Pearl Piccolo Brass opinions.

[BattleArmor]

Has anyone had any expieriance with this snare?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-B1330-Brass-Piccolo-Snare-Drum-103383899-i1140388.gc

I played it today and liked it, but if I can get something else around the same price that would be better I would get that.

Any opinions on the snare? Worth the price?

Thanks.

[Drumsword]

I'd check e-bay, etc first amd maybe get one used or even a new one cheaper, but that's a good snare for the money.

[BattleArmor]

Of course I will try to get used. I needed to know what you guys thought first. Any more opinions?

[Wavelength]

One of the kits I use to teach has this snare drum. The heads are naturally beaten to death and the snares are getting tired, but it does sound nice and snappy. I haven't tried to tune it into other pitches, but it works pretty well cranked high.

[BattleArmor]

What do you guys think about a steel piccolo? Would you use a brass or steel for a piccolo snare drum?
I am not asking what is better, I am just asking what would you use.
Thanks

[Drumsword]

What do you guys think about a steel piccolo? Would you use a brass or steel for a piccolo snare drum?
I am not asking what is better, I am just asking what would you use.
Thanks


My personal preference in a metal snare is copper, I use a 4X14 which has an awesome sound but if it's brass or steel, Brass all the way.

[sticksnstonesrus]

I owned and sold that exact snare in the Brass flavor. I couldn't say whether or not the steel is better but this snare is a good snare for both main and alternate snare function. Snappy when you want it to be, sounds good in a loose envionment as well. Hyper-sensetive and touchy both wound up and loose. Loud if you rimshot it...especially strapped with a high-tension head.

I believe I paid about $140 new and felt it was definitely worth it. I recorded it a couple times and wasn't disappointed.

If you got to test run it in the store, did you take a key with you? You should be allowed to adjust it and see the tuning parameters..especially if your serious about buying.

[Wavelength]

What do you guys think about a steel piccolo? Would you use a brass or steel for a piccolo snare drum? I am not asking what is better, I am just asking what would you use.

I just bought a Yamaha brass piccolo, so brass is what I'd use. Like I stated in another thread, I've never really liked steel snares.

[BattleArmor]

I found the brass snare on ebay for 90, I think I will pick that up. Thanks for the opinions guys.

[RobertM]

I just bought a Yamaha brass piccolo, so brass is what I'd use. Like I stated in another thread, I've never really liked steel snares.

Wavelength, did you get the 4x14 Yamaha brass with nouveau lugs, or did you find an older model with stationary lugs?

Let me know how you like the snare--I'm seriously considering getting a Yamaha brass piccolo.

[BattleArmor]

I just bought a Yamaha brass piccolo, so brass is what I'd use. Like I stated in another thread, I've never really liked steel snares.

I have heard alot of good things about Yamaha brass piccolo's. Do you think I should save and purchase one? Or is the Pearl pretty good?

[RobertM]

I think the Yamaha brass 4x14 is a bit of a higher quality drum than the standard Pearl brass. I've owned the 3x13 Pearl steel snare, and it has held up excellently over the years and is a good little snare, but the Yamaha's have a few more cooler features (e.g., detachable strainers, the removable lugs, if you like that, etc.). I've never played the Pearl brass 3x13, just the steel one: the drum is solid, but brass is probably a more universal, "workhorse" shell for all musical situations. The steel shells tend to be louder and resonate more.

Also, note the size difference: Pearl's brass piccolo is 3x13; Yamaha's is 4x14 and only comes in the nouveau lug option. The Yamaha is available for $299 to $325, from the Web research I've done in the past. It is more than the Pearl, but the head size is different and the Yamaha has more features.

I think the Pearl piccolo that's on even level with the Yamaha brass piccolo is the Pearl Free Floating brass snare, 3x14. I've heard of a lot of players say they like the FF snares and the brass one in particular. The Pearl FF brass piccolo should be about the same cost as the Yamaha ($289-$320).

Snare drums are an obviously a key ingredient to the drum set and a huge part of anyone's sound. Personally, I would vote for investing in a nicer snare that you really like the sound of, etc., for it is something you'll probably have with you for quite some time.

If you do go with either the Yamaha 4x14 or Pearl FF 3x14, let us know what you think!

By the way, you can check ebay for old, discontinued Yamaha brass piccolos--those are 3.5x14 or 3x14 in size and have standard, stationary lugs. The closest current model Yamaha brass piccolo you will find now that mimics the old Yamaha brass piccolo is the Yamaha David Garibaldi Signature 3.5x14 brass snare: blue finish, die-cast hoops, stationary lugs, at $440.

[Wavelength]

Wavelength, did you get the 4x14 Yamaha brass with nouveau lugs, or did you find an older model with stationary lugs?

Let me know how you like the snare--I'm seriously considering getting a Yamaha brass piccolo.

I have heard alot of good things about Yamaha brass piccolo's. Do you think I should save and purchase one? Or is the Pearl pretty good?

Yep, it's the 14x4 with nouveau lugs, and that thing is a fricking beast! Its sound and playing feel are extremely solid in all tunings, and its bottom end is quite phenomenal. Even though it's a shallow drum built for serious crankin' 'n' crackin', it works very well in medium-low tunings as well. It's always sensitive yet controlled... what a great drum! You should definitely get one of them if you can afford it. I got mine second hand for a bit over $200.

Like I said, I haven't really experimented with the Pearl or A/Bd the snares side by side, but I have a hunch it doesn't perform quite as well as the Yammie.

[RobertM]

Yep, it's the 14x4 with nouveau lugs, and that thing is a fricking beast! Its sound and playing feel are extremely solid in all tunings, and its bottom end is quite phenomenal. Even though it's a shallow drum built for serious crankin' 'n' crackin', it works very well in medium-low tunings as well. It's always sensitive yet controlled... what a great drum! You should definitely get one of them if you can afford it. I got mine second hand for a bit over $200.

Like I said, I haven't really experimented with the Pearl or A/Bd the snares side by side, but I have a hunch it doesn't perform quite as well as the Yammie.

Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll have to grab the Yamaha, then, as a holiday gift.

[timmdrum]

I found the brass snare on ebay for 90, I think I will pick that up. Thanks for the opinions guys.

Used, right? If you haven't already bought it, I have the exact model and decided months ago to sell it, but I've just been too lazy/busy to put it on eBay. I'll match the price if you're willing to help out a fellow DWforum member! :D I'll take some pics if you want, 'cause even if you pass, I'd need them for eBay anyway.

I love the drum. It sounds fantastic, exactly like Chad Sexton's sound on the first 3 or 4 311 albums and like Matt Chamberlain's in the video for Pearl Jam's song "Alive". I used it extensively in a reggae band I played in a while back, thinking of 311's rock/reggae/funk sound, but didn't realize that cutting through the distortion din was likely why he used a piccolo, so it didn't really work for me in a traditional reggae setting and I switched to a more "regular" size. I've been hanging on to it, in case I ended up playing funk/r&b, esp. if it had a hip-hop slant to it, but I haven't fell into that situation and don't see one on the horizon. I also considered using it as an aux snare but I think the natural range of the drum would be too close to my 6x14 Ahead brass (and my 6x10 Mapex steel is too high and (surprisingly) lacks volume, so I think I need a 12, but I digress...) Plus, times are tight, and I need some Christmas gift money, so, "something's gotta give"... Send me a PM here or email me at timmdrum@hotmail.com if you're interested. It's got a Remo clear Amb. snare side & Renaissance Emporer batter, & if you prefer a single-ply batter I can replace it with a brand-new Evans J1. (I'd rather send you that one since I prefer double-ply snare batters, but I'll send whichever one you want. I'll keep the other in case I pick up another [deeper shell] 13" in the future.)

[BattleArmor]

I think I am going to wait it out, and try to get a Yamaha. I have been recommended this snare too many times, so I figure its time to pick one up. I won't be able to get it for Christmas, because my family doesn't have that kind of money. But I will set a side some money every month, and hopefully have it used in the next few months. For now, I will just keep lurching around on ebay for one.

Thannks for all the opinions guys.

[KalashnikoV]

If for any reason (presumably price) you decide against saving for the Yammie and favor the Pearl you originally asked about instead, you can get it for $35 less at Steve Weiss Music (http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/26552/metal-snare-drums) (given, because GC has free shipping and a 10% discount right now for the weekend of Black Friday, the prices actually come out to be almost exactly the same.) I'm getting the Pearl this Christmas because I like it and can afford it (and because I have a lot of other upgrading on my drumset to do with the rest of my money.)