need help in choosing a good size snare

I have my heart set on getting a brady jarrah block snare. One problem, dunno what size to get and its a custom order so I cant try it first. My current snare is a oak custom 14x5.5 and I think it has all the balls needed for any live gig so I want the brady to give me more of a studio ready sound with a deeper tone. 2 of my fav drummers have used a brady jarrah block 12x7 for years so i'm thinking maybe i'll go for that. Can anyone give me some more direction?

It is really a personal preference in size, my 12'' sounds better than my 14'' to my ears... Brady makes some really nice stuff, I got to play an entire kit at the drum shop, and it was blissful.... But then again, I love the sound of a steel snare... I say go to a drum shop, and try ANY wood snare, in ANY sizes you can find, I would compare as much as possible... Have fun, and good luck.

i think indoorstorm.com might have some brady sound clips. I personally play a 13x7 akira jimbo sig. snare and would not trade that for anything. Get a 13, you won't regret it.

ooh 13 could be a happy medium.

bah.

5.5X14 or a 6.

if you're going all out on a brady, for God's sake don't get a flavor of the month popcorn snare.

+1 on what Hof said. Trendy will make you nauseous in a year or two.

I've always used 14s; a 6.5 currently. There's a slight problem with 14s though. The bottom head can't make enough tension. For me its a half step or two short of the "perfect" crispy rim shot. Not that I'd switch but 13s and 12s might be good extras.

I got a 13X7 I don't know about it being trendy, it just sounds good. I see no reason to play a 14. That extra inch don't do nothin, but get in my way.

its a bigger target for klutzo mchamfistson...

what are block drums? are those ones that are cut out of the tree in a "block" and kinda cut out as is, like just a solid part from a tree rather than "flat" plies that are steambent together? i dont know.

Both of my main snares are 13" and I love 'em. My main main snare I didn't even know was 13" until I brought it home and measured it.

I liked the way yours recorded, made me revise my snare wisdom. BTW w/popcorn snares, clicks, ironically rim shots, and gravity blasts for several will be somewhat compromised.

Agree, I was gonna say 13x7. Great sounding snare, poppy 13" size but the 7 gives it a nice ballsy quality.

Def a untapped GREAT snare size

Thanks all. as it stands 13 7 sounds good to me. might even go put the order in today.

basicly they cut the tree and glue vertical segments together. so you end up with no plys. solid is the meathod when they cut a round bit out of the tree but it costs a fortune.

http://www.bradydrums.com.au/block.html

thanks.

i was thinking it was when they just cut the drum straight out the tree as is. like this: http://www.spiritdrums.com/snare/making.html

check out these ones. be nice to have money. brady solids come with 24 carrot gold plated hardware!

http://www.bradydrums.com.au/solid.html

Order a 14 x 7 cut it in half and get 2 picollos.

thanks all. ended up ordering 13x7 jarrah block. should be love