Snare drum blind test

[tomtom]

Here is a recording from 4 different snare drums. The recording was made with a Zoom H4 recorder. If you listen closely you will hear a voice before each drum saying it´s number (1,2,3 or 4).

There are 3 sections; first I play all drums with snares off. Second; the drums are struck dead center 4 times with 4 rimshots to follow. Last section is a short solo on each drum.

I will not give away the correct order of the drums but the drums played are; Tama Bill Bruford signature 6x14", 1970´s Ludwig Black Beauty super sensitive 6.5x14", Sonor 2005 (Birch) 5.5x14", 1920´s Ludwig & Ludwig NOB, 2 piece heavy brass 6.5x14".

So, wanna guess which drum is which? Also, I´m interested to know what drum sounds the best to your ears?

[TheGroceryman]

Hate to say it, but i really didnt LOVE any of them. I actually hated the sound of the third one, was that the 1920s snare?

If i had to choose one i disliked the least, it'd be the first. I hope its the black beauty.

what were the heads/tuning?

[Steady Freddy]

I like the sound of # 4. Is that the BB?

[Kothlow]

I agree, #4 sounded the best. I'm saying it sounded like a birch snare. Maybe I'm way off, but it has a wood sound.

[Nodiggie]

Well, there you have it. All these years of not using ear plugs has toasted my ear drums. They all sound too similar for me to honestly say they are 4 different snare drums. The only differences I can hear are dynamics on the rim shots. they sound the same to me. lol

HUH?

[HeadRush]

I think 4 is definitely the beauty?
maybe 2 is the birch
and I think 3 is the other ludwig

they all sound very similar because of the similar thicknesses

[slingerlandfreak]

I agree with nodiggie, sounds are very similar, i can remember different tunning on one snare 2. or 3.,, but however nice snare work, thanks

[Cypriss]

No.1 Tama No.2 the birch sonor no.3 1920's Nob ludwig no.4 the BB.
Know Am i right!am i right?! =I love threads like this.Thanks tomtom.

[HeadRush]

dang now I wanna know what they really were
haha

[genericdrummingusername]

I think 3 is the Bruford.

[jer]

Number 2 sounded closest to the sound I'd be going for.

I have to wonder how much snare buzz you are getting from the other snares (sounded like you engaged them all at once), and how much that interferes with individual qualities of each drum.

I have no guesses as to which is which, but thanks putting this together!

[KarlCrafton]

Nice work.

I liked all of them.

They are tuned pretty similar, so it seems to me (and this is true of the snares I have as well) that if you "have a sound in your head" that you like, you can pretty much get it, give or take a bit, on any good quality snare drum.

With the same heads and wires, the differences are going to be in the character (a little darker, a little brighter..) of the shell and not the total overall sound.

I have a few BB's in 6.5 (2 brass, 1 bronze), and I really liked the Bruford snare when I played them in the shop--they looked cool too.

...too many snares, not enough $$$....

Nice work again.
Post the drum names for S&G sometime soon.

[tomtom]

OK, I´ll give it away....

1. 70´s Black Beauty
2. Tama Bill Bruford
3. Sonor 2005
4. 20´s Ludwig

[tomtom]

No.1 Tama No.2 the birch sonor no.3 1920's Nob ludwig no.4 the BB.
Know Am i right!am i right?! =I love threads like this.Thanks tomtom.

Woops! Better luck next time LOL! ;=)

Thanks for guessing

[TheGroceryman]

OK, I´ll give it away....

1. 70´s Black Beauty
2. Tama Bill Bruford
3. Sonor 2005
4. 20´s Ludwig

wooo i got the BB right.

man that sonor is soooooo NOT my sound.

[HeadRush]

wow
I was not right on a single one
haha