searching for a good snare

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Hi_Flyer

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on a budget, of course... thinking maybe a used Pearl free floater on ebay? I have heard some guys play these and they sound nice. I have been looking at the Pacific stuff too, how does that stuff sound? what is the quality like? its fairly inexpensive...

I definitely want a wood shell, probably maple as it seems most common...

thoughts? ideas? suggestions?
 
pacific stuff is really good for the price. the 805 snares sound really nice, as do the the sxe series. I'd invest in a mapex black panther or a pork pie myself tough.
 
Don't go "budget" on your snare

I own quite a number of snares, but my absolute favorite "go to" snare is my Yamaha birch with the wooden rims. 14" diam. and 8"deep. It provides a great resonant center hit for blues and is responsive enough for soft brushwork. I love the wooden rims for cross stick and it gives that distinct "knock" for rimshots.
I still use my old Slingerland snare from 1962 and I still love it but it is a softer sound.
I have a couple of custom snares that were made similar to my Yamaha but with 10 ply maple shells and wood rims. One is 14" x 14" and I use it to get the field drum feeling and I have another which is only 5" deep that I use for small rooms with acoustic unmic'ed instruments with my smaller vintage kit.
Even on sale, expect to spend $300 + for a good snare. Not that your other drums aren't important, but your snare gets so much use and is the thing that sets the character of your stickwork. It's gotta be a real good drum.
 
well man i AM with rimshot on this one.... partially. This isnt always the case. all drums are different, even the same model in the same line from the same year. Go play a few, and pick one you like. While your snare defines your sound, you dont necessarily have to shell out a load of cash. I have a really nice snare that i built myself, which sounds awesome and amazing...... but my pride and joy cost me 30 dollars at a local music shop. just a crummy little stainless steel CB 14". low end CB at that. Sure i need a new batter hoop because mine's bent all to hell. oh well. i absolutely love the sound of my snare and i wouldnt let it go for anything. i'm planning on putting die-cast hoops on it, but other than that i'm leaving it alone. Sometimes you just have to wait it out a little and find yourself a gem in a pile of pebbles.
 
black panthers are great drums. there's always one set up at the jam night i attend weekly (there are usually 2-3 snares set up there, plus i bring my own) i believe the one there is a 5.5x13. really versatile snare, really sensitive as well.
 
I love my 14x5 Premium Brass Black Panther. That thing is awesome.
 
I just got my hand hammered 6.5x14 Black Beauty in and it sounds like a champ, but certainly over the proposed budget:) Other than that, my Gretsch free floating snare has always sounded pretty darned nice, and does fit the budget and the desire for a maple snare:) The Black Panthers usually sound pretty nice like others mentioned as well:) Maybe go with metal though and hit sleeze bay for a Vistalite?
 
Mapex Black Panthers are nice, and not too expensive. Ditto the PDP's (made solidly yet on-a-budget by DW). I'd say definitely check out the Pearl free-floater on ebay as well. You can get a pretty nice-sounding drum and not spend tons of money, but you should still plan on spending between $300 and $450 for one. Needless to say you want one that's in good shape (if used), with bearing edges that are sharp.

A company called WorldMax makes a line of snare drums called the Black Dawg, which is a takeoff on the Ludwig Black Beauty. I have one; they are around $300, and they sound wonderful! A great value. But I know you would rather go with a wood snare. I'm just throwing that out there.

Oh, one more thing: I'd also suggest (yeah, I know, another metal snare option) looking for a decent- to good-condition Ludwig LM400 chrome snare (if you're not familiar with it, you'll recognize it when you see a picture of it). It's the ubiquitous "chrome" Ludwig used by Bonham, Gadd and countless others. A true classic snare drum.

-Tom Hipskind
 
Tom, nice to see you here!

Hi_Flyer, you should listen to Tom Hipskind advice!
He´s a GREAT player and a really nice guy! :D
 
LOL! Fancy seeing you here Julian!

Thanks for the nice words. You're too kind! :)
 
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