Mapex Black Panther Snare Drums

Great Sound Made More Attainable

by Martin Patmos

Mapex's Black Panther snare drum line has been around long enough to  establish a reputation as a quality series of instruments. The five most  recently released models are essentially redesigned versions that, as the  company states, “focus on playability rather than cosmetic frills.” Furthermore,  these drums are designed to bring Black Panther snares to the customer at a more  affordable price than before. By combining this friendlier price with great  sound, these Black Panther snares have a lot to offer.

Our review group consisted of three out of the five new models. They included  a 61/2x14 Maple model (51/2x10 and 51/2x13 sizes are also available), a 61/2x14  Walnut model, and a 51/2x13 Brass snare finished in black chrome.

So What's Different?

The design differences for the new Black Panther models involve a few  cosmetic changes, and little else. According to the Mapex Web site, the drums  are “handcrafted to the same exacting specifications, and feature maximum  sensitivity, remarkable clarity, and incredible resonance.” When it comes to  those sound characteristics, I'd have to agree. But we'll get to that.

Our review drums feature small, lightweight oval lugs that utilize one-point mounting. Chunky, easy-to-use throw-offs operate smoothly, silently drawing the  snare wires into contact with the head. Snare-tension screws on both the throw  and butt ends allow for fine adjustment of the 20-strand snares. Nylon washers,  brass lug nuts, Remo heads, and 2.3-mm chrome hoops finish things off cleanly. And that's about the only noticeable difference. The hoops and hardware on  other, more expensive Black Panther models may be black chrome, die-cast, or something else. Otherwise, these drums are cut from the same cloth, with their  shell finishes complemented nicely by the traditional chrome hardware.

Black Brass

Smooth 1 mm–thick brass finished in black chrome makes up the shell of this  snare, which possesses a sound that is simply addicting. The shell's smooth,  mirror-like black finish was flawless inside and out, interrupted only by the  Black Panther and serial number badges. With eight lugs per side, the drum tuned  up easily and was responsive over a nice range of tensions, with the potential  to be tightened up to a high crack, or tuned down to provide a deeper tone.

At 51/2x13, the black Brass drum's size and tuning range gives it the  potential to be played as either a primary or secondary snare drum. Its dark  metallic harmonics rang fully near the edge of the batter, while the center  region produced a dry crispness that was wonderful for snare chatter, ghost  notes, and complex sticking. The response was immediate throughout a good  dynamic range. Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this snare, and found it  equally effective for chatter against a jazz ride or syncopated figures over a  double bass pattern. Addicting indeed.

Maple

The new 61/2x14 Maple Black Panther proved to be an exceptional contender  among maple snares. A natural wax finish enhances the yellow wood tones of the  5.1-mm, 6-ply shell. The shell itself is strong, resonant, and finely crafted.  Just tapping around the shell with my finger revealed some nice, resonant sound  characteristics.

The exterior of the shell was super-smooth, while the sanded, unfinished  interior had the faintest variations when running my finger across the grain.  The bearing edges were immaculately smooth and perfect all the way around. My  only criticism is that the seam of the outer ply, which runs through the serial  number badge at an angle, is quite noticeable due to the wood's light color.

The ten-lug drum tuned up easily and was responsive at different tensions,  offering a range of tonal possibilities. All the classic sound characteristics  of a maple drum shone through, including plenty of presence, full harmonics, a  woody tone, and great response at different dynamic levels. When tuned up, the  drum was crisp, articulate, and warm. Tuning it lower presented a solid fatness.  In short, the Maple Black Panther sounds like an outstanding all-around  snare.

Walnut

The Black Panther Walnut snare is a beautiful instrument to play and to look  at. Having never played a walnut drum before, I was eager to check this one out.  Boy, did I get a thrill.

If you've never heard a walnut drum before, imagine a maple drum without the  higher harmonic overtones and comparative brightness, and instead with a deeper  overall tone, rich lower and middle harmonics, and a darker, earthier presence.  With these sound characteristics, the Black Panther Walnut's dark harmonics rang  true throughout a range of tensions from low to high. The drum's earthy  character was exceptionally dynamic and sensitive, offering both rich brushwork  and the most astounding, thunderous rimshot crack I've ever heard. Seriously,  the first time I laid one down I was in such awe that I missed a beat in  disbelief.

The 5.1-mm, 6-ply shell was well crafted, solid, and resonant. The natural  wax finish applied to the smooth exterior emphasized the rich dark brown color  and the finer lines in the wood grain. Even though walnut is a rougher wood than  maple, the bearing edge was still quite smooth, while the finely sanded interior  maintained a slight roughness that ought to subtly enhance the sound in the  drum's interior.

As with the other drums, the Walnut tuned up easily with ten lugs per side.  However, I'd recommend experimenting with it at first to get a feel for the  drum's harmonics. As to the overall sound of the Walnut, I loved the earthy tone  and power it provided. With these characteristics, it blended well with  darker-sounding cymbals and didn't harmonize as nicely with really bright ones.  Owing to its unique sound, its volume, and its versatility, I loved this drum.

Conclusion

I found each of the new Black Panther snare drums to be well-made,  expressive, and versatile instruments that would work well in a great variety of  situations. By cutting costs as the result of a few simple hardware alterations,  Mapex has helped to bring the price of these drums within the reach of more  drummers. Plus, whether against black metal, dark brown wood tones, or light  yellow ones, that shiny chrome hardware goes with everything. Whether you're  looking to upgrade your snare or just looking for a new voice, these new Black  Panther snares are worth investigating.