Small Snares For Metal?

Lovetadraw

Senior Member
I'm just wondering, I like the high pitched sound snare sound that the Rev has in the City Of Evil album and I've noticed a lot of heavy metal seems to favor that sound. I know that that particular snare had very thick shells but couldn't you get the same sound from a small (circumference, not depth) snare?

I was at my local music store and they had one and it kind of had that sound, but I've heard other people say that they hate small snares for rock/metal so I'm a little curious as to what you people think.
 
I was of the mindset that anything smaller than 14" would be a one-trick pony type of snare drum. And I played 14" snares for most of my life. Then I realized that we're only talking a difference of an inch if you went down to a 13" so I finally tried it and am now convinced that 13" snares are the way to go for me. I love them. If the drum gives you the sound you're looking for, then you don't need to listen to anyone else. The other side of the argument is, if you're going to be a true working drummer, you should have both sizes, or all the sizes you want, so you can cover alot of ground. Have a 14, have a 13, maybe a 12, maybe a 15. and it's not so crazy, lots of people here already do have quite the collections. I myself have three (two 13s and a 14). I keep the 14 for 'normal' stuff, and keep one 13 pitched high and the other one pitched low.
 
I like 13's, theyre really neat sounding. I've compared various 13's to their equivalent 14 e.g 13x7 and 14x8 Brady block and Ludwig black magic of the same sizes. Personally I prefer the power and presence the 14 has.. And also the feel of the rimshot is nicer.

I have an akira jimbo snare and I did find it a tad quiet in a metal situation but it's nothing to worry about. A metal shell would def solve that.
 
What was the snare you wee looking at? A bunch of metal drummers use 13's Joey from Slipknot, Matthew McDonough from Mudvayne and others. And yes acoustically a 13 can have the same characteristics of a thick 14", I had the Ludwig epic brick and it sounded more like a 13 because of the thick shell.
 
Well, slipknot is one of the bands who's sound I was talking about. :D

Sadly I don't remember the exact snare, it was a Pearl, it was all black except for the tension rods, and it was wood I think. It's hard to remember because there was also a PDP one there that looked just like it but was brand new and 3x as much as the used Pearl snare I was looking at. I should probably start paying more attention. =_="

EDIT* could be this one, I remember "Poplar" v.v"
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-percussion/pearl-wood-firecracker-snare
 
Did it look like this
pearl-jj1365-joey-jordison.jpg
if so its the Pearl Joey signature snare,
A few more I will recommend on the cheap is the Tama Metalworks 6.5 x 13, OCDP maple or ash with die cast hoops 7 x 13, Yamaha Musashi Oak 6.5 x 13, OCDP black brass 7 x 13, Pork Pie 7" x 13" Patina Brass, http://www.rainbowguitars.com/drums/ludwig/black-magic-7-x-13-snare-drum/lw0713/lu , http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-percussion/mapex-mpx-birch-snare-drum, The last one is OK but stoch heads and wires are not.

they also have it in maple http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-percussion/mapex-mpx-maple-snare-drum/501996000145010

The snare you posted was a 12 x 5 or 10 x 5, great side snare but I would not recommend using it as a main snare.

a few more
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sonor-Black...497?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b3a3a689

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crush-chame...833?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d05470b59

this also
http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/C...ign=products&gclid=CPav5f7w4rICFY1DMgod8kkAjA
 
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That's very similar, but it didn't have the designs on it. So I should avoid 12"s?
 
I know there's a metal drummer that uses a 12" snare, but I can't remember his name...

Try some out, I like my 13x7 Little Squealer. Got lots of depth and very inspired by Aaron Harris's sound (of ISIS). 12" might get you a nice high pitch, but I don't know about projection. Again, try some out in a store if you can.
 
Hmm... I'll have to check out more snares when I'm in GC. I'm usually in there for cymbals or hardware so it's a miracle that I even got to discuss this! Now I wanna get a poppy snare after I find a 10" tom to add to my set. Thank you all so much for the input!
 
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