What's your favorite snare drum TODAY?

Might surprise everyone - but it's a 5x14 Vistalite. With proper heads top and bottom it has many tunings it does well. I swear I could take it to a jazz gig the day after playing a blues gig and it would work with both genres. I think they get a bad rap for being one dimensional. It's just not true. Very versatile. And I'll use the word sensitive. It's a better snare & more versatile than snares 2x more expensive and of higher repute.
 
Rattlin' Bones said:
Might surprise everyone - but it's a 5x14 Vistalite. With proper heads top and bottom it has many tunings it does well. I swear I could take it to a jazz gig the day after playing a blues gig and it would work with both genres. I think they get a bad rap for being one dimensional. It's just not true. Very versatile. And I'll use the word sensitive. It's a better snare & more versatile than snares 2x more expensive and of higher repute.
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I'm a dumb*ss guitar player, but 'drums curious'

- are all Vistalite drums transparent? Or is the same material used in solid/pattern colors? Thanks
 
Ensnared! said:
Stupid 'guitar player, who wants to play the drums someday' observation, about snare drum love/ preferences
( after being on this Forum a few months):

It sure seems to me that the snare is the electric guitar of of the drum kit- the main instrument or conduit from which the drummer best express him or herself...

And if we keep going with my dumb analogy:

- the cymbals are the drummer's ( rhythmic and tone producing) special effects
- and the rest of the kit, the drums!, is the amplifier

Silly I know, just how I'm drawing comparisons, based on reading posts here.

* please don't kick me out of your Club
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As a 40+ year guitar player that has recently 4-5 years ago come to drums, I kind of agree, at least with the snare part.

With guitars we are tone chasers and that is influenced (we think) by wood, wires, magnets, lacquer/poly, string gauge, tubes, fret size etc. I could go on but you know the drill.

With drummers I see some similar propensities but on a much more elementary scale. The snare seems to get a bit more of that type of attention from drummers. Just as we guitar guys collect guitars and tell ourselves that the tone will be different or better suited for this project or that, snares seem to fill that role for drummers.

I get it and I agree. I have more snares/guitars than I need, but using the above criteria I can justify them all; at least to myself.
 
If something happened and I was to start selling off all my snares , this engraved Black Beauty would never be sold . This drum has a ton of sentimental value as well . It bought this snare from Todd Trent (former Ludwig Employee) and it had chrome Imperial lugs and hoops .
I met John Aldridge for the first time at the Chicago Vintage Drum Show in 2010 and the subject of engraving snare came up . My girlfriend Marisa was with me when this discussion came up and she volunteered to pay for the engraving as a 50th bday present . Hence the sentimental value . John Aldridge provided the brass hardware currently on this drum along with engraving it . So now it is perfect in my eyes. Not only is this a pretty looking drum , it is truly my favourite sounding snare . It is incredibly versatile and sensitive . It can fit in any situation seamlessly . IMG_0070.jpegIMG_0067.jpegIMG_0066.jpeg
 
I’m hankering for a vistalite but I prefer 8 lug snares, and Ludwig only made those in opaque white, which is a little boring. So at some point soon I’ll either buy a 70s white one, or have a shop like Precision make me a custom one in a fancy color.
 
Square said:
As a 40+ year guitar player that has recently 4-5 years ago come to drums, I kind of agree, at least with the snare part.

With guitars we are tone chasers and that is influenced (we think) by wood, wires, magnets, lacquer/poly, string gauge, tubes, fret size etc. I could go on but you know the drill.

With drummers I see some similar propensities but on a much more elementary scale. The snare seems to get a bit more of that type of attention from drummers. Just as we guitar guys collect guitars and tell ourselves that the tone will be different or better suited for this project or that, snares seem to fill that role for drummers.

I get it and I agree. I have more snares/guitars than I need, but using the above criteria I can justify them all; at least to myself.
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Ya, snares and cymbals define your sound, and they’re the two things that noticeably improve with money spent, at least to a point.
 
Ensnared! said:
Just from the 'looks cool!!' perspective,
I think I'd love having any transparent Vistalite snare color, with a complimentary metallic sparkle drum kit:
Emerald green, the blue, Burgundy, yellow w/Champagne, etc.,

Woweeeeeee!
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I don't dig the totally transparent much as far as looks. But man, regardless of color transparency or opaqueness, they play well. Honestly, after reading a lot about them, I didn't expect a Vistalite to be this multi-dimensional, easy to tune, and sound so darn good. And it's sensitive - you can hear the snares. It can be sharp and biting tuned high, or NOLA trashy tuned lower. Mine I have a bit higher than medium for our blues band. With Remo PS3 coated batter head. Sweet. My favorite snare right now.
 
I have 4 fantastic snares, but if I had to pick just one, it would probably be my 8x14 BB, but it sure would be hard to leave the others behind.
 
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