage?

well, the mechanism will not effect the shell any because it stretches to where the brush is under the outer lip of the rim...so basically it just sits under the rim, against the shell.

When I saw this done it did have an effect on the heads. Down the center of the head where the "guts" were...you could see the lines of the "guts" in the head itself. So, it basically it marked its location. However, when we detuned the drum...the line disappeared.

Well can you tell a big different in the sound in the drum if so what do it sound like . do it sound louder . is it a clean high pitch sound . are what

it makes the drum higher pitched....like an mts system would do

The high pitch comes not from the top snare unit. That high pitch comes from using a very whippy light stick. If you use a pipe stick on a regular marching snare the same High pitch is acheived. And yes I have seen grade 1 pipe band drumlines high stick and do rim shots. I would not suggest buying anything from premeire. Their customer support is the worst in the industry. Also most dealer do not like serviceing these drums because it is hard to find the part numbers for replacement parts and deal with premeire.