10" vs 12" for Side Snare?

dazzlestar · #1 10-28-2010, 12:28 PM

Hi,
I'm considering buying a used Pearl Firecracker or similar in the near future. I'm thinking of going with the poplar shell, steel always seemed a bit too ringy for me!! :P That leaves me with the choice of size... It would be used as a side snare with a 14"x5.5" maple Black Panther as the main snare... I was wondering what size you would suggest? I would like it to have a different sound to the main snare, and at the moment I'm tempted towards the 12", but I've never heard it. Does anyone have any ideas what kind of pitch it produces? Thanks! :)

braincramp · #2 10-28-2010, 03:00 PM

Will give you my reason for going with a 12" side...I started with a Yamaha 10" side and just didn't care for it. Seemed to small and hi-pitched for what I needed it for. I now use a custom 12" x 3" keller maple that is pretty darn awesome! (ebay brand new $50 what a steal) once in a pinch I had to use it as my main snare on a gig for the last set when I didn't bring my back-up and my Free Floater main snare had some issues and crapped out on me. I was so glad I made the switch to the 12". It can cover as a main where a 10" would be hard pressed, due to its high pitch so if you have limited space and cant carry a spare this may be a easy descision.

ENRICO · #3 10-28-2010, 04:49 PM

I'd get the 12" because it's different enough to the 14" and you'll find more use to it than you would do to the 10" snare. but I would get the 12" with a metal shell , because i think that the point of having another snare is to have more different sounds and you can always control the ring with proper heads and muffling. mike portnoy used to have a 14" maple and a 12" steel snare drum , and it was a killer combo IMO

dazzlestar · #4 10-28-2010, 06:53 PM

The ones I'm looking at on eBay at the moment have a poplar shell, I was thinking that with an Ambassador I would be able to crank it high enough to produce a reasonable amount of ring! :P I just had another question come to mind... When it comes to snare drums, is is recommended to buy used? I can see there being problems with a used snare, and I don't really want to get into them! D: Thanks for your opinions on the size. :)

braincramp · #5 10-28-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazzlestar

The ones I'm looking at on eBay at the moment have a poplar shell, I was thinking that with an Ambassador I would be able to crank it high enough to produce a reasonable amount of ring! :P I just had another question come to mind... When it comes to snare drums, is is recommended to buy used? I can see there being problems with a used snare, and I don't really want to get into them! D: Thanks for your opinions on the size. :)

You have to ask questions on condition, I try to buy snares used only if in like new/excellent condition. Ask about pitting, rust, broken lugs,throw-offs ect..Ask for a 1-10 rating on condition..ect Buying off ebay can be risky but for the most part your protected. My rule though I dont always follow it is to buy only used cymbals and only new drums, however you can really get some amazing deals on used drums that are too hard to pass on.

Aeolian · #6 10-29-2010, 02:55 AM

I have a DW workshop maple 10 x 5.5 that I use alongside either a Gretch Fullrange maple 14 x 5.5 or a PDP hammered brass 14 x 5.5. Either of the 14s can be cranked, but having the 10 lets me keep them in the middle and the 10 has plenty of contrast cranked moderately tight. But not cranked so high it chokes or has no tone.

If it's a small gig, I'll just crank the Fullrange a little tighter and go with that. But if there's room or a lot of funk, then the side snare comes out.