help me pick out a goodly snare

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phosphene
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Phosphene

Phosphene

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I don't own a drumset, but I'm thinking about buying piece by piece and I'd like to get a snare first. I'm guessing 14" dia., but I'm not sure about depth, definatly no piccalo. Maybe all maple shell? Type of music:Mogwai, Modest Mouse, Pinback, Sunny Day Real Estate etc. I've not owned a drumset in like 8 years, so I'm really out of the loop as far as knowing my stuff and what's good. I'm gonna go to some music stores and bang on a few, but I'd thought I'd get a head start/heads up from you guys. Amount to spend:$7.99-$300. Please do not suggest SOLO or anything that Meatloaf would use.
 
Well, this is a tough one.

#1: If I were you, I'd save up any buy a whole drumset, if you're goning to spend $300 for a snare drum, you might as well save up another $400 and get yourself a Pearl Export, which is the best kit you can get for that price. It also has a neat snare with it.

If you're still thinking of buying the kit piece by piece: finding an all maple snare for less than $300 will be hard, especially with the measurements, 14" and no piccolo, meaning about 5" depth...

You could get a Sonor S-Classic 14" x 5" for around $350 I'd say.

As stated above, I'd recommend you to save up, and buy a whole set.
 
You could also look into custom drum building. I built my own snare drum(cost me ~$500, but it's all brass) and I really love it. It looks beautiful, and sounds great, and plus, you learn a lot about drums when you can build them. You could start at: www.drummaker.com or www.amdrumparts.com
 
Thanks for the info. Does anyone have any info on what Slingerland models are the shit? I think I might want to go that route.
 
Phosphene said:
Thanks for the info. Does anyone have any info on what Slingerland models are the shit? I think I might want to go that route.
Click to expand...

Slingerlands are SHIT, not "the shit". The Slingerlands that are available now are cheap Asian imports.

You can get a Pearl 5"x14" Maple Free Floating snare for about $250. You can get a Pearl "Sensitone" 5"x14" Chromed metal snare for about $170.

If you want a snare that is good for recording, check out a used Ludwig Acrolite. It's a "beginners" snare that is made out of cast aluminum, and it is one of the most recorded snares around...for some reason, it's just got a great sound. You can pick a used one of these up on E-bay for about $50-$75.

Here's an Acrolite that is selling for $16.50 right now.

One of the reasons that I like these 3 types of snares, is because their snare systems are simple, and work very well. I don't like "clamshell" (Slingerland, DW, and Tama's that I've played) style snare throw-offs.


Tim
 
Ludwig makes great snares for recording. I don't know why, but for rock I'll always pick a metal shell ludwig over almost anything else. Acrolites are cool for cheap, super sensitive series and black beautys are just awesome.
 
I was talking about older Slingerlands. I had the impression they were really good jazz sets back in the day. the Pearl free-floater sounds alright. Thanks for the info, goodpeoples.
 
MAKE YOUR OWN!
Seriously... buy some precut/predrilled wood (from www.drummaker.com), shave the bering edges to your preference, sand some snare beds, buy hardware, screw it all together, buy a nice wrap(or stain/polish it like the pros) and pick out some decent heads, and you've got one heck of a snare. ;)
 
Phosphene said:
I was talking about older Slingerlands. I had the impression they were really good jazz sets back in the day. the Pearl free-floater sounds alright. Thanks for the info, goodpeoples.
Click to expand...


Yeah, the old Slingerlands aren't bad if you can find one in good shape, but I still hate their Snare strainer/throw-off system.

The new ones are....let's just say that they are definitely "econo" snares.


Tim
 
Tim Brown said:
Slingerlands are SHIT, not "the shit". The Slingerlands that are available now are cheap Asian imports.

You can get a Pearl 5"x14" Maple Free Floating snare for about $250. You can get a Pearl "Sensitone" 5"x14" Chromed metal snare for about $170.

If you want a snare that is good for recording, check out a used Ludwig Acrolite. It's a "beginners" snare that is made out of cast aluminum, and it is one of the most recorded snares around...for some reason, it's just got a great sound. You can pick a used one of these up on E-bay for about $50-$75.

Here's an Acrolite that is selling for $16.50 right now.

One of the reasons that I like these 3 types of snares, is because their snare systems are simple, and work very well. I don't like "clamshell" (Slingerland, DW, and Tama's that I've played) style snare throw-offs.


Tim
Click to expand...

Ironically, that's the first drum that I've ever owned!
 
Phosphene said:
Thanks for the info. Does anyone have any info on what Slingerland models are the shit? I think I might want to go that route.
Click to expand...

Just so you know, when Buddy Rich was endorsing Slingerland Drums, he refused to play their snare drums. Buddy Rich's favorite snare was a Fibes SFT model. He used to really piss off the folks at Slingerland by using the Fibes snare drum. They are available through www.fibes.com
I have been playing drums for 32 years. I have played every snare drum out there. For the past three years I have been playing a Fibes SFT model snare and refuse to play anything else.
 
Any maple AYOTTE.
Then again I am pregidise I AM CANADIAN
 
Old Slingerlands are beautiful kits, listen to Tortoise to hear what i mean. I play a Pearl Jr Robinson signature snare, generally i'm not too keen on signature models as i've found they lack character, but that snare is the mutt's nuts. You can get a really nice high, ringing cracking sort of sound (think Helmet for example), but also get amazing response when it's tuned down to get that Sunny Day Real Estate vibe thang whatever. Have you heard Spiderland by Slint? For a start, listen to the drumming, really opened my eyes (ears) to the idea of subtlety and phrasing in drumming, but also the sound of the drums is ultra-superior.
 
Exactly. Spiderland is a good album. SDRE & Tortoise are excellent...thanks all for your posts.
 
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