ChappyEight
Junior Member
Hoping you kind folks might be able to help me straighten my head out a bit on snare drums such that I can purchase a neat one for my son for Christmas.
Long story short, the boy just turned 11 and has been playing a kit since he was 7. He just got selected, as a 6th grader, to his 7-8 grade school jazz band. As a reward, I thought it might be cool to get him a nice snare that he could use in place of the school kit snare and have for a long time. The school snare is fine for what it is, but I just want to reward his hard work.
So, that in mind, his current personal snare is part of his full home kit which is a Gretsch Renown 5x14 (maple). From my limited research, it seems that a lot of wood snares are used for jazz type music and metal snares more for rock. Problem is, his school jazz band plays both jazz music and rock music. I'm wondering, do I pick up a nice metal snare for him and then he can use his Renown otherwise? Do I pick up a different dimension wood snare or just a "nicer" snare (if that's even a thing)? Better yet, is this a stupid idea and I should just buy the 16" crash he's been wanting?
I'm not looking to spend money just to spend it, but this dude has put in the work since the time he was 7 to make this jazz band and he beat out a couple 8th graders to do it. But, sadly, I'm lacking in percussion knowledge.
Any advice is welcomed and appreciated.
Long story short, the boy just turned 11 and has been playing a kit since he was 7. He just got selected, as a 6th grader, to his 7-8 grade school jazz band. As a reward, I thought it might be cool to get him a nice snare that he could use in place of the school kit snare and have for a long time. The school snare is fine for what it is, but I just want to reward his hard work.
So, that in mind, his current personal snare is part of his full home kit which is a Gretsch Renown 5x14 (maple). From my limited research, it seems that a lot of wood snares are used for jazz type music and metal snares more for rock. Problem is, his school jazz band plays both jazz music and rock music. I'm wondering, do I pick up a nice metal snare for him and then he can use his Renown otherwise? Do I pick up a different dimension wood snare or just a "nicer" snare (if that's even a thing)? Better yet, is this a stupid idea and I should just buy the 16" crash he's been wanting?
I'm not looking to spend money just to spend it, but this dude has put in the work since the time he was 7 to make this jazz band and he beat out a couple 8th graders to do it. But, sadly, I'm lacking in percussion knowledge.
Any advice is welcomed and appreciated.