Ludwig Supraphonic Metal Snare - Size?

[Oancient1]

I'm a guitar player with very little drum knowledge, but I'm going by my 15-year old drummer son one of these for XMAS. It'll be one of the 14-inch the black anodized (?) ones. The question is, what height to get -- 5-inch or 6 1/2. He is pretty rock oriented now, but not entirely and he says he wants to play lots of kinds of music. Would this make the 5-inch a better choice as being more flexible, or is the 5-inch to small for rock? He hits 'em pretty hard so volume should not be a problem with a smaller drum. Conversely, if we go with the 6 1/2, is that pretty much a heavy rock only drum? Or can it be used for lighter applications. At the moment we are thinking 6 1/2, simply because his current cheapy that cam with the set is that size. But I don't want to make a mistake and pay big bucks for something he won't be happy with. Unfortunately we live too far away from places where he could try something out.

I would appreciate any comment on the above or on the drum choice itself. Being a kid, his choice of brand is based partly one his favorite drummers play Supraphonics. I assume that for this kind of money I will be getting a quality piece of hardware.

Tom

[Farview]

You can't go wrong with the 5 inch. It is appropriate for just about anything. The 6 1/2 will work too, but won't be as sensitive.

Either way you go, you will be fine for just about anything, but I would go with the 5 inch because it will do a couple more things than the 6 1/2.

[Russtopher]

Ditto the 5 x 14. I have one and since i bought it, I've sold pretty much every other snare I own.

I *think* the black ones are actually Acrolites, as I've never seen an anodized Supra. Acros have 8 lugs, vs. the Supra's 10. However they're still great, very versatile drums.

[Farview]

That's right, the Acrolite has the same shell, it just has 8 lugs instead of 10. Still a great drum and only $100 on Ebay.

[JuliánFernández]

Originally Posted by Farview

That's right, the Acrolite has the same shell, it just has 8 lugs instead of 10. Still a great drum and only $100 on Ebay.

Well, that´s not always true... You won´t find COB acros...

[Farview]

Originally Posted by JuliánFernández

Well, that´s not always true... You won´t find COB acros...

I was talking about the "Ludaloy" shells.

[Farview]

[edit]I must have it the button twice.

Move along, nothing to see here.[/edit]

[elcholo]

ditto on the 5x14. Bought mine 2 weeks ago. I've slept with it every night. it's awesome. You strike it and the heavens open up.

cholo

[NightFlight]

Which one is it? The Acrolyte or the "Black Beauty"?

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by Oancient1

Unfortunately we live too far away from places where he could try something out.

maybe i'm missing something.....how can you live in Northern VA and be "too far away" from a music store? there are a number of Guitar Centers up there as well as MANY other WONDERFUL shops (Chuck Levin, Veneman, etc). Really, just open up a phone book, you've GOTTA have someone within 30-45 minutes of you that's got a supra.

i mean, it's not like you live in Fairbanks or Siberia.

that said, you really can't go wrong with either the 5 or 6.5. like farview said, the 6.5 won't be as sensitive to ghost notes and the like, but it'll have a deeper fundamental tone, which may be preferable depending on the type of rock being played. personally, i'm partial to the deeper drum.....but really, neither is a "bad decision".

you might also want to check out the Pearl Chad Smith signature model. it's a GREAT rock snare drum. although it's not nearly as versatile as the supra.


cheers,
wade

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by Farview

You can't go wrong with the 5 inch. It is appropriate for just about anything. The 6 1/2 will work too, but won't be as sensitive.

Either way you go, you will be fine for just about anything, but I would go with the 5 inch because it will do a couple more things than the 6 1/2.

I completely agree. I prefer a 5" deep snare over a 6.5".

[Oancient1]

Sorry for not getting back to the group sooner -- been a bit under the weather.

To the group -- thanks much for the replies and advice. Kinda strange how the 5-incher was well thought of among this groups, while the 6 1/2 incher was almost the unamimous (sp?) choice in responses to I got from a Yahoo drummers groups I posed to whom I posed the same question. Maybe the 5 incher is better for recording? In the end it turned out to be moot point, as the 6 1/2 incher is backordered till at lead March everywhere, and my son decided he wanted the 5 incher now instead of waitiing or ordering a 6 1/2 inch something else.

Wade -- Northern VA = Warrenton, which I suppose is not NOVA to some folks. Our local guitar (Manassas) told me no stock on the black beauties. I was gonna call and maybe ride over to Chuck's -- probably closer to an hour and a half one way at best -- but my son said to go with the 5-incher, so... I thought Venimens had closed their doors.

thanks again for the get backs folks.

Tom

[Farview]

A black beauty will set you back the better part of $1000.

[Oancient1]

Originally Posted by Farview

A black beauty will set you back the better part of $1000.

In my search, I discovered that there are two things called "black beauties", one cheaper than the other:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...res?sku=446281

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...res?sku=446282

I got him the cheaper of the two of course, miser that I am.

Tom

[mrface2112]

i knew veneman's in springfield had a fire at one point, but i didn't know they were gone. it's been years since i've lived up there (alexandria).

warrenton is really considered Northern Va these days? wow. i remember when Centreville didn't exist. to me, "NoVa" is that which is contained inside the beltway. but then again, i'm old school that way.

that's a great looking snare--y'all should get a LOT of milage out of it. congrats!


cheers,
wade

[Farview]

Originally Posted by Oancient1

In my search, I discovered that there are two things called "black beauties", one cheaper than the other:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...res?sku=446281

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...res?sku=446282

I got him the cheaper of the two of course, miser that I am.

Tom

They mistakenly used the same picture for both. The more expensive one has the super-sensitive snare wires. Like a marching drum, the wires extend beyond the edge of the snare. Like this http://cgi.ebay.com/LUDWIG-6-1-2-Sup...QQcmdZViewItem

[Oancient1]

Originally Posted by Farview

The more expensive one has the super-sensitive snare wires. Like a marching drum, the wires extend beyond the edge of the snare.

thanks.... I wondered that that was about.

tom

[RezN8]

Veneman's unfortunately went out of business about 5 years ago. The one in Springfield is gone daddy gone. The one in Rockville is now a Guitar Center.
Major drag if you ask me.

I think the closest music store to you in Warrenton is Melodee Music. (Rte. 7 in Sterling). Still a hike though. They used to be cool, but I heard the sales clerks there have somewhat of an atitude now. Still I remember they had a decent selection.

http://www.melodeemusic.com/

I think Chuck's is still one of the best on the East Coast. Rather far away from you, but you can deal with them over the phone and they'll ship to your door.

Then there's the GC in Fairfax, near 66. I believe Steve from Veneman's is the manager?!?. Great guy to deal with BTW.

Anyway, the Black Beauty 5x14 will serve you and your son very well. You can always swap out the snares for more sensitive ones in the future, if you so desire. Cheers, Rez