snare size

12-13-14- even 16"

There's a lot of sizes and depths of snares to choose from, why do you use the size you use? What was it that made you go with what you play?

I have two 13" snares, which, oddly enough, was completely unintentional. I just liked the sound and when i got home, I realized I had purchased a 13" snare.

I want one of each, but pigs will probably fly out of my but before that happens.

6.5 x14, cast hoops. I have a maple now but I'd take that size in birch or brass as well. I have always liked the 'thock' you get out of a rock tuned 6.5 so preparation meets opportunity, there it was in the store on sale a la carte, BAM.

I put a Falams on it and am quite happy. This part makes some people gag but it's true.

I've got a 14", don't know why it makes the sound it does, looking for a new one that makes a good sound. That is about as specific as I can make it...

I've used a few, and I just ordered a new shell: 6x14 10-ply maple.

Right now I'm using a 7x14 8-ply maple snare, and it's a bit low pitched and too deep sounding. Too much like a tom and not enough crack and sensitivity, although it's very loud and big sounding! I've used 5x14 snares, and they don't quite have as much body as I'd like. The 6.5x14 free floater I had sounded kind of thunky because it was too resonant and the shell was resting on felt. And my 7x13 doesn't quite have the variety of sounds and low end punch of my 14" snare.

So 6" deep for a good balance of body and snare sound, 10-ply for higher pitch and more crack, 14" diameter for variety of sounds around the head, maple for the balance of low end and projection. And flanged hoops to open up the drum and allow a livelier sound.

ddrum s4 maple 13x7. i love it because you can get a higher pitch with it still being full sounding.

i also like the yamaha oak 14x7. idk why i just love the sound

btw, both of those snares are Pork Pie.

My main go to snare is 6.5 x 14- when tuned slightly high you get a really nice combination of pitch and depth. That said, I've got too many snares in too many sizes to list- 5x13, 7x13, 5x14, 6.5x14, 6x10, 6x12, etc. In general I prefer deep snares- no snares under 5" deep in my collection, they sound too thin for my tastes.

Equally important to the size is the shell material. Some people don't get why I have four 5x14 snare drums. You have to understand that a maple shell sounds completely different than a steel shell, which sounds completely different than a copper shell, etc. The 6.5x14 maple gets used the most at shows, but every one of my snares has been recorded at one point or another.

5.5x13 OCDP 20 ply vented maple snare

Very dry and loud. Its crisp as hell and the thing cranks!

My next snare will probably be a 6.5x 14 though, for more variety

7x13 vented maple pork pie little squealer. and a 70's 5x14 steel premier snare.

I have a little 10" snare. Sonically, it's more baking-tray than birch, but it has attitude and is great for funk: nice snap on rimshots and ghost notes are light, so don't clutter up patterns.

Cheap and dirty, but you are what you beat...

Main- Wit Percussion Oak 6.5"x14"

Loud and warm, very sensitive and responsive

Aux- 7"x13" ddrum Dominion Ash

Loud and crisp, pitched a bit higher then the Oak

Rockstar- Hate it

Yamaha Steel Snare 5.5"x 14"

Good snare but I'm not a steel snare guy. I use it once in awhile for certain songs

Possible find- Ludwig Acrolite

Found this snare in the basement at my house, we have two, my Mom lives in it. I'm 99.9 % positive it's an Acrolite and it was right under my nose. It was my son's. Gotta get heads for it.

From what I've heard from a lot of you, I should like it though.

Later

The arsenal:

13x7 segmented pacific burl maple custom

14x7 keller maple custom

16x12 1968 Slingerland field snare

14x5 1966 Acrolite

and soon, a 13x6 ash stave custom

They all have their unique voice and are very different.

The segment is very sharp and cutting (1/2" shell). The Keller is deeper with more bottom end, thinner shell, no re-rings. The field snare is the quintessential cannon...BOOOMMM.

The Acrolite is well, an acro. Metal, but warmer. And the stave??? well, I'll find out in about two weeks once I have completed the build. My normal general gigging snare are the segment and the Keller right now. That may change to the Acro and the stave soon as by blues group starts playing out.

Cheers, Bob

ddrum s4 maple 13x7 for me

hammered steel 12 incher.

me too! what finish is yours? mines the blueburst.

I had one of those ddrum 7x13's that came with a dominion ash kit. When I took off the hoops and measured it, it was most assuredly a 6.5x13.

I've had a few 13" snares, and had never been in love with any of them. I may build one of my own one day though, just to say I gave that a try. Probably from an oak Joshua Tree stave shell. I've had some keller shelled 13's and they didn't do it for me. My mainstays are 5x14 and 6.5x14. Wouldn't mind building a 6.5x14 mahogany stave too.

Pacific LXE Stock Snare - 14x5

Pork Pie Little Squealer - 12x5

Four 14"s. Sold off the 13x3. I'm most used to the 14 for cross-sticking. Commonality, so I can shift around parts such as custom wires, and various hoops, diecast, S-hoop, sticksavers, 1.7mm & 2.3mm tripleflanged hoops. Not having to buy new cases or bags when getting another snare doesn't hurt, either.

Boomerweps

I should add I'd like to get a 5x14 or 5.5x14 brass snare too. I loved my Chad Smith 5x14 steel snare...great size for a lot of styles.

I play a 5 1/2 x 14 Acrolite, and I'm fairly happy with the size, but my next snare drum will be a 6 1/2 x 14 Supra for the extra bottom end.

I had a 13 inch piccalo snare years ago that I kind of liked. I could get some pretty deep snare tones out of it when I put a two-ply Evans head on it.

She lives in the snare?

I have some 5"s, some 5.5"s, some 6.5"s, and some 8"s deep snares, ALL 14" in diameter.

My fave size is 5x14 though.

mines the purple fade