My favorite is a 6.5x14 Ludwig Hammered Bronze. It looks amazing, it's sensitive and cutting all the great qualities of a brass/ bronze shell drum with a hint of dryness from the hammered shell surface, and a little woodiness in it's tone. Amazing drum!
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What's your favorite snare and why?
- Thread starter drumklaus
- Start date
TillM
Well-Known Member
My favorite is my Tama Bell Brass replica I build one month ago. It’s great for recording and has a large tuning range.
It’s my second bell bronze snare and I really love bell bronze snares.
It’s my second bell bronze snare and I really love bell bronze snares.
Gotta be my Acrolite. Absolutely nothing special or unique about it. Emperor over Ambassador with the stock snare wires. Good enough for a garage hack like me playing covers. Extremely easy to tune. Very comfortable feel under my sticks. Not the biggest and baddest on the block but I dig it very mucho.
James Walker
Very well Known Member
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One of my earliest DIY builds, using a 14x6" Tempus fibreglass shell. Eight lugs. Sounds great tuned low, high, or anywhere in-between, and very comfortable to play.
Favorite is hard to pin down. I’ve been a working musician for 30+ years, and I find the snare and cymbals to be the most individual sounding things on a drum set.
I’d say my number one and two are a 14x6.5 Savage Custom Drums Tama Bell Brass replica and a 14x6.5 Keplinger Black Iron with 8 lugs and cast bronze hoops.
The Savage records amazingly and sounds great live. The Black Iron is a bit wilder, has some skankiness to the sound that really gives it some character and extra projection live, especially unmiked gigs. It’s sometimes too much in really live rooms. So, for this weekend ( a two nighter in a casino), I brought both.
I also don’t like doing out of town gigs solely with the Tama replica because of old hardware…even though I have replacement hardware for all of the drum, would be a PITA to change at the gig. So I generally always have two snares.
I’d say my number one and two are a 14x6.5 Savage Custom Drums Tama Bell Brass replica and a 14x6.5 Keplinger Black Iron with 8 lugs and cast bronze hoops.
The Savage records amazingly and sounds great live. The Black Iron is a bit wilder, has some skankiness to the sound that really gives it some character and extra projection live, especially unmiked gigs. It’s sometimes too much in really live rooms. So, for this weekend ( a two nighter in a casino), I brought both.
I also don’t like doing out of town gigs solely with the Tama replica because of old hardware…even though I have replacement hardware for all of the drum, would be a PITA to change at the gig. So I generally always have two snares.
MrDrums2112
"Normal" Drummer
I've owned a handful of Acrolites over the years - I have one now as well. They always sound great - another drum that can really do it all!
These guys. If I'm picking one it's the Yamaha but if I'm picking two it's both.
As for the why, the Yamaha RC is just a fantastic backbeat snare drum. I think it's the aluminum hoops but also aluminum shells in general are great for that purpose. And there's some real practicalities with this drum that make it so great for gigging-- it's super lightweight, it stays in tune like no other drum I have, and the strainer is a rock too. I have zero fears of anything failing on it mid-gig. The Black Beauty seems to win the day when recording though so that's why I included it as my #2.
As for the why, the Yamaha RC is just a fantastic backbeat snare drum. I think it's the aluminum hoops but also aluminum shells in general are great for that purpose. And there's some real practicalities with this drum that make it so great for gigging-- it's super lightweight, it stays in tune like no other drum I have, and the strainer is a rock too. I have zero fears of anything failing on it mid-gig. The Black Beauty seems to win the day when recording though so that's why I included it as my #2.
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pwc1141
DFO Master
These days I only have one snare drum having sold ones I rarely use. It's a Brady 12 x 7 Sheoak block shell which I modified by adding Maple hoops and a Trick strainer ....I like the response, tone, tuning range and it is great for brushes and despite the smaller diameter I have no problems with sweeps as have used 12" snare for decades and am used to it ...
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gezz
DFO Star
aparker2005
DFO Master
14x6.5 Pearl Masterworks LE Santos Rosewood.
It is a special drum to me with how rare these are, and how I acquired it. It sounds great in every room and stage I've tried it in. Looks amazing, and holds its tuning very well.
It is a special drum to me with how rare these are, and how I acquired it. It sounds great in every room and stage I've tried it in. Looks amazing, and holds its tuning very well.
CC Cirillo
DFO Master
This type of thread seems to come up every six months or so, as it must, because my tastes seem to change every few weeks.
Since I’m not gigging much these days, there are certain drums that just sound great in our rehearsal space, and this Ludwig Acrophonic is one of them.
If we are recording, it’s my my 5” Pearl Brass Sensitone with die cast rims, but the A-phonic has been hogging the stand for band rehearsals and a monthly country jam.
With a bandana partially over the head it imitates that tight yet crisp 70’s sound, but this one somehow retains body and character. Hard to explain but it sounds like I’m giving it a good backbeat whack even when we are playing at lower volumes.
Naked it has a thonky ring with just enough presence and that dry aluminum polite decay.
Since I’m not gigging much these days, there are certain drums that just sound great in our rehearsal space, and this Ludwig Acrophonic is one of them.
If we are recording, it’s my my 5” Pearl Brass Sensitone with die cast rims, but the A-phonic has been hogging the stand for band rehearsals and a monthly country jam.
With a bandana partially over the head it imitates that tight yet crisp 70’s sound, but this one somehow retains body and character. Hard to explain but it sounds like I’m giving it a good backbeat whack even when we are playing at lower volumes.
Naked it has a thonky ring with just enough presence and that dry aluminum polite decay.
Pictures?
GrandpaCleve
DFO Veteran
I don't have a favorite. I use one for a while, then when I get the urge pull out another. Some sound very different because of size and shell, and it's always a treat coming back to one I haven't used for a while. I wouldn't keep a snare I didn't like, or anything else for that matter.
rsmittee
Very well Known Member
My favorite tends to be the next one. I'm wearing out my carpet checking the front porch for my new Summit, which UPS should be delivering today. Based solely on pics, it's likely to be my purdiest snare.
Sound wise, I'd go with my INDe 6.5 x 14 bronze. I've used it at a couple gigs, and a lot in the rehearsal room, and it never disappoints.
Feel wise, the Tama Starphonic 7 x 14 walnut is my fav. I can really dig into it, or play it quiet as I can. The throw off is my fav also.
If I had to choose only one drum, versatility would probably the most important characteristic. The 6.5 x 14 snare that came with my '85 Yamaha Power Tour Customs (8000's) is probably my most versatile drum. I can crank that thing or play it fat and wet, and anywhere in between, and it always sounds great. And it's smoker's teeth white, so it becomes the color of whatever stage light happens to be hitting it.
Sound wise, I'd go with my INDe 6.5 x 14 bronze. I've used it at a couple gigs, and a lot in the rehearsal room, and it never disappoints.
Feel wise, the Tama Starphonic 7 x 14 walnut is my fav. I can really dig into it, or play it quiet as I can. The throw off is my fav also.
If I had to choose only one drum, versatility would probably the most important characteristic. The 6.5 x 14 snare that came with my '85 Yamaha Power Tour Customs (8000's) is probably my most versatile drum. I can crank that thing or play it fat and wet, and anywhere in between, and it always sounds great. And it's smoker's teeth white, so it becomes the color of whatever stage light happens to be hitting it.
cinemadrummer2001
Very well Known Member
My favorite is and probably will always be my 1964(I think) Ludwig supraphonic. I have owned many other 60’s lud-alloy supras which all sounded “meh”. The only real difference between this one and the others is chrome over brass hoops, so that must be the ticket!
I have a new favorite: the Canopus birch 6.5x14 that I rehabbed. The ruby pearl finish is stunning and the playing feel is great, but most impressive to me is the rich tone at any volume or tuning. I’ve never before had a snare that really gave me such fulfilling sound even at a light touch. Playing it is a joy.
