Some drummers like to keep different models on hand and some even play with several at the same time, to alternate sounds. So even when budget is tight, drummers NEVER skimp on the snare choice, even if it means acquiring a lower quality drumset. How do you choose the right snare for your playing? And how do you get that perfect snare sound? A snare drum is a drum that has the unique characteristic of having snares built to it crazy, huh? The snares are thin metal wires stretched under tension that strike the resonant head, as well as themselves when the batter head is struck.
Originally, snare heads were made out of calf skin and snare wires out of cat gut, which are now replaced respectively by plastic and metal.
There are almost endless combinations of depth and diameter available, but some sizes and models are more popular than others. These models have names which are common to most drum companies and are usually given according to either the diameter , or the depth of the snare.
And so, depending on the depth we have these:. Benny Greb is well known for his incredible versatility behind the drum kit. So, when it came to designing his own signature snare drum, it needed to be capable of tackling everything from rock, to jazz and brass band, to a drum solo mid-clinic.
Beech is a rarely-used material in drum building, but it offers a similar character to maple or birch, with an added warmth and softness.
The thin shell is complimented by strand stainless steel snare wires, Remo Ambassador heads and chrome-plated hardware. Ludwig's Black Beauty snare drum is without doubt one of the greatest snares ever made. It was first introduced in and remains one of Ludwig's most iconic creations.
The modern version features all the tonal character of the original, but with the benefit of modern manufacturing processes. Each Black Beauty is made from a single sheet of 1. Each drum is dressed with 2.
The resulting sound is well-rounded, metallic and warm. Black Beauties are excellent gigging drums, too. Every drummer should own a Black Beauty at least once in their life. Find out more: Ludwig Black Beauty. MusicRadar The No. Included in this guide: 1. Image 1 of 2. Image 2 of 2. Tama S. A range of wooden-shelled snare drums to suit all drumming styles. Shell material: Maple. Shell thickness: 7mm, 8-ply Classic Maple ; 10mm, ply G-Maple. Reasons to avoid - Very little.
Image 1 of 4. Image 2 of 4. Image 3 of 4. Image 4 of 4. Natal Arcadia Acrylic. A well-built, affordable introduction to the world of acrylic drums. Shell material: Acrylic. Shell Thickness: 6mm, single-ply. Hoops: 2mm triple-flanged, chrome-plated. Reasons to avoid - The 14"x8" could dominate a small kit. Image 1 of 3. Image 2 of 3. For wood snares try this WallyY Platinum Member. Don't forget playability. Some drums have a certain bounce that you can't get from others.
I have a couple drums with very nice playability and a couple that don't. All the aluminum drums I tried had good playability. Lennytoons said:. WallyY said:. What's the link? I can't access as I'm in the UK. What's the drum? I can't open link as I'm in the UK.
You must log in or register to reply here. The next thing that you can do of course is to make sure you take a look at what snare drum your favorite drummer or bands do actually use. This information is usually pretty easy to find, and will really help to take some of the legwork out of finding out what is best.
See if you can try one of these out before you go online and make your purchase. With this in mind, you might want to go for a snare that has a look that matches the rest of your kit, which is certainly likely to have an alternative edge. The best are always black or otherwise dark and moody. Jazz is one of those genres where people really love to get the genuine, authentic sound right, which is why a lot of drummers ask what snare drum they should be using for it.
Nobody can tell you-you're playing the wrong type of snare to play jazz. Some will use very large and bass-y snares - some will use piccolos, some will use wood, and some will use metal. That said, as a general rule, wood is usually more popular than metal because of the warmer tone it tends to produce. And other different types of wood, maple is preferred, just as with guitar tops. Critically, it will also allow for some sensitivity and a really responsive feel.
Tuning makes a huge difference to how responsive your snare drum is, which means that you can probably use just about any snare drum for jazz if you set it up right. That will give you the best sound. Snare drums will naturally detune after being played for a while, and when you first buy a snare drum, it will take a little will for the head to be broken in properly. Once it is, it will need tuning.
Sometimes the sound will be uneven too - the same note should be heard at the same distance from the edge of the snare drum all the way around. This is because different people playing different types of music will have different sounds that they want to produce.
The first thing to do is undo the snare wires, which are the very thin wires that run across the snare drum head and give it the distinctive sound.
These are generally clamped into place and can be unlocked fairly easily. You may also have an instruction manual. Tighten each one up as much as possible; until the head only has a few millimeters of giving when you push it with a finger or thumb. Using your drum key, you want to begin with one bolt, and turn it about a half of one turn. Then, move to the bolt on the opposite side of the head and do the same.
Keep doing this all the way around the head, always adjusting in opposite pairs, until the whole thing feels equal, turning the drum key only a small amount.
This is the best way of keeping it uniform. You can test this by pressing down the same distance from the edge of the drum all the way around the head and feeling for any inconsistencies. Everything should be tight an equal, with no creases and a very smooth look. Leave the snare wires unhooked for now. Start by using your drum key to loosen all of the bolts to the point that the head is no longer actually under any tension, but make sure that the rods are still in place.
This will reduce the time it takes to go out of tune and is the best way of breaking it in. As we did with the bottom head, we now want to go round by hand and tighten up all of the bolts on the tension rods, of which there are usually eight. Do this in the same way as we did with the bottom head, in opposing pairs. These should be perfectly straight against the bottom head for the best sound. Give the whole thing a once over and check how it sounds with the snare wires back on before you get it back on the stand and in your kit.
You could pay a lot more for a different brand or model of snare drum and still not get a better snare for your money. The wood is wonderfully finished, whichever color you choose, and all of the hardware sits beautifully against it. No other snare drum on our list is quite so obviously a premium product, from the brand to the construction, to the tone and style. We absolutely love the way it looks, with that hammered brass shell contrasting against the chrome hoops and hardware.
The way it manages to straddle the gap between the warmth of a wood snare and the cutting power of a metal drum is very impressive too. We really like the way that you can tune this thing to do almost whatever you want, which certainly justifies the price tag.
And of course, the premium choice has to be a real quality product, and the Silver Series Gretsch certainly is. From the hoops to the shell, and the drum tuners to the snare latch, everything is made to a very high standard, and is sure to last a very long time.
You could certainly see this as an investment rather than going for a cheaper option.
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