zzzzzz... seriously sleeper snares... zzzzzz

[katulu]

Anyone have some examples of "sleeper" snares? You know, the kind that makes you think "why isn't this snare more popular?" The kind that's got its own character, unique features, range and/or versatility, yet... you rarely hear about it. Maybe there's one at your LDS and it's been there for years, you can't understand why.

I think this guy is one:

Gretsch Bronze 14x6.5 1mm shell- this could be a different kind of "Black Beauty" - got snap, crackle and pop, volume, a fantastic strainer, tone, amazing crossstick... this thing should be legendary.

 

[Phantomlimb777]

Every vintage six lug student snare

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Premier 2000's, any of them. You can get them cheap, too.

 

[Ludwig4life]

Supralites!

$200 for an 8x14”

Crazy good sounding for the price point

 

[ppfd]

The line of Ahead snare drums

 

[Steech]

The line of Ahead snare drums

THIS 10,000%!

The Ahead Engraved Titanium snare is one of the best that I’ve ever played. I’m actually embarrassed for all of my other snares tbh.

 

[Tama CW]

Slingerland 60's/70's COS Festival "student" and Aluminum Student (6 or 8 lugs). I prefer them to any of the higher end COB's that Slingerland made.

Tama Mastercraft "Imperialstar" 5x14's from the 1980's aren't talked about much compared to Supra's, Acro's, Gretsch brass, or Rogers Powertone, etc. But I think they are right up there with them.

 

[Whitten]

Drouyn.
1960's and 70's Australian made.

 

[bellbrass]

THIS 10,000%!

The Ahead Engraved Titanium snare is one of the best that I’ve ever played. I’m actually embarrassed for all of my other snares tbh.

The Ahead bell brass snares sound great, and don't cost an arm and a leg. They are real cast shells, too.

 

[fenrir]

The Tama metal drums made in Taiwan - late 90s/early 00s. Aluminium, steel, brass and bronze in four depths. Really good sounding drums. Held onto a 4" alu and a 5.5" nickel brass while much more expensive drums came and went.

 

[Fat Drummer]

Pearl Sensitone's..... wonderful instruments at a great value, the workhorse of the modern snare drum. But all I hear when I mention the snares is "I hate thier tom arms".

 

[dtk]

Ludwig Standard Aluminum....and plus one on the aluminum Slingerlands...I feel like those shells don't flavor the sound...its all head and snare wire...

 

[Treviso1]

70s Pearl COB snares with the simple Non-Jupiter Gladstone strainer (non-parallel type). Both the 5x14 and the 6.5x14 models feature super heavy weight brass shells with seams and they just have something very special about the sound they produce. They are much heavier than their counterparts from other companies. Less honk than a Ludwig COB, more crack with LOTS of body. I like them with Remo CS Coated Reverse Dot batter heads and Remo Hazy Ambassador Snare side heads and Canopus Vintage wires (both chrome plated and non-chrome plated wires are great...the non-chrome plated wires are a little drier sounding). They are particularly great if you swap out the batter stock hoop with a die cast hoop too or swap both hoops for brass hoops.
Anyway, I know that some drummers are aware that the 5x14 model was the infamous Stewart Copeland snare used on all of the albums from Zenyatta Mondatta onward. It's a noticeable change in tone and crack from the first two albums. His drum has a Gretsch Die Cast hoop swapped out for the batter side. It's a special drum.
Anyway, they used to be very cheap until recently, but you can still find a nice one that will play beautifully for $250-$300, which is pretty cheap these days considering the prices on everything else. I had 5 of them at one time, but I sold off a couple recently, one to Ted Nugent's drummer who is local to me. He loved the one with the plating stripped down to the raw brass. It sounded amazing, even with these raggedy old Remo Heads and 42 strand generic snare wires. It sounded stupid great.

 

[GretschMan61]

My choice would be Ludwig Classic Maple snares . They get overshadowed by their venerable Metal shell snares . Too bad because the Ludwig Classic maple snares are excellent . They are articulate and full sounding with a very nice tuning range .

 

[BennyK]

Gretsch brushed aluminum 5x14 8 lug , 1970's with cast hoops .

TAMA Mastercraft seamless steel with its version of an SS wire system . 10 lug , mid eighties . Wide dynamic range , from lounge to loud . Clean , doesn't choke up when you really lay into it , like Super Ten .

Late sixty's Yamaha seamless steel 5x14 . Ultra crisp and responsive .

 

[BRIAN]

My choice would be Ludwig Classic Maple snares . They get overshadowed by their venerable Metal shell snares . Too bad because the Ludwig Classic maple snares are excellent . They are articulate and full sounding with a very nice tuning range .

Totally agree with you, I was really impressed when I played my first one. And they used to be really affordable, not sure of current prices.

 

[Houndog]

3rd vote for 6 lug vintage snares .

I was shocked ……

 

[D. B. Cooper]

I used to play a friend's CB700 snare at rehearsals/jams. It always sounds great and tuned up beautifully. The rest of the kit had the "wrist watch" (or whatever they're called) lugs and I'm assuming the snare did as well.
Anybody know if those drums came in brass? It sounded so nice and was surprisingly well made.

 

[CC Cirillo]

Pearl Sensitone's..... wonderful instruments at a great value, the workhorse of the modern snare drum. But all I hear when I mention the snares is "I hate thier tom arms".

I second the motion on the Sensitone.

Live I seem to use it more than my Black Beauty. At rehearsal, it has bumped my beloved Acrolite.

At my most recent recording of some demos it was all I used. Mine is brass with die cast. Best cross stick sound I’ve ever heard.

I call it my Sensei-tone. It teaches me a lot.

 

[Houndog]

I got my Black Beauty home and played my Slingerland Krupa brass snare and wondered why I bought a BB …..