Snare depth preference

[bermuda]

Another informal poll...

What depth is your "go to" snare, and why?

Assuming it's a 14" diameter:

Shallower than 4"
4"
4½"
5"
5½"
6"
6½"
7"
8"
Deeper than 8"

Thanks,

Bermuda

[beatsMcGee]

mine is a standard 4'' but if i had the preference id get a 6 or 7 deep.. just waiting on that $$$ tree to ripen

[MetalThrasher442]

Definitely 6.5 or 7 on a steel shell or any metal shell. A 14x8 on a maple shell. For my style and the way I have tuned my drums. I would go with a 14x6.5 or 14x7 metal shell anyday. For an accessory snare I like 12x5 wood shell (preferably maple).

[Stu_Strib]

Call me boring.

14x5.5 has never been a bad thing for me....

[Fat Elvis]

14 x 5. Beautiful sound... perfect.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

I'm using a 5.5" stock snare right now. It's good, but I'd like it a little shallower, maybe 5". If I had to choose though I'd like to try the Yamaha Musashi Oak. 13x6.5". That depth and diameter sounds like a great combination.

[syaoran05]

5. shallow enough for it not to be a piccolo.

[TopCat]

14 x 5, 13 x 6 and some 14 x 6

[KLittle123]

I guess my snare is in the "Shallower than 4' " category, but I want a deep one like a 6.5, just don't have the money.

[Raymond Bloom]

I prefear shallower snare drums like:
14''x4'' or 14''x5'' but if I want (or in a situation where I need) an all around versatile snare drum I go for 14''x5,5''

[Steady Freddy]

In the 14 inch I like 6.5s. They have lots of body and a nice rich tone. My two favorites are a DW Edge and a DW Craviotto. The later being set up with die cast hoops and a Trick strainer.

That said, I tend to play a 13 x 5.5 quite a bit. Also a DW Craviotto and set up with a Trick strainer. The rim shots really sing out.

Most of my snares have Evans Genera Dry heads and 300s on the snare side.

[gmrakich]

If I could only pick one of my snares to save from a fire, it would be my 14x5 1/2 solid white ash Pork Pie. It tunes up, it tunes down, it will play soft or remove the marrow from your spine. I have had it for 10 years.

[Drums558]

My 14 X 5.5 DW Collectors series, it always sounds good to my ear and my band mates ears.
I like my Yamaha Garibaldi snare, I think it's a 4" depth, but the sound gets old if I use it all the time.
I luv the sound of my Noble Cooly snare, it's a 6.5 depth with a kevlar batter and hazy bottom. This one ROCKS, but NOBODY else likes it and it really isn't good outside of heavy rock.
Mike

[masonni]

I always liked 6.5" depth.

But it depends on the gig. For jazz, blues, and most studio work I used a Black Chrome over Brass 5.5" x 14". But for the rock/punk/metal gigs I use a thick 6.5" x 14" steel shell. It's thicker than the Lars signature snare, and is around 40 LBS.!!!

[Chunkaway]

I love my Gretsch Custom 6.5X14. It has lots of warmth and body but it still provides a heck of a punch. Other than that, I would go with a 5.5X14, simply because it seems if I go any smaller than that, I lose the body that I like so much.

[hauk]

how much does depth affect sensitivity? for example, 5 vs 6" deep - will 5" be noticeably more sensitive?

[MetalThrasher442]

how much does depth affect sensitivity? for example, 5 vs 6" deep - will 5" be noticeably more sensitive?

I think so. I mean why else would they make different sizes?

Yeah so anyway my main wood snares are 14x8 bubinga and 14x8 g maple. My main metal snare is 14x6.5. I always thought those were the best sounding sizes to my metal ears.

[Josh is a cult]

i have a 6.5 inch deep brass snare I want a 7 or 8

[Jay.B.]

I have a 14 x 3.5 FFS, which is a step in the larger direction to my previous snare at 13 x 3.

would like to try a slightly deeper shell of maple or mahogony in it at some point.

[bermuda]

Thanks for everyone's input! I know it's unfair to ask musician's to pick one favorite drum, cymbal, head, etc. and I usually chastise others for trying to seek a single answer on something like that. However I was able to get some excellent insight on snare depths, and there's a clear leaning here (and on other forums) for the 5, 5.5 and 6.5" depths, with the 6.5 being in the lead as much as 2-to-1 over the others combined.

My preference? Lately, it's been the 6.5" as well.

Thanks again,

Bermuda

[cjl71178]

Most of my 14" snares are in the 6-6-1/2" depth; I've had a few 5" depth's but I could never get a decent sound of them. The one snare that amazed me was a 5x13" Yamaha Dave Weckl snare that I used to own...that sounded great. I also currently own a 5x12" Pearl Firecracker wood snare that sounds better than some of my regular snares!

The next snare I'm getting is a 14"....either by 7" or 8" deep snare. Anyone selling any? :)

[d.c.drummer]

Definatly loving my 6" deep. Nice pop and body. I want a 6.5x13 maple soooo bad though.

[Ekim]

How do you guys with really deep snares like them? I'm talking 7 inches or deeper. In general, do you lose sensitivity? Gain tone? What?

[TopCat]

How do you guys with really deep snares like them? I'm talking 7 inches or deeper. In general, do you lose sensitivity? Gain tone? What?
I've just got my 14 x 7 PorkPie Solid shell and its incredibly sensitive. It's awesome. Normally i wouldn't go for something so deep..but this is amazing.

[cdrums21]

I go between 6 1/2x14 live and 5x14 studio, both Ludwig supraphonics. The 6 1/2 just has a bit more balls than the 5" does. The 5" is great though and I've used it live as well, but lately it's been the deeper one live.

[mind_drummer]

My next snare will probably be 14x8 or 13x7, I'd really like to get myself a deeper snare. I actually own snares with 3" - 5.5" - 6.5" depth.

[Stewed]

How do you guys with really deep snares like them? I'm talking 7 inches or deeper. In general, do you lose sensitivity? Gain tone? What?

Premier Brass 14 X 9 here...

Not really any loss of sensitivity. Tunes up to a really sharp crack. Tunes down to a nice fat resonant but not ringy whack.

[PdoubleE]

I'm using a 5.5" stock snare right now. It's good, but I'd like it a little shallower, maybe 5". If I had to choose though I'd like to try the Yamaha Musashi Oak. 13x6.5". That depth and diameter sounds like a great combination.

I own the 13 x 6.5 musashi and it by far the Best snare for under 200$.. I would recoment it for Any genre or style. It serioulsy a sick snare. Its Very loud.. but also Very sensitive. U can tune it really tight and it sounds like a piccolo.. Very versitile.. Very awsome snare.
Plus i like how the Oak sounds.. more like a metal snare.. Very bright but its still warm like a wood snare. My next snare is gona be a 14 x 8.. Hopefully maple. If i had the money i would get a bell brass(b20 bronze) snare.. But they are SOOOO expencive...

[Wegadrummer]

14 x 5. Beautiful sound... perfect.

yep.. Perfect for me.. but 5 1/2 aint bad either..

[TitanSound]

14x6.5 for me! I love the meaty sound from a bigger depth snare.

I also have a 13x3 though and cannot say a bad word about it...all depends on the situation you use the snare in I suppose.

[2sticks4strings]

I am actually looking for a new snare so I have been trying a few out. I seem to go for the deeper snares, 6.5 or 7 but I really want to try the Vinnie Paul snare. Anyone tried one yet? I have checked every store around and noone carries it in stock and if I order it thats it I own it even if I dont like it. Or is there any other suggestions on what to check out, I play metal and hard rock.

[Deathmetalconga]

I have a 13 x 4 snare, solid shell Cooktown Ironwood by Spirit Drums (www.spiritdrums.com).

Everyone is so hung up on the "mine is bigger than yours" thing. This drum produces ear-impaling rimshots, yet is delicate and responsive enough to sound the snare if you blow on the batter head. Depending on the materials and construction, a smaller drum can blow away a larger one.

One question: There are piccolo snares and mezzo snares, but how come no bass snares, 15 inches or bigger? It seems like such an obvious direction in which to take the snare, but I've never heard of such a thing.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

i'm playing a 14x6 pork pie, and for my next snare i want to be 5" deep. just to see.

and i want it to be wood (the pork pie is acrylic). so my next snare will be quite a bit

different from my current

[Ekim]

How do you guys with really deep snares like them? I'm talking 7 inches or deeper. In general, do you lose sensitivity? Gain tone? What?

Well I was asking because I was bidding on that Evil Auction site (# 300005860001 for pics) for a 8x14 Tama SuperStar Snare that matched the rest of my vintage 80's Cherry Wine kit.

It's on the way, will finish my 10 piece set and I can't wait to check it out!! Though I'm thinking I might still keep an eye out for a more shallow matching snare later on.

[Cymbalrider]

Go for the field snares...actually aren't bad for jazz stuff.

[Skitch]

I am using a 5 x 14 Aluminum DW collectors' right now and enjoy it immensley. Along time ago, I had a Ludwig 6-1/2x14" wood snare drum with die cast hoops and wish that I still had it! It had the P-87 throw-off with butt where you could fine tune each snare strand. I used both gut and metal snares on it. I would just like to hear this one again! The one thing that I had noticed some time ago is that going from a piccolo type of drum to a 6-1/2, is that it seemed like the deeper drum was making me work harder.


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

[Rockingfreakapotamus]

This sounds insane, but i found an old tom shell thats 12" by 10" and im converting it into an Aux snare, just for giggles.

No idea how its going to sound, but i think it will be quite loud, because of the 1" vents in it and the 10" depth.

Come to think of it, i've never heard of a shell deeper than 8". Anyone else?

Im making a project of it, and doing it right, putting snare beds in and readjusting the bearing edge, new heads, strainer etc. The works basically.

When its done i will be posting some pictures.

:D

[Deathmetalconga]

I have seen many tom shells that I thought would make great snare shells. I think it's a neat idea.

[tomtom]

One question: There are piccolo snares and mezzo snares, but how come no bass snares, 15 inches or bigger? It seems like such an obvious direction in which to take the snare, but I've never heard of such a thing.

There are made larger snares today and in the past. Ludwig made 15" snares in the 20´s. Brady is offering 16" snares and snare bass drums (bass drums with snare mechanism), Dunnet makes 15" snares, TAMA makes a 15" snare, DW is offering a "ballad snare" I think it´s 16x10 and comes with floor tom legs.

[Legacyrik]

I have a 13 x 4 snare, solid shell Cooktown Ironwood by Spirit Drums (www.spiritdrums.com).

Everyone is so hung up on the "mine is bigger than yours" thing. This drum produces ear-impaling rimshots, yet is delicate and responsive enough to sound the snare if you blow on the batter head. Depending on the materials and construction, a smaller drum can blow away a larger one.

One question: There are piccolo snares and mezzo snares, but how come no bass snares, 15 inches or bigger? It seems like such an obvious direction in which to take the snare, but I've never heard of such a thing.

Whoa, you are the deep drums make deep sounds, shallow drums makes shallow sounds guy aren't you;)

I would say at some point, bigger diameter snares would be hare to get between your legs comfortably.

[Deathmetalconga]

Whoa, you are the deep drums make deep sounds, shallow drums makes shallow sounds guy aren't you;)

I would say at some point, bigger diameter snares would be hare to get between your legs comfortably.

HAHA, you noticed. I like deep toms, but shallow snares - the exact opposite of the trend nowdays. I like the crack and focus I get from a 13 by 4 snare and a Powerstroke batter heads gives just a little bit of chalkiness to the sound. Solid shell ironwood gives me plenty of body, although if I had to do it over, I would probably go for the 13 by 6 snare and get a little more body. Someone dug up that post from July 2006.

[-tarek-]

Right now I'm using a 13"x6.5" Yamaha Brass Nouveau which is great, but I'd like to step up to a 14"x7" or even 8", either maple, beech, or a mix of something with walnut or mahogany in it. I have experimenting to do. Then I'd crank the hell out of my Yamaha and keep it off to my left with the snares off for an interesting industrial sound or something.

I like deep snares for the full and rich tone, warm sustain, cracking rimshots with fat bottom end... ahhh I love it! I play with my snares off a good deal, and I really don't like the sound of shallower drums with the snares off. Danney Carey of TOOL is an influence of mine, and his usual snare sounds amazing, especially with the snares off. I think he uses a 14x8 brass, but I'm not entirely sure.

[Guinness]

I have actually grown quite fond of my Pearl Masters African Mahogany in a 14 x 6.5 depth. I also own a Pearl 80's model 14" x 8" maple snare and enjoy it, but it is a little too fat for me. I have played 5.5" in the past and although they CRACK, they don't have enough THACK for me..if you know what I mean.

Goldy Locks and the three bears...she picked up the 6.5" and said, "This one is juuuust right!"

Ha!

[tamadrummer132]

a 12x4 is what i play.

[WYdrummer09]

I have a Pearl Free Floater Melenium Edition Snare. I think it's 14"x3.5".

I love it though it has one hell of a pop.

[tomtom]

The three sizes I use the most:

14x6
13x6.5
14x7

[catchagato]

14"x4" or a 14"x5"....The 5" depth is shallow enough for a nice pop but also deep enough for a big sound.