Your Favourite Snare

[TomasHakkesBrain]

Probably the most important piece of gear on your set which is your favourite. maybe give a realistic option and a 'if i were bill gates option'. Indicate size as well because size matters

Black Panther hammered steel 14/5.5


DW Edge 14/5.5

[bojangleman]

my favorite would have to be the Mike Portnoy Signature. i have a Chad Smith Sig. and i really like it, but my favorite would have to be the Mike Portnoy.

Alex

[brittc89]

My favorite snare right now is the one that came with my catalina club. It is not anywhere near the most most expensive, my dunnett cost as much as that whole shell pack, but it just sounds the best right now for what Im doin.

I've only got the snare that came with my kit and I'm really happy with the way I've tuned it but I'd like to try the signature snares.

Joey Jordison - http://messe.harmony-central.com/Mus...JJ-1365-sm.jpg

Lars Ulrich - http://en.woodbrass.com/images/woodbrass/LU1465.GIF

Vinnie Paul - http://www.mikedolbear.co.uk/Images/...sig_namm06.jpg

I also heard Joey doesn't even use his own signature snare but some other artists signature one I can't remember the name of.

[Class A Drummer]

I think my favorite snare is the Elvin Jones Snare drum. I just recently tried it at the guitar center. Quite pricey, but a beautiful sound.

[Steamer]

2 that have been with me for the long haul.

Number one a 7"x14" Canwood natural maple finish hard rock maple snare drum purchased in 1983. Incredible warm tone and dynamic range with not a hint of choke at ANY volume. Don't make many standard issue production snares like this anymore at least compared to what i've heard and tested in comparison as of late IMO including some locally made very high $$$$ ones. Made by master woodworker/drum maker Fred Pepper who certainly had the gift for knowing how to make GREAT sounding drums.

Number 2 is a real special snare for me. Made in 1989 by legendary Canadian jazz icon and drum master and I as I discovered later a master drum maker woodworker Claude Ranger. This was his personal drum in his years of performance and recording in the 90's. Made from a 13" cutdown Camco maple tom shell to the size of a 5 1/2"x13" snare drum with all original chrome over brass 1958 Gretsch drum and snare hardware. The sharp and warm tone from this drum is outstanding with just like the Canwood having a incredibly responsive dynamic range and again with not a hint of choke in the mix. After Claude heard me playing this drum at a concert after selling it to me promptly said jokingly I want it back NOW. In his opinion his crowning achievement in snare drum making and a drum where no mistakes have anywhere to hide with it's clarity of response. Worth in hard value priceless to me and I think of him and his amazing level of jazz playing back then every time I play it.

[Skitch]

It would have to be my 5x14" DW Aluminum snare! This drum is as good as if not better than the vaunted Supraphonic. I was comparing them the other day and they both have great tuning ranges!


Mike

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

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

[Wavelength]

My recently acquired Ludwig Acrolite is a workhorse suitable for just about anything, but I truly adore the Kumu 14" x 5,5" that I've been privileged to play for some two years. Man, that baby blows the socks off my feet with its sound and looks.

[sXeDanimalsXe]

Mine with out a doubt would be my 7x14 trick snare. I put some puresound custom 30's on it and the thing is unbeatable. JT talked me in to the S-hoop and that really adds dynamic to the drum. I can get MEAN rim shots that are still plenty fat and the drum cuts right through the mix.
I still love my 8x14 early 80's artwood. That was my 1st "big" snare and I love it.
I also have a Trick copper 6x14. That is a hard snare to beat as well. Much more cut than bottom end.

[Davey]

I have two '70s 6.5 x 14 Ludwig Supraphonics (both "Ludalloy" with pointy parallelogram badges) that nail the sound dead on. I replaced the P85 strainers with Millennium P86s and they're just perfect. I've had Noble & Cooley, a '70s 6.5 x 14 Black Beauty unengraved (also with pointy parallelogram), a 7 x 14 brushed steel Dunnett, and a whole bunch of others. Nothing does it like the Supra.

[jayp]

I second the Yamaha Elvin Jones signature, DROOOOOOOOL.

[bonzolead]

The Rogers Dynasonic the best snare design ever created and the most sensitive snare I ever played along with rimshots so piercing you want to feel around for holes in your chest LOL.

Bonzolead

[stickers]

I know I'm gonna get a lot of slack for this but i've heard a lot snares doing live sound.

The 7x13 amber Piglite always sounds good.

[KarlCrafton]

My favorite snare is my 1989 6.5 Bronze shell Ludwig Black beauty.

This snare sounds fantastic live & recorded, tunes up easily, doesn't choke when tuned tight,and doesn't get tubby and unresponsive tuned for an ultra low fat sound.


A "money is no object" snare drum would be an ID Titanium 6.5.
Those drums as sound crisp and articulate 100 feet away as they do sitting and playing it.
I walked into the store and said "What is THAT?"

The one I played was $8,000....and weighed about the same :)!

[Mr. Pasquini]

I'd probably be running a 5x14 brass snare (most of them sound very similar) if I had all the money I could want. Right now I'm waffling between a Tama metalworks 5.5x14 and a Mapex Black Panther Steel 5.5x14.

[KarlCrafton]

Originally Posted by Davey

I replaced the P85 strainers with Millennium P86s and they're just perfect.

I replaced my P85's with P86's too.

I really like the Millenium strainer.
It's smooth, quiet, doesn't slip or stick, and it looks really cool with the engraving on it.
I like that it's small and not clunky too.

[Drummer Karl]

Mhh...I actually fell in love brass and bronze snare drums lately. I love the characteristics of the metal...bites a bit more, still has warmth, nice pop.
I`d love a Gretsch Hammered brass 14x6.5"...or a hammered bronze. Love it. I`m also very curious about Black Panther`s bronze snare drums.

I also really like the Elvin Jones Signature snare drum a lot...but what Britt mentioned: It doesn`t have to be the most expencive snare drum. Yep. I`m really happy with my Yellow laquered Basix custom snare drum, 14x5.5"...full birch, put a coated Ambassador on it and well, it`s nice, poppy, open and ringy and has a great crack. And it`s maybe about $150.

Karl

[swiNg]

i cannot narrow down to just one snare, this is my list in no particular order

tama LU Bellbrass 14*6½ (or any bellbrass with diecast or triple flanged hoops)

tama bill bruford sign. 14*6

Dw aluminium 14*5

Ludwig supraphonic

The 1967 Ludwig Acrolite I just got from CrazyHorse that he refurbed/customized.

[Nineball]

Yamaha Roy Hayne's Signature model copper snare

[Skitch]

Originally Posted by Davey

I have two '70s 6.5 x 14 Ludwig Supraphonics (both "Ludalloy" with pointy parallelogram badges) that nail the sound dead on. I replaced the P85 strainers with Millennium P86s and they're just perfect. I've had Noble & Cooley, a '70s 6.5 x 14 Black Beauty unengraved (also with pointy parallelogram), a 7 x 14 brushed steel Dunnett, and a whole bunch of others. Nothing does it like the Supra.

I'm using the Trick throw-off on my Supraphonic which is THE throw-off to use on a Suprahonic!


Mike

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

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

[Drummer Karl]

Originally Posted by Nineball

Yamaha Roy Hayne's Signature model copper snare

Hi!

How is it and its sound?

How can you describe copper`s sound?
Just heard the Roy Haynes model recorded till now...

thanks a lot,

Karl

[Raymond Bloom]

My Pearl Masters Custom Limited Edition Exotic snare drum 13''x4'' (6ply maple)!

although it's not the most versatile snare and it won't do the job for every situation, something is really special about this one, for a piccolo snare drum (which I use as my main snare drum most of the time) it is IDEAL for what I need

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

my favorite snare is my acrylic pork pie. i haven't really given the snare that came with my catalina club kit a chance, but after your comment britt, i'll try to give her a go.

i'm going to buy a ludwig supraphonic whenever i can. but that won't be until after christmas more than likely (everyone else needs presents too!)

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by Drummer Karl

Hi!

How is it and its sound?

How can you describe copper`s sound?
Just heard the Roy Haynes model recorded till now...

thanks a lot,

Karl

Hmmm, I'm not great at descriptions, but it's my favorite metal shell material of all I tried, it sounds similar to aluminum but is a bit warmer. Sorry, I'm not sure really how else to describe it =/. Here is a video of someone on youtube using it along with an awesome Yamaha birch absolute kit, I know it's micced but hopefully you get the idea.http://youtube.com/watch?v=P_addkkTZds

[KarlCrafton]

Originally Posted by swiNg

tama bill bruford sign. 14*6

Yeah! The Bill Bruford sig. is a really cool snare!
I really dig that one, and I'm not the biggest Tama drum fan.

Their quality is great, I just don't get off on the Tama sound in general.
I like how they sound when other people play them, just not when I do....if that makes sense.

The Tama Warlord stuff is pretty cool. The shop had the whole Warlord line in when Tama was doing a "drum demo tour" thing.

Same with Yamaha on their snare tour.
The Roy Hanes snare was a stand out.
I can't remember all the details on it, but I DO remember I did like it a lot.
The Elvin snare sounded great, and the JR Robinson was awesome.
I really like that JR snare. The new color is sweet too.

OCDP has a version of the Black Beauty that they put wood re-inforcing hoops in with the wood having the edge (instead of the usual rolled over metal edge), and that snare sounds pretty great.

If I didn't have 3 BB's already (2 being brass like the OCDP shell), I'd buy one.
I'd like to have one anyway, but there are a few others I plan to get before another brass drum.

A 6.5 Hammered Bronze Ludwig with tube lugs being one.
I'll be getting that around the first of the year.

[Drummer Karl]

Originally Posted by Nineball

Hmmm, I'm not great at descriptions, but it's my favorite metal shell material of all I tried, it sounds similar to aluminum but is a bit warmer. Sorry, I'm not sure really how else to describe it =/. Here is a video of someone on youtube using it along with an awesome Yamaha birch absolute kit, I know it's micced but hopefully you get the idea.http://youtube.com/watch?v=P_addkkTZds

No problem, that really helped. I`ve never really been interested in metal snare drums...butI get it more and more. Really have to try some more like this.
Thanks for the video, it sounds nice, full, fat...still poppy.

Karl

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by Drummer Karl

No problem, that really helped. I`ve never really been interested in metal snare drums...butI get it more and more. Really have to try some more like this.
Thanks for the video, it sounds nice, full, fat...still poppy.

Karl

Yep it's definitley a great snare, but sure as hell isn't cheap at $499 depending on where you get it from...that said I think it's worth every penny.

[crazyhorse]

Thanks FourStrings! Glad you're loving that one, always nice to breathe some life into old drums that were mishandled in their previous life.

I of course have to go with my Maggy...



Everything I could ever want in a snare drum. As for if I was rich.. well I'd build an entire kit from the same metal. =)

[Nineball]

Originally Posted by crazyhorse

Thanks FourStrings! Glad you're loving that one, always nice to breathe some life into old drums that were mishandled in their previous life.

I of course have to go with my Maggy...



Everything I could ever want in a snare drum. As for if I was rich.. well I'd build an entire kit from the same metal. =)

Your magnesium drums do sound great! Ever thought about giving copper a shot? I know it wouldn't be original, but it's the most underrated metal IMO.

[crazyhorse]

Already in the process... :) I've got a nice puresound copper shell I'm putting together right now and I spoke with a metal supply place today about getting some sheets. Copper isn't cheap right now that's for sure. Thanks for the compliment!

[nickg]

my circa 1991 Mapex Orion Maple with die cast hoops. that thing kills!! you know it cuts when the guitar player comments on how the "crack" hurts his ears. Payback is a killer!!!!

[criz p. critter]

Here's my absolute favorite snare:
8"x14" Gretsch snare in purple nitrocellulose lacquer. It's a maple shell from the '80s that was part of Gretsch's "Vinyard" collection: new/old stock that has been sitting around in their warehouses for decades. This pup was also part of their "2007 50 Snare Extravaganza at NAMM last January. It's just about the sweetest sounding snare I've ever heard, and it's not bad looking, too. Check out this link to Gretsch's webpage on the collection. It's serial number 1301: http://www.gretschdrums.com/?fa=07snares2

My second favorite snare is a '80s Tama Superstar 8"x14" in Super Mahogany. Still looking for one of those to add to the collection...

[PineyplayParadiddles]

Black Panther Hammered Brass 5.5x14. Such a beautiful sound, and the sensitivity is sensational.
I'm am converted to Black Panther snares!

[aydee]

My favorite metal :

[schist]

6.5" x 14" Tama bell brass snare

Honorable mentions also go to:

- 6.5" x 14" Pearl CZX 'Custom Z' snare
- 6.5" x 14" Brady marri ply snare (or any Brady snare, for that matter)
- 6.5" x 14" Ludwig Black Beauty snare

[TitanSound]

Has to be my Pearl 14X6.5 Brass Free Floater. Sounds great at any tuning tension and is LOUD when it has to be but is senstivie to lower volume playing too.

[baz]

...my fave is my 14x6 edge that I bought with my white marine pearl kit.

My other fave is my 14x6 DW maple in the black oyster pearl.

If I had Bill Gates money, I would pay anything for any of Ringos old Ludwig snare drums, as long as he delivered it to me himself.

Barry

[TomasHakkesBrain]

Originally Posted by TitanSound

Has to be my Pearl 14X6.5 Brass Free Floater. Sounds great at any tuning tension and is LOUD when it has to be but is senstivie to lower volume playing too.

tis great but the tension shaft things are a pain in the ass.

[grahamo87]

my new pearl reference, 14x6.5



or the go to: black beauty, 14x6.5 hammered shell