Snare Drum Recommendations?

I've been wanting to pick up a new snare from a while now as, the stock one just isn't doing it for me, no matter how many times I tune it, what skins or wires I use on it.

I use to have a DW Maple Collector Series that I really dug and, aside from that the only other after market one I had was a cheap (by comparison) PDP brass snare.

I love the sound of brass snares so, I've been considering the Pork Pie "Big Black Bob" but, I think there's a time and a place for brass - some times it just doesn't work/flow. I'm open to suggestions, and personal experiences. Not certain on a budget, perhaps $300-$400 though, it seems most new wood snares in Canada start at about $500+

Got an Acro?

Everybody should have one of those on the shelf..

Try out a (don't laugh) Chad Smith sig snare.. It's really a pretty damn good snare for under a 100 bucks USD..

agreed re: the chad smith sig snare. that's a KILLER drum. i used one as my main snare for many years in my punk rock days.

it doesn't fit the budget but if you can stand to spare a few more bucks, the sonor danny carey sig is goddamn amazing. the only snare i love more than this is the ayotte keplinger i borrowed from a friend for a recording session many years ago.

the DC just has SO many tones in it depending on the batter and how it's tuned.

Ludwig supra

I have the Chad Smith and the Pork Pie Big Black.

For the price, those two snares cover everything I need!

Ever play a bronze drum? Lotsa warmth, almost woody, yet can bite when you want it.

I have the Sensitone bronze, which in addition to the above qualities has an immense dynamic range: very sensitive at the soft end yet will go wicked {censored}in' loud before choking. Good tuning range, too.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I looked up the Danny Carey sig snare and, from what I could find it seems to be going for $600+ USD and, in which case I'd probably just go with one of DW's collector series again.

In regards to the Supra and Acro, I've notice over the last couple of years here that a lot of guys really dig these as, they seem to be an industry standard for serious drummers. Definitely some thing to consider as, it would most likely be a matter of sorting my PayPal out since it seems the easiest way to procure one of these two snares is via eBay.

Bronze snares (did notice the DC was one as well), from what I've read they sound quite interesting as, the sound is described as having a warm, almost wood like tone. Perhaps a bit out of my price range, I'm not certain.

It's funny that you guys mentioned the Chad Smith as, it did kind of catch my attention. Price new seems to vary from $285-$314 here, though I did find one on CL dating back a month going for a firm $200.

[Edit] Just found a 70's Supra on CL for $150...

big black is a great choice.

NVM the acrolite hype. If you've got 300 bones you've got a zillion better options.

a supra is a great snare you might find for US$200. You might find a custom built keller-shelled maple snare in that range too if you want wood.

It's a buyer's market so be picky.

Thanks for the advice manoeuver, most appreciated.

I received a reply about the 70's era Supra and, the $150 the guy was asking for it is just an incentive to sell the rest of the kit he has up on CL - which is how I initially found the Supra. How ever, at this time he's not interested in selling the snare separately and, if he did decide to do such, it would be $250 for the snare alone. Looks like I'll revert back to searching.

i actually was playing a DW collector's (6x14 natural finish) when i got my DC sig. it just blew it the {censored} out the water in every sense.

you can hear it http://aenemated.com/transfer/music/LoveYouLikeNobodyCan/ here on tracks 3 through 10. i really dig a FAT snare sound. i tune it a bit more slack than most prolly would; but that's the feel and sound i like.

sorry to keep harping on this one; i just goddamn love this snare.

How about a Ludwig black magic? Recently added a 6.5x14 to my snare collection and I have to say it is quickly becoming my go to snare.

aenemated: Mine was also a natural finish, was a great snare all the way around. Interesting that the DC was more appealing to you, and I will say that from your link it does sound really sweet.

fesswrx: I've considered one as, the two models that are available at my local music store are in the $350-$400 range (prior to taxes).

I recently stumbled across two intriguing snares on CL though, one being the Pearl Sensitone Elite (bronze) that drumtechdad suggested which the guy is asking $150. The other is a Tama Warlord Masai made from bubinga, which is one of two snares from that series made from wood. Suppose to meet up with the dude either tomorrow/today (Tuesday) or Wednesday evening to check these two snares out.

Bro. you cant go wrong with a black beauty. Or a big Black Brass pork pie if you cant afford the ludwig. It also depends on price and what sound you like. do you want a High pitched smack or a Low pitched smack? Then price.

You're in Canada - what about a Tempus ?

My main snare is a Tempus FG and it is a very versatile snare.

Another one I'd recommend is an Eames Mastertone.

$150 for the bronze sensitone is a good deal. I'd then spend the rest you have set aside for another good cymbal or another snare.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

It is. Nice drum.

BTW, thanks Mel for trying to throw my in the mix bro.

Interesting. Which is which?

I'm late to the party but I will second these suggestions: Sensitone, Black Magic, Supra.

Also somewhat plentiful are Tama Starclassic Performer (birch) snares which to me are a sleeper drum -- sound GREAT and sell for cheap.

The Black Magic is THE most musical sounding snare drum I've witnessed at the local bars. Body with that honky clang in very pleasing proportions.

Thank-you for all your suggestions and knowledge guys, most appreciated!

Marko's brass snare looks pretty sweet, pretty good price but, paypal with a Canadian bank account sucks without having a credit card since, our debit cards aren't through visa like in the US (which was really convenient when I lived there).

towndog: I can't say I'm familiar with Tempus, might be worth checking out providing I can find a dealer nearby - again, Canadian music stores suck in comparison to American ones. Actually, I literally just checked CL and there is one Tempus snare, a Tempus II kit and a couple Milestone kits.

cearley: I did have that idea of just going with the Pearl and seeing what I'd have this coming Friday since I get paid again. I'm very much in need of a new pedal since mine appears to be some no name brand, that squeaks to the point that I can actually hear it in some preliminary tracking I've done. Also need to pick up a Beta 52A one of these days.

LSG: I've heard/read good things about those snares, I believe it's the slightly older ones that are more preferred to the newer ones - though, I could be a bit mixed up on that one.

Eh, if for some reason this dude doesn't follow through with the Pearl or Tama snare, I'll have to at least go check out a few stores and test some new snares out. Might do that tomorrow after I meet up with a buddy I haven't seen in years, he's surely a better drummer than I so, there should be some good conversation going on.

Once more, I appreciation every one's input on this matter. It's been an all drum sort of day as, I picked up the Tama Warlord Masai earlier tonight. This drum has one hell of a crack to it, and currently has a Evans Power Centre Rever Dot batter head with a Hazy 300 reso - I'm really diggin' the sound a lot.

Turns out the dude I bought it off of is friends with a fellow I work with, small town and all, figures. He had some pretty cool drum gear though, out of the four drum sets he had, I'd say the Gretsch 125th Anniversary four piece with gold plated hardware was the most interesting. Also had a massive 24" Paiste ride that he's selling.

Prior to that, I hung out with an old friend I use to go to school with and, we pretty much just talked about drums and recording for a handful of hours. I believe he plays a Taye StudioMaple with a Chad Smith snare, and predominantly uses Alchemy cymbals (which I'm not familiar with), has a partial endorsement with the latter as well.

Bit of a perk though, as my old buddy said that he had a set of double kicks by Pearl that he's going to give me, which I'm going to guess is their P-122TW model. Was a bloody good day.

Excellent! That snare is brass, right? Does it come with the gothic lugs?

That pedal is a good one, and Pearl keeps parts available for their stuff for a long time.

Excellent! That snare is brass, right? Does it come with the gothic lugs? That pedal is a good one, and Pearl keeps parts available for their stuff for a long time.

Actually it's bubinga, also known as African Rosewood - new one on me. It's one of the two out of six Warlord snares that's made from wood, with the other one being the Valkyrie made of 15ply maple. Yes, gothic style tube lugs (which I was sold on the day I saw them a couple years ago lol), and the nifty badge adorned with a black swarovski crystal. The sound is unlike any thing I've heard, I was actually really surprised at the tone before I bought it as I was expecting a warmer, fat sound that would be similar to a maple...I'm not really certain how to describe it.

Good to know about the Pearl pedal (assuming it's that one) as, I'm honestly not familiar with their stuff but, every one seems to rave about their hardware. I found the old DW5000s I had to be, kind of sub-par - which if I'm not mistaken I believe that DW changed things up a bit last year and, made the DW3k like the older DW5k and made the DW5k like the DW7k, and so on and so forth.