Hi Snapper, My reccomendation as a drummer and (pseudo)engineer, would be to check out the line of Pork Pie snare drums if you have a Guitar Center(eeek) close by. A few friends of mine are endorsed by the company and they swear that the company won't sell a bad drum (reguardless of where it's sold from). Anyway, that's just my 2 cents. Good Luck! -Ryan