Post Your Top ten Snare Drums of All-Time

Skitch

Pioneer Member
I don't have alot of experience with different snares and manufacturers, but I can give you my favs from what I've played over the course of my 30+ years of playing.

1. Ludwig 6 1/2 x 14 supra
2. Ludwig 6 1/2 x 14 hammered bronze
3. Ludwig 5 x 14 black beauty
4. Tama 8 x 14 maple
5. Slingerland 6 1/2 x 14 steel

I tried a DW craviotto snare and was disappointed. No balls and it just didn't sound good to my ears. Maybe that's because I was used to metal snares....I don't know. Have played other types of snares on other people's kits, but I never liked them as well as mine that are listed above.
 
I don't have alot of experience with different snares and manufacturers, but I can give you my favs from what I've played over the course of my 30+ years of playing.

1. Ludwig 6 1/2 x 14 supra
2. Ludwig 6 1/2 x 14 hammered bronze
3. Ludwig 5 x 14 black beauty
4. Tama 8 x 14 maple
5. Slingerland 6 1/2 x 14 steel

I tried a DW craviotto snare and was disappointed. No balls and it just didn't sound good to my ears. Maybe that's because I was used to metal snares....I don't know. Have played other types of snares on other people's kits, but I never liked them as well as mine that are listed above.

Yeah, I had that experience as well - the wood didn't sound quite like I thought it should!


www.mikemccraw.com
www.dominoretroplate.com
 
Rogers Dynasonic is my favorite snare drum of all time.just the engineering behind that snare tops any other snare drum out there and they haven't. made them in 20 yrs.

Bonzolead
 
Ah, played so many:

- Sonor Designer 5x14
- Worldmax Blackdawg - 5x14 - EVERYONE should own this amazing, inexpensive drum
- Ayotte 6x13 24 ply woodhoop
- Noble and Cooley 7x14 SS
- Pearl Steve Ferrone Signature
- Rocket Shells 5.5x10
- Yammy David Garibaldi 3.5x14 piccolo



Disappointments?

Craviottos
Keplingers
 
From ones I own:

1. Sonor 8 x 14 HLD Signature Bronze
2. Sonor 4 x 14 HLD Signature Bronze
3. Goetz 6.5 x 14 Custom Purpleheart Segment w/ gold hardware
4. Goetz 7 x 14 Custom Cocobola Segment
5. Sonor 6 x 14 Signature Bronze
6. Ludwig 6.5 x 14 Hammered Bronze
7. Goetz 8 x 14 Custom Tulipwood Segment
8. Goetz 3.5 x 13 Classic 10-ply
9. Goetz 6.5 x 14 Classic 8-ply
10. Goetz 5 x 14 Custom Rosewood Segment

From ones I've played I'd add:

Any Ludwig Supraphonic
Either 1989 Zildjian/Noble & Cooley snare 6.5 x 14 or 4 x 14
Most 20's Ludwig Black Beauty's

There's a few I'd like to try:

A 70lb Pig Iron (I'll probably make my own someday)
One of Crazyhorse's Magnesium Shelled
A Stave shell from Unix

IMO Craviotto's are pretty, but overpriced pieces of bent wood. There are plenty of custom builders doing better work for better prices.
 
Ah, played so many:

- Sonor Designer 5x14
- Worldmax Blackdawg - 5x14 - EVERYONE should own this amazing, inexpensive drum
- Ayotte 6x13 24 ply woodhoop
- Noble and Cooley 7x14 SS
- Pearl Steve Ferrone Signature
- Rocket Shells 5.5x10
- Yammy David Garibaldi 3.5x14 piccolo



Disappointments?

Craviottos
Keplingers

Yeah, I totally forgot about the David Garibaldi model!

Mike

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

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw
 
Ive only been playing for a few years but just upgraded my stock stage custom Yamaha snare to an Elvin Jones Custom Classic and its the absolute bomb. Just incredible craftsmanship all around and an incredible range. I put custom metal rims on them too because I wasnt crazy how the wood sounded (a bit too ringy).
 
Sorry, but I only personally play Ludwig (nothing against anyone else though):

5x14 Supra COB (tube lugs)
6.5x14 Supra Hammered Bronze
5x14 Black Beauty (but traded away for the Hammered Bronze)
5x14 Classic Birch (this is a heck of a drum, and cheap, too!)
6x13 Classic Maple
3x13 Supra Bronze

Others I don't currently own, but love:
Hallelujah Drums Segmented 6.4x14 Bubinga
Pearl Popcorn Snare (I'm looking for the rare Ludwig one)
6.5x14 Supra
5x14 Vistalite

There, that's 10.
 
Favorite snare of all time: 1964 Slingerland Hollywood Ace. You can play it...only after you pry it from my cold, dead hands!

Others worthy of mention that I use on a regular basis:
14"x6.5" 70s Supraphonic
14"x5" DW black nickel over brass
1928 Slingerland Tone Flange (minus the flange)
Pre-serial Ludwig Auditorium
14"x6" custom red oak single-ply snare
12"x4" hammered copper
14"x10" Leedy/Ludwig marching snare

and....er.....um.....

14"x5.5"Craviotto/DW (I know that Craviottos are building up a negative rep on this thread, but I still love mine!)

Plus, my bandmate has a couple of great Rogers drums--a brass Powertone and a wood Powertone--that I get to play on a regular basis. Golden!
 
1.Pearl Bronze 6 x 14 classic style (tube lugs and single flange rims)
2. Pearl free floater with custom walnut stave shell 6.5 x 14 (brass shell that came with it is awesome too)
3. acrolite 5 x 14
4.lars tama 3mm steel 6.5 x 14
5.Mapex Saturn 8" and 5" x 14

I have owned all these and many more most are off ebay +/- $100 my #1 wasis used from GC for $150 ..I'm sure a high $$ Sonor (artist bronze) would top this list or ant other 500+snare
 
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1. Ludwig Black Beauty (1926-1928) 5x14, 10-lug
2. Ludwig Black Beauty (modern era) 6.5x14
3. Craviotto Diamond Series Copper (2009), 6.5x14
4. Slingerland Professional Model (1930-1933), 6.5x14
5. DW Jazz Series (modern era) 6.5x14

If I was left with only these I'd be perfectly happy.

In no particular order, the notables of the last year or two:

Noble & Cooley CD Maple (modern era) 4.5x13
Tama Kenny Aronoff Trackmaster (modern era) 4x15
Longo solid shell walnut (modern era) 5x14
Ludwig Supraphonic (modern era) 5x14
Brady Wandoo Block (modern era) 6.5x14
Craviotto Diamond Series Brass (2008) 5x14
 
From my arsenal, all 14"

Ludwig:
6.5" Black Beauty (new)
6.5" Supra ('63 cob)
6.5" Supra ('80)
5" Acroilite ('65)
6.5" Legacy (new)

Dunnett/Geo. Way:
6.5" Advance (1-ply maple)
5.5" Cocobolo (solid)

Impact:
6" fiberglass

Tempus:
8" carbon-fiber

Tama:
8" Artwood ('80s)

Bermuda
 
I haven't played enough to have 10, but my list would be:

1. Ludwig Supraphonic (70's) 5 x 14
2. Remo Masteredge 12 x 5
3. Pearl Virgil Donati Signature
4. Yamaha Anton Fig signature
5. Pearl Sensitone Elite 6.5 x 14
 
Not quite ten...

  1. Ludwig 5x14bronze supersensitive
  2. Ludwig 6.5x14 hammered bronze supraphonic
  3. Craviotto 6x14 cherry shell
  4. Slingerland 5x14 Nashville era Radio King
  5. Noble and Cooley 7x14 Classic SS maple
  6. Joyful noise 6.5x14 studio bronze
  7. Grover Percussion 10x14 field drum
  8. Joyful Noise 5x14 Nickel over Brass

I've got a few of those. Now I need to start saving to complete this list!
 
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Got to go with the ones I use most:

6x14 Black Iron Keplinger
5x14 Slingerland Aluminum (1970s)
6.5x13 Yamaha Mushashi
6.5x14 Pork Pie BBB
6x13 Tempus Fiberglass
6.5x14 NOB Leedy (1940s)
5x14 Ludalloy Supraphonic

Three I want:

8x14 Tempus Mondo Carbon/Kevlar (3/8" thick)
5x14 Tempus Fiberglass (will have soon...)
5x14 Ludwig engraved black beauty with copper/brass hardware - hey, a guy's got to dream...

I agree with some of the statements about the Craviattos. They are tricky beasts to tune in my experience but when you get them in they do wonderfully.
 
From my arsenal, all 14"

Ludwig:
6.5" Black Beauty (new)
6.5" Supra ('63 cob)
6.5" Supra ('80)
5" Acroilite ('65)
6.5" Legacy (new)

Dunnett/Geo. Way:
6.5" Advance (1-ply maple)
5.5" Cocobolo (solid)

Impact:
6" fiberglass

Tempus:
8" carbon-fiber

Tama:
8" Artwood ('80s)

Bermuda

not too bad a collection...
 
5x14 Ludwig engraved black beauty with copper/brass hardware - hey, a guy's got to dream...

Vintage or modern? I love my 5" and I'm restoring a 6.5, they're amazing drums. If you want the sound but not the pricetag, though, don't pass up the standard two-piece nickel over brass drums from the 1920s.
 
I played a Ludwig Super Sensitive in the 60's and 70's and loved it. Some close friends
played on Rogers Dynasonics and loved them. I once played on a 1958 Ludwig snare that
was fantastic but don't know which model it was. Currently I play only a Ludwig Piccolo with
my latin-jazz setup. I really like it too.
 
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