Thoughts on Matching Snare Drums

[drums1225]

Do you prefer a wood snare that matches the finish of your kit, or one that is of a different finish?

With lacquer finished wood snares, I prefer matching, but I also love my metal snares that don't match.

 

[p83]

i think my position on this is clear.

 

[JDA]

traditional blonde goes with about 90% of other set finishes
that's my drum doctor 1948 490 WFL blonde w/ a touch of sunburst/ satin red rosewood set)
Sound is the ultimate arbiter/ ability to speak/ what you want to say with the drum
white marine pearl in a wrapped snare goes with about 80% of other set finishes too.
I've never seen either look bad on anybody's set.

 

[MrDrums2112]

Love 'em!

 

[Lee]

It doesn’t matter to me. The gig or specific tune dictates what snare(s) I bring along. No one really notices but me or another drum geek.

 

[pwc1141]

I did it in reverse and got a kit that matched my snare drum ....
.

 

[cruddola]

I couldn't care less what the snare looks like, matching or not. It's their response to my tuning desires that's important. I own only two snares. A 6.5 Bronze Beauty I bought in Derry, Ireland '84 and a 5 inch Acro bought in '65 when I was in the 3rd grade. They've given everything I could ever want. Nothing else has called me since.

 

[RogersLudwig]

It is a necessity for me. I love wooden snares. Not so hot on metal ones.

 

[lossforgain]

I have a strange relationship with matching snares. When I’ve had a matching drum I’ve rarely used it, because I’m picky about what I want to hear out of a snare. It has to be a really great drum in its own right, I won’t play it just because it matches the set. If a matching drum really sounds great, it’s more likely to get the stand, but it’s not because of the finish.

At the same time, I have a desire to find a matching snare when I don’t have one — this mostly applies to vintage sets. Currently I’m playing a 3-ply Slingerland set with black and silver Niles badge in silver sparkle. I would LOVE to find a matching drum, but no luck so far. Even then, if the drum doesn’t sound great, it will likely just sit. But I’ll have a matching snare. I know — I’m weird.

 

[Squirrel Man]

Probably an OCD/head thing with me but I really like non-matching snares.

I have two kits and two decent matching snares for those kits and I'm thinking of re-wrapping them for this reason but that's me, I can be quirky but I don't care.

They're not vintage or special kits either and that makes it easier, otherwise I think I'd kick my OCD to the curb.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

I have a spreadsheet of which snares and rides sounds best in each local venue. For me it's sound first, look second. I will say that I really wanted my custom Oriollo to be blue at first, but I got the galaxy black or whatever it's called because it would match all my kits (which include red, blue, browns, and clears).

 

[drums1225]

I couldn't care less what the snare looks like, matching or not. It's their response to my tuning desires that's important. I own only two snares. A 6.5 Bronze Beauty I bought in Derry, Ireland '84 and a 5 inch Acro bought in '65 when I was in the 3rd grade. They've given everything I could ever want. Nothing else has called me since.

Thanks for using "couldn't care less" properly (so rare, these days), but I happen to care about both sound and looks, which is why I began a discussion that is literally 100% about looks.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

I couldn't care less what the snare looks like, matching or not. It's their response to my tuning desires that's important. I own only two snares. A 6.5 Bronze Beauty I bought in Derry, Ireland '84 and a 5 inch Acro bought in '65 when I was in the 3rd grade. They've given everything I could ever want. Nothing else has called me since.

I have 17 snare drums, but if I had to cull it back down to one, it would be the Acro I got in 7th grade. I technically could have stopped right there, but I'm glad I have the others to match whatever room I'm in.

 

[drums1225]

I have 17 snare drums, but if I had to cull it back down to one, it would be the Acro I got in 7th grade. I technically could have stopped right there, but I'm glad I have the others to match whatever room I'm in.

I just ordered my 10th snare today (and it matches my 1 year old STAR Maple kit), but if I had to get rid of all my snares except one, my 13x6.5 Dunnett Titanium would be the last man standing. Fortunately, I don't have to sell anything out of necessity at this point, unless you consider my wife's sanity and need for storage space in the basement "necessary".

I have a 5" Acro and a 6.5" Supra, and they're great sounding drums that will always remain in my arsenal.

 

[LRod1707]

Matching wood snare looks pretty but sometimes you want the metal sound. I use both! Aesthetically at least with my finish, they all look good through my eyes. I've got Vintage black pearl Ludwigs. They look great with the matching snare but also look good with chrome, brass or bronze snares.

 

[CC Cirillo]

Each of my kits has a matching wood snare. They are like having the vest to complete a well-tailored three piece suit.

That said, I more often than not rotate in one of my five other snares with an Acro and Black Beauty called from the bench for a lot of field time.

 

[halldorl]

I kinda don’t like matching snaredrums lookwise. But if it sounds good, I’m OK wth it.

 

[hsosdrum]

For me:

Wood snare: Gotta match
Metal snare: Don't gotta match

 

[K.O.]

I generally want to have a matching snare for any set ( and usually do) but I may not use it for gigs with that set.

 

[Jay-Dee]

i think my position on this is clear.

View attachment 487816

I'm sorry but I can't see a pattern .

Most punters won't see what your snare looks like on stage and even less will take any notice (or care) what it sounds like. Only yourself and any drummers in the crowd will be aware of it. For me personally who cares whether they match or not, as long as they sound good.