DW Collector Series vs Craviotto Unlimited

[Drummerpaul]

I have been looking at a new snare and keep gravitating to either a Craviotto maple shell 5.5 X 14 and a DW maple satin finish collectors series 6 X 14. Could really use some help in making the choice. I can probably get the DW for about $450. The Craviotto is more. I play all types of music from country to pop to rock to gospel. Any comments and advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Mendozart]

I would save up for the Craviotto. It's a much more versatile drum and sounds great.

[rmandelbaum]

You can't go wrong with either, The Craviotto is much more of a collectors item for sure.

I own a few DW snares and love all of them. I am just finishing a custom 12x6 that I built using a Craviotto shell. I can't wait to get heads on it.

[KarlCrafton]

My regular shop is a Craviatto dealer, and they've had a lot of his drums since he made them available.
They're also a long time DW dealer, so I've heard a lot of both brands snares.

The Craviatto would be my choice between the two.

A serious, great sounding instrument.
All the different shell types I've heard sound really great--not to mention the top quality of the workmanship.

DW Collector snares....to be honest, they've never really done anything for me.

They can look really sharp, and are built well, but the sound is kind of "generic" to me---"generic" in this case means a quality sound, but nothing grabs me about it and say's "Man, that snare is great".

JMO, and I confess to not being a huge fan of most wood shell snares.
I do like them--when others play them--but I've come to realize I just like metal shells better.
Craviatto's snares are special though, and to my ears, there's "more" to their sound.

So, being a metal shell snare fan, I'd love to get my hands on the CON metal shell snare myself...and the $2,300 for it haha!

Good luck choosing!

[macmarkus]

go for the craviotto ... it's like mandelbaum said.

personally i use my 10+6 (5" deep) more than my johnny's. ;-)
don't know why.

[caddywumpus]

Why not split the difference and get yourself a DW Craviotto? I found mine on craigslist for $250. It sounds just as good as a Craviotto Unlimited to me. It has so much "character" and "personality", and is extremely versatile.

I got rid of my 10+6 DW Collectors soon after getting the Craviotto. There's just no comparison. No regrets either.

[Mendozart]

Why not split the difference and get yourself a DW Craviotto? I found mine on craigslist for $250. It sounds just as good as a Craviotto Unlimited to me. It has so much "character" and "personality", and is extremely versatile.

I got rid of my 10+6 DW Collectors soon after getting the Craviotto. There's just no comparison. No regrets either.
$250 for a Craviotto? Smoking deal!

[Skitch]

My regular shop is a Craviatto dealer, and they've had a lot of his drums since he made them available.
They're also a long time DW dealer, so I've heard a lot of both brands snares.

The Craviatto would be my choice between the two.

A serious, great sounding instrument.
All the different shell types I've heard sound really great--not to mention the top quality of the workmanship.

DW Collector snares....to be honest, they've never really done anything for me.

They can look really sharp, and are built well, but the sound is kind of "generic" to me---"generic" in this case means a quality sound, but nothing grabs me about it and say's "Man, that snare is great".

JMO, and I confess to not being a huge fan of most wood shell snares.
I do like them--when others play them--but I've come to realize I just like metal shells better.
Craviatto's snares are special though, and to my ears, there's "more" to their sound.

So, being a metal shell snare fan, I'd love to get my hands on the CON metal shell snare myself...and the $2,300 for it haha!

Good luck choosing!

While it is off topic, the aluminum snare by DW is really, really good, if not great. I used mine out on gigs this past friday and Saturday, and I wondered why I hadn’t been using it more often. I think Mendozart has the idea; snag a DW Craviotto off the internet and get the best of both worlds – a Craviotto and save some cash!

Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Les Ismore]

Why not split the difference and get yourself a DW Craviotto?

Bad idea. Johnny used the lesser woods for his DW account, the nicer pieces always get his name and his name only, you can take that to the bank.

[caddywumpus]

Why not split the difference and get yourself a DW Craviotto?

Bad idea. Johnny used the lesser woods for his DW account, the nicer pieces always get his name and his name only, you can take that to the bank.

That's why it's called "splitting the difference". You get a sound that's definitely miles above the Collector's Series, and it's made by the man himself. I can't tell the difference between an Unlimited and a DW/Craviotto, sonically (for good reason...even "lesser" cuts of wood still have the same hardness and density index as their more "choice" counterparts, as long as it's the same species of wood). Appearance-wise, though, you can tell , but only if they're side-by-side. It comes down to a minimal difference for a HUGE jump in price.

DW collector's to DW Craviotto = BIG jump in quality for SMALL price difference
DW Craviotto to Craviotto Unlimited = Small jump in quality for BIG price difference

Above all, though. Go with your OWN eyes and ears. If you like the relative "dryness" of a ply snare, I'd recommend the Collector's.

[Skitch]

I'm thinking of a new snare and I am wondering about the solid shell myself. I am also wondering about the 13" size shell.


Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Steady Freddy]

I'm thinking of a new snare and I am wondering about the solid shell myself. I am also wondering about the 13" size shell.


Mike




Hey Mike,

How ya doing? I'm into 13s. If you can find a 13 X 5 or 5.5 you'll fall in love. Great drum!

[Deathmetalconga]

Hey Mike,

How ya doing? I'm into 13s. If you can find a 13 X 5 or 5.5 you'll fall in love. Great drum!

I play a 13 by 4 solid shell snare. Love it. 13-inch snares definitely give you serious crack.

[zambizzi]

I dunno, I guess I'm warped. I had a Craviotto (DW circa 2000) and I have owned two 10+6 DW snares...one that I have now and play regularly. I like the 10+6 way better and ended up selling the Crav. The Crav. was a great snare...but I definitely didn't play it much after owning it for a few months.

In my (humble and relatively inexperienced) opinion...the ply DW shell is every bit as good, if not better...the rimshots I would say are *much* better....and I like the ring that comes out of the ply shell better than the solid shell had.

I'll be the one dissenting vote, I suppose.... :)

[macmarkus]

for me, the best of both worlds is a 5"x14" dw all-maple (10+6) and a 5,5"x13" dw solid maple (shell stamped with craviotto) together.

the 5,5"x14" dw craviotto (mine is signed by jc from 2001) is pretty good, but if i only can have two ... all a matter of taste, like always.