What is your “old relable” snare drum ?

[RickP]

Like the title asks - what is the snare drum that is your old reliable snare drum ? A drum that you just know works for pretty much everything you do . One that just sounds fantastic .

For me it is a 5 x 14 Ludwig Engraved Black Beauty . This drum was purchased unused from Todd Trent ( former Ludwig A&R Rep and Cheap Trick Drum Tech). It originally had chrome hardware ( Imperial lugs , P85 strainer and triple flange hoops ). I met John Aldridge at the Chicago Vintage Drum Show and struck up a friendship . My Girlfriend commissioned John to engrave my snare drum for my 50th Bday . John also provided Ludwig brass tube lugs , hoops and P86 Millenium strainer as well . The drum was also recently upgraded with Canopus Vintage snare wires ( what an improvement !!).
This particular drum has a huge tuning range , wonderful articulation and can do crisp or fat .

 

[yammyfan]

That would be my Ludwig Acrolite. Super versatile snare drum.

 

[someguy01]

That would be my Ludwig Acrolite. Super versatile snare drum.

+1

 

[JohnnyG]

Gretsch, Brooklyn, Hammered COS.....14 x 6

 

[Hewitt2]

Considering the cost outlay for the drum, the tuning range of the Acrolite is insane. I've currently got it on a super fat setting right now and it is just as convincing as really tight.

It's multiple drums in one!

 

[SharkSandwich]

Probably my 60s Supraphonic, it sounds great in any situation.

 

[KEEF]

Tama Starphonic Aluminium 14x6.
Someone on here described it as made by unicorns!

 

[mikyok]

My 1984 Blue 402 that belonged to Dan from Neds Atomic Dustbin.

The first high end drum I ever owned, great live or recorded. Very easy to maintain. Repaid the £100 it cost in 2003 so many times I've lost count.

I'm confident it'll outlast me!

 

[Out of Round]

A 1972 Supraphonic 14x5; pitted as hell and missing the internal muffler; bought in 1985 from a church thrift shop for $35 (with hard shell case). It's the Alpha and Omega of snare drums for me.

 

[C.M. Jones]

It will soon become a Pearl Music City Custom, which will be my "Old Faithful" right out of the box.

 

[Fritz Frigursson]

looking at the comments here i’m starting to think my lm402 buy was worth it

 

[cbphoto]

After using four different snares (hammered brass, engraved brass, aluminum, maple) on a friend's recent folk/rock album, I've come back to this wooden beauty for the funk band I'm now hitched to. Customized with a brass reso hoop and a Fat Cat snappy, this SLP G-Maple really sounds great. It was kinda like coming home after a long trip.

 

[Push pull stroke]

Oriollo Bakar copper 5x14. Like an Acro in its ability to do all tunings and sound good, but a little warmer and more resonant. I have natural hide heads on it (Kentville Kangaroo) and Grover cable snares. With that setup, it’s really, really warm, and pretty dry.

 

[=]

<<<<< My avatar. Hendrix Archetype Stave Walnut 14x6

 

[caddywumpus]

what is the snare drum that is your old reliable snare drum ? A drum that you just know works for pretty much everything you do . One that just sounds fantastic

I’ve gone through my snare selection over the last year and trimmed the fat of snares that “don’t work the best for such and such situations.” The snares in rotation now are drums that sound fantastic and work for everything. It’s just a matter of which “flavor” I am in the mood for, as they each have their own character:

Ludwig Supraphonic 14x5
Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6.5
Ludwig Black Beauty 14x6.5
Allegra Maple 14x7
Ludwig Maple 14x6.5
Pork Pie Maple 14x6
Slingerland 3-ply 14x5.5
DW Maple 14x4

 

[opentune]

Ludwig Supraphonic 14x5 (paid $30 for it used).

 

[Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX]

mine has always been my dad's 14x5 1963 Ludwig Supraphonic. It is all stock/original parts minus the heads...and I still have the original plastic Ludwig heads that came with it at home

hinging with it's Pearl freinds


needs a little .0000 steel wool to clean up, but it gets used a lot!!


original snare mechanism, strainer strings, and snares


has the crank on muffler


almost always tuned a-la Stewart Copland or Omar Hakim....there was a time in the ealry 90's where many bands in C-bus were borrowing this snare to record with. It was cool to hear it being used in all those different settings. It was nicknamed "The Cannon" back then...

the only other snare I own is another 63 Supraphonic that is on my jazz kit. It was given to me by a friend, and is also all stock minus the heads. Looks the same as this one, but a bit cleaner

 

[Al Strange]

Most gigged (Prem 2000 COA)…
Most recorded (Tama Power Metal brass):

 

[Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX]

Probably my Supraphonic, it sounds great in any situation.

View attachment 106059

what year is that? Super shiny!!!

 

[Chris Whitten]

Absolutely hands down, my 6.5 x 14" Craviotto Dark Cherry.
Always delivers, always sounds great. That's my get out of jail drum.