What's your favorite snare and why?

[drumklaus]

Hi,
since there seem to be quite a few collectors/players active in this forum I wondered which of the snares you have/had would be your favorite one if you had to name just one, and also why you'd pick this particular drum over all the others.

I'd exclude the price as a category, because I think that if you'd only have one snare drum to play, it could be a more expensive one as well

I think the categories should be:
- sonic qualities
- haptic/feel
- looks

Also, it would be interesting to know the number of snares in your possession at this time (at least to me ).

Please don't hesitate to add other info that seems important to you in case I forgot something to mention above and if you'd like to post some pics, feel free to do so!

 

[Griener]

I was lucky enough to buy a 1920's Leedy walnut Tudor with gold Nobby hardware for very little money, and I must say that it is indeed the best snare I have ever played.
Great sound, great looks!
The only snare in my collection that comes close is a 1945 Slingerland Radio King in WMP.
But I don't really consider myself a collector because I only own drums that I play.
That means live gigs.
I currently own six snare drums plus two that are part of sets that I rent out to jazz clubs.

 

[DamnSingerAlsoDrums]

I play 98% backbeat music with a bit if drags and ghost notes thrown in. I also will do a bit of NoLa-style half-swung stuff and/or train beats with a lope.

My main and favorite snare is an oddball Gretsch Broadkaster 135th aniversary shell that was shipped from the factory with 302 hoops and center lugs. I replaced the stock Gretsch wires with Canopus vintage 42's and the batter head with an Evans Red frosted hydro.

It has that built-in "already produced" sound that makes it easy to dial in and sound great in most venues I get to play.

It mostly lives at a medium-low to medium tuning range wich give it a nice compromise between low end umph, crack and definition.

 

[BennyK]

Pearl Free Floater because I can get in the ball park of a lot of others by switching the shell and hoops , heads . Clean, articulate and wide dynamic reponse, all a bargain if you find a used one .

I can also experiment with any 14 " cylinder , like aluminum cooking pots and whatever else pops up at yard sales .

 

[MrDrums2112]

I've got a small collection of 7 snares, and I love playing all of them. they are all very different in looks and sound, but if I had to pick one that has always been my favorite of the bunch, it's the 5x14 Noble & Cooley SS Maple. It's just a very versatile drum - tune it way up or way down, it always sounds fantastic - I have played jazz, orchestral and rock with it.

It also has a very classy, original look to it. Unlike many other custom or boutique drums, the hardware is unique to N&C, which (for me) sets it apart from all the others.

 

[NoahsDrums81]

leedy broadway standard snare 14x5 raw brass. it's my favorite because it's my first snare I bought.

 

[katulu]

I'd probably NEVER have just one snare - but if I had to pick one, TODAY it'd be my wood Dyna-sonic, just because it's the kind of drum you don't get bad sound out of. Great at all tunings, has an extra "oomph" to the sound, lightweight, cool blue sparkle... great, great snare.

 

[paul]

Mine is a 6.5x14 DW Craviotto I bought used about 20 years ago. I didn't like the strainer on it, so tried a few Nickel strainers (they failed) before settling on a Trick that I managed to get in the same finish as the hardware on the drum. I've used this drum on every type of gig I do, from country to rock to big band and trio jazz. I only have 4 drums in the arsenal these days, and don't feel the need for more.

 

[NoahsDrums81]

I play 98% backbeat music with a bit if drags and ghost notes thrown in. I also will do a bit of NoLa-style half-swung stuff and/or train beats with a lope.

My main and favorite snare is an oddball Gretsch Broadkaster 135th aniversary shell that was shipped from the factory with 302 hoops and center lugs. I replaced the stock Gretsch wires with Canopus vintage 42's and the batter head with an Evans Red frosted hydro.

It has that built-in "already produced" sound that makes it easy to dial in and sound great in most venues I get to play.

It mostly lives at a medium-low to medium tuning range wich give it a nice compromise between low end umph, crack and definition.

View attachment 606454

Your snare look amazing. Bet it sounds amazing too!

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Pearl Free Floater because I can get in the ball park of a lot of others by switching the shell and hoops , heads . Clean, articulate and wide dynamic I reponse for a very cost effective price .

I can experiment with any 14 " cylinder , like aluminum cooking pots and whatever else pops up at yard sales .

I was going to say - Pearl Free Floater. I've had a 14x5 maple, and now a 14x3.5 maple (and brass). Seriously an underrated drum, just a flexible work horse, and yes, lots of cool options can be done with it. You can get any custom shell you want done, and put in it. The stock Pearl shells are great, as well. My 14x3.5 has a wide tuning range. I can have it tuned up and quickly drop two lugs, throw a o-ring on it and boom - deep and fat with a quick feel. Love this drum.

 

[DamnSingerAlsoDrums]

Your snare look amazing. Bet it sounds amazing too!

Thanks!

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

My custom 13x7 Custom Absolute maple snare.

Because it has such a wide tuning range and depth, And because fits better between the legs too.

I have an Ayotte Keplinger in 13x6 too.

Incoming are a 13x3 Ludwig alu L405, and a 14x6,5 Craviotto limited edition and signed cherry.

 

[Sequimite]

Up to retirement I owned two snare drums. Now I am up to two dozen, lots of steam-bent, fiberglass and carbon fiber pluss a couple of brass and a bronze

. If forced to pick one it would be my Vigent 6.5 x 14 steam bent walnut. I put wood hoops on it and the tone is deep and rich. It is also more suitable for lower volume work.

 

[lossforgain]

This is always a tough question, and every time I answer it I have a different favorite of the moment. But in truth, all of the snares I have are excellent in their own way. With maybe one exception, I could keep and use any of them as my only drum and be just fine. Top of the list right now is probably my bronze Ludwig Supra 6.5x14, and two Summit Drums in a tie: Red Elm and Curly Maple 6.5x14.

 

[hsosdrum]

My reissue wood Dyna-Sonic is hands-down my favorite snare drum of any that I've laid sticks on over the past 58 years. To find out exactly why (and for photos), check out my blog post about the drum here.

 

[mtarrani]

I honestly no longer have a favorite. Snare drums that I hate in my own studio or in our band's rehearsal space sometimes surprise me in other rooms. Some that I love in the aforementioned places fight me over each note in some venues. Go figure.

 

[GretschMan61]

This is my favourite for all the right reasons . Sound - it always sounds great , has a big tuning range and dials in easily .
Looks - the classic John Aldridge engraving of a black nickel over brass snare .
Sentiment - My girlfriend paid for the engraving as my 50th bday present . John Aldridge engraved it and we became good friends .

My buddy @mtarrani gave me the heads up on this drum back in 2009 . It was purchased from Todd Trent when he was with Ludwig .

 

[jbennett]

my late 90's 6.5" Gretsch Broadkaster. Sounds awesome tuned up or down and feels great. Second place goes to my Fibes 6.5" solid maple with shell made by Ryan Payne and Noble and Cooley die cast hoops.

 

[jkuhl]

I honestly no longer have a favorite. Snare drums that I hate in my own studio or in our band's rehearsal space sometimes surprise me in other rooms. Some that I love in the aforementioned places fight me over each note in some venues. Go figure.

I'd go so far as to say, even in the same room, the conditions change enough to give you better days than others. Not sure what the biggest contributing factor is there but some days, a piece of gear sounds great in a room and then the next day, it sounds different enough that it makes you consider different options or approaches. That's been my experience.

 

[Ludwigboy]

....'65 Supra!