zzzzzz... seriously sleeper snares... zzzzzz

[Cauldronics]

Lotta good drums mentioned here (I'll second Supralites.)

In this bracket, I'll nominate Slingerland's 60s/70s COB Sound King snares. Another excellent yet inelegant plain Jane drum, but this one sounds and feels distinctively different.

Yup. My Sound King even has a couple of indentations at the strainer and still sounds great. Needs a bit of rehab now, though. The strainer is prone to failure on them and the hole orientation makes it difficult to find a replacement. There may be some newer strainer that fits. I haven't looked in awhile.

It's a bit like a BB but more focused and controlled sounding, and maybe a little fatter.

 

[Cauldronics]

Ming Pure spun fiberglass are magic snares. They were part of a phenomenon that will probably never happen again, when they were briefly sold on eBay for 80-120 bucks apiece, with the seller even taking offers.

Every time I put the 5x14 on the stand, I'm wowed and always happy it only set me back $80.

The only thing I'd change is making the t-rods at the corners where the rimshots happen.. not back out so easily, but that's not hard to fix.

 

[pgm554]

Corder wood snares.
Jasper shells at a fraction of the price of the classic Gretsch or Austin Fibes.

 

[funkypoodle]

My aluminum Standard - 1970 IIRC - you have to pull that thing out of my cold dead hands. My favorite all purpose always sounds awesome snare. Good choice.

I've got a Supra lm402 & an SS, but my aluminum Standard gets tons of stand time. I've got 42-strand wires on it right now. It's great for blues gigs & it really differentiates it from my other aluminium Ludwigs.

 

[notINtheband]

Orange County 25 ply maple.
Here is a review i wrote on it years ago;
it’s a shame that this drum has some embarrassing provenance. Sure it sucks that it’s only available new thru MUsicians Friend or GC. Sometimes that invokes a less-than-legit-for-passionate-musicians connotation. And I agree the vents lacking any kind of grommet make it look like rodents are responsible for the vents look.

I also agree that 25 seems like some arbitrarily huge number of plys for the sake of making a thick shell just to add heft and smother out personality.

There is nothing sexy about the shark tooth lugs nor the sparkle fade wrap.

And yet...

I have a collection of 31 snare drums including the classic Ludwig LM’s, brass snares, signature snares, even a couple of lofty collectibles, but all players with use and time in the studio and on the road. I don’t collect them to display, but to play.

And here is how I came across this generic, unsexy drum.

I was doing a session for a band and once my parts were tracked, the producer asked if I wanted to replace the snare sound on the tracks with something else. The tracks, recorded using an LM-402, were fine, but since we had a dozen snare samples at our fingertips, why not experiment.

Among the bell brass and 1920’s big band, and Craviottos, were some average drums.

We pulled them in and they all brought a different personality.

Then we brought in this OCDP vented 25 ply snare via pro-tools sample.

It had it all. The attack, tuned to a G, the depth, the resonance, sustain, it gave life to the tracks that was already good, and made them bounce.

So impressed with the sound that when that same band asked me to do their tour in support of the record, I sought out the drum that had been flown in on the record. Found it at, yes, Guitar Center, and bought it just to replicate their record to the truest level I could as a player.

Well that snare proved to be amazing.

It so rarely needed tuning that I found myself going several gigs in a row without even checking the lugs, and when I did, rarely did I ever tweak more than a fraction.

House engineers praised it, the monitor mixer guys bragged on it, and other drummers were surprised by it even after laughing at the thickness of the shell.

Cross sticking is AWESOME on this drum. Ghost notes are soft and beautiful.

Another embarrassment is Guitar Center/Musicians friend videos that demo the drum and only talk about it’s projection, as if it’s only made for, and only competent at LOUD! What a joke. This drum is so much more versatile than that and they completely missed the boat.

I have several favorite snares, and some I like better. But this wallflower of a snare is in my top 5, and that’s with no sex appeal, no collectibility, and no rich history or lineage. It’s just so damn good at all the things it does well, so reliable, and demonstrates how you just never know what a drum is truly capable of till you put it through a crucible of road gigs.

I love this bastard of a snare drum.

 

[katulu]

Ming Pure spun fiberglass are magic snares. They were part of a phenomenon that will probably never happen again, when they were briefly sold on eBay for 80-120 bucks apiece, with the seller even taking offers.

Every time I put the 5x14 on the stand, I'm wowed and always happy it only set me back $80.

The only thing I'd change is making the t-rods at the corners where the rimshots happen.. not back out so easily, but that's not hard to fix.

Surprised to see some love for them. I got one back then, absolutely hated the sound, sold it, no regrets. Glad you enjoy yours though!

 

[Lamontsdad]

Six lug student snares like this one:

 

[drumsforme]

Early 2010-2011 Crush Sublime ST- 7 ply 6x14 Maple Snare Drums. 45 degree edges, stick saver hoops, great throwoff and wide open sound with well done fit and finish

 

[spaeth]

I picked up a Premier black hammered brass snare quite a while back. It was $230 new in the box off of eBay. 6.5x14 and die cast top hoop and it is one amazing drum.

 

[Quai34]

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".

Agree, I think my next snare, bronze, wil be a sensitive Pearl, with the arch hoop!

 

[drummertom]

Rogers Tower. Basically a Powertone with a different strainer and butt. Great snares.

 

[T_Weaves]

Reviving this thread as I'm looking into getting a 3mm shell brass snare. I'm looking for a little value too. At this point I've narrowed it down to the DW rolled/welded or the Ahead cast. If anyone has one or the other and can offer some pros/cons of them, I'm all ears.

https://www.cymbalfusion.com/dw-collectors-6-5x14-polished-brass-snare-drum/


https://www.drumcenternh.com/ahead-snare-drums-as614pbb

Cheers, T_Dubs

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

Reviving this thread as I'm looking into getting a 3mm shell brass snare. I'm looking for a little value too. At this point I've narrowed it down to the DW rolled/welded or the Ahead cast. If anyone has one or the other and can offer some pros/cons of them, I'm all ears.

https://www.cymbalfusion.com/dw-collectors-6-5x14-polished-brass-snare-drum/


https://www.drumcenternh.com/ahead-snare-drums-as614pbb

Cheers, T_Dubs

Check out the PDP bronze models (now in 8” depth too). Sleepers.

Also the used 90’s dw bronze models are killer, but slightly more expensive.

 

[kookel]

Dixon 4 X 14 brass model

 

[Treviso1]

View attachment 579336
Orange County 25 ply maple.
Here is a review i wrote on it years ago;
it’s a shame that this drum has some embarrassing provenance. Sure it sucks that it’s only available new thru MUsicians Friend or GC. Sometimes that invokes a less-than-legit-for-passionate-musicians connotation. And I agree the vents lacking any kind of grommet make it look like rodents are responsible for the vents look.

I also agree that 25 seems like some arbitrarily huge number of plys for the sake of making a thick shell just to add heft and smother out personality.

There is nothing sexy about the shark tooth lugs nor the sparkle fade wrap.

And yet...

I have a collection of 31 snare drums including the classic Ludwig LM’s, brass snares, signature snares, even a couple of lofty collectibles, but all players with use and time in the studio and on the road. I don’t collect them to display, but to play.

And here is how I came across this generic, unsexy drum.

I was doing a session for a band and once my parts were tracked, the producer asked if I wanted to replace the snare sound on the tracks with something else. The tracks, recorded using an LM-402, were fine, but since we had a dozen snare samples at our fingertips, why not experiment.

Among the bell brass and 1920’s big band, and Craviottos, were some average drums.

We pulled them in and they all brought a different personality.

Then we brought in this OCDP vented 25 ply snare via pro-tools sample.

It had it all. The attack, tuned to a G, the depth, the resonance, sustain, it gave life to the tracks that was already good, and made them bounce.

So impressed with the sound that when that same band asked me to do their tour in support of the record, I sought out the drum that had been flown in on the record. Found it at, yes, Guitar Center, and bought it just to replicate their record to the truest level I could as a player.

Well that snare proved to be amazing.

It so rarely needed tuning that I found myself going several gigs in a row without even checking the lugs, and when I did, rarely did I ever tweak more than a fraction.

House engineers praised it, the monitor mixer guys bragged on it, and other drummers were surprised by it even after laughing at the thickness of the shell.

Cross sticking is AWESOME on this drum. Ghost notes are soft and beautiful.

Another embarrassment is Guitar Center/Musicians friend videos that demo the drum and only talk about it’s projection, as if it’s only made for, and only competent at LOUD! What a joke. This drum is so much more versatile than that and they completely missed the boat.

I have several favorite snares, and some I like better. But this wallflower of a snare is in my top 5, and that’s with no sex appeal, no collectibility, and no rich history or lineage. It’s just so damn good at all the things it does well, so reliable, and demonstrates how you just never know what a drum is truly capable of till you put it through a crucible of road gigs.

I love this bastard of a snare drum.

So well said and it is absolutely the truth! I picked one of these snares up for peanuts, NOS and I can't believe what a great drum it turned out to be. I have literally owned many hundreds of snare drums over the years, many real Tama Bell Brass drums, Paiste/Ocheltrees, N&C's, Brady, Sonor, etc... This $250 OCDP drum is easily able to compete or even better most drums that are in the $1000-$1500 range. It is just a perfect sounding and feeling (under the sticks) drum...very full and fat sounding, very sensitive and crisp, never sounds thin or papery, throws the fatness of the tone across the room, goes to "tape" just beautifully as you mentioned...I love this drum so much that I picked up a second one! One would think that with that 25ply shell it would be all "crack" and very little body...not the case...In the words of Bill Detamore (describing my 1988 N&C piccolo SS), "it has an extra butt cheek." I can't recommend this gem of a drum enough... If you find one, buy one. You'll be surprised what this beast can do.

 

[GretschMan61]

The Tama Peter Erskine Jazz snare 14 x 4.5” is an incredible snare and not outrageously expensive . It has a hybrid maple/spruce shell with reinforcing rings on the batter side only . It has stick saver hoops and the same strainer as used on the Starphonic and Star Series snares . You would think a snare 4.5” deep would be mostly crack and thin sounding , but this has a ton of body and a very wide tuning range .

 

[Tyro]

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:

View attachment 577414

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.

Haha this - Gretsch USA Bronze - but in the 5” deep version was actually what I thought of reading the headline and intro. Both depths are great! Love the microsensitive strainer on it as well.

 

[katulu]

Haha this - Gretsch USA Bronze - but in the 5” deep version was actually what I thought of reading the headline and intro. Both depths are great! Love the microsensitive strainer on it as well.

Mike Johnston had the same pick and has a video on Youtube about how he had to show off the 6.5 version in the Gretsch "The One" spot featuring him because he had left the 5" prototype he loved at home.

 

[Tyro]

Mike Johnston had the same pick and has a video on Youtube about how he had to show off the 6.5 version in the Gretsch "The One" spot featuring him because he had left the 5" prototype he loved at home.

Thanks for sharing this, haha good story!

 

[Drumbandit]

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:

View attachment 577414

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.

Worldmax hammered brass 14x6.5" is quite underrated. I picked one up for £100 and used it live and on recordings and it's great!