Topic: What is your favorite Snare Drum?

[Toni Cannelli]

I have had many snare drums over the years, my Ludwig Black Beauty has always been my favourite (see video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ihbekoleY

What is your favourite snare?

[Jon E]

I like the 5.5 x 14 Ludwig Classic Maple I'm playing now.  But to me, a snare drum is a snare drum is a snare drum pretty much.  I know that's blasphemy, but.....

[Tim van de Ven]

My favourites are (in no particular order):

5x14 Pearl Ultracast
5x14 Premier 2000 (from the 70s)
6.5x14 Pork Pie Big Black (Pork Pie's Black Beauty)
and....anything else that I can tune to my liking.

[Chip Donaho]

Both my 14" Craviotto snares sound great. One is maple and the other is cherrywood. 

[Bill Bachman]

My favorite snare drum is a snare drum that's in tune. I get compliments on my snare sound quite often. Them: "What kind of snare is that? it sounds great!" Me: "Oh thanks, it's an in-tune snare." Wood is a bit different than metal and deep may be slightly different than shallow, but that's about it to me. In my world a snare is a choked off rattling noise maker, in the right hands with a tuning key they'll all sound great.

[Susan Wood]

My GMS super-vintage maple snare drum is sweet....

[JeepnDrummer]

I like all of my snare drums, but my fav of the bunch is a '67 Ludwig Supra 400.

[MOUSE]

 Tama 6 1/2 bronze shell, so versatile for variety covers music, cuts through but still warm sounding like a wood snare with little ring with right head fitted.


love the sound of the Noble Cooley classic alloy 6 x 14 but would have to sell the wife to get one, and the Tama is close enough anyway.

Anyone here own a Jeff Ocheltree snare? 

[Paul DAngelo]

I have to give some love to my '64 Ludwig Acrolite.  It's still crisp and really cuts through a good rock/blues set.  I bought it when I was in 6th grade for school band.  When we started our first band, I was one of the only guys with a "real" instrument, um, minus the rest of the kit.

[Andrew Stoutenborough]

Just to chime in on this subject. My favorite snare drum(s) are one(s) I don't own.

[Dave Heim]

Sorry.  I can't select just one. 

I've always been partial to Ludwig Supraphonics and more recently, Acrolites.  But lately I've been using a Trick aluminum snare for most gigs.  I also LOVE my Tempus hemp shell 12x5 snare.  Very crisp and responsive.  I've been using that drum a lot with Americana artist James Curley as well as for some concert band work I do.

[Bobby Boyd]

A few of my favs are:
-Craviotto
-Ludwig ss
-Oaklawn Camco
-Superdrum
-Eames
My favorite to look at is my L&L Peacock pearl Super

[Bobby Boyd]

The most recent drum I've heard and want is a Joyful Noise.

[Todd Vierra]

I have had many snare drums over the years, my Ludwig Black Beauty has always been my favourite (see video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ihbekoleY#ws
What is your favourite snare?

As a studio player the BB is my go to drum.

[William Brown]

well, let's see, for the past 8 years it has been a 6 1/2 X 14 Worldmax Blackhawg, single flanged hoops and clips. in my opinion THEE best bang for the $, PERIOD. second would be my Mackenzie Drums 1 ply vaughncraft curly cherry 5 1/2 X 14, w tube lugs, slingerland style "stick saver" hoops and a P-86 Ludwig Millenium strainer, this is a very sweet drum, third probably my Ludwig COB Supra 5 X 14 w/tubes and a P-86, this thing is just nasty to find the sweet spot on though, the tension rods are very tight in the majority of the lugs, so tuning can be an adventure. but once you find that "spot" she snaps. last but NOT least my newly (wanted one of these for 5 years) acquired Joyful Noise Beacon Bronze, also 6 1/2 X 14. this drum is way too new for me, i have yet to gig it, but it IS special, there is no doubt about it. some serious MOJO here i just need a lot more "seat" time with her and tweaking, right now i'd say i have it tuned medium-high and i like what it brings, very sensitive, just a wonderful tone overall, we'll see in 2 weeks what she does live. i also highly recommend Pearl Ultrasound snare wires, phosphur bronze end plates, very serious wires, check them out. i am currently switching back and forth a set of these on the JN, they bring a more FULL, WOODY tone. i play primarly blues so i put a lot of emphasize on rim shots and EVERYONE of these drums do the job nicely, i also have a 1947 Slingerland Radio King that pretty much sits at home these days, she is too "purty" and sweet to risk taking out now.

[Chip Donaho]

i also have a 1947 Slingerland Radio King that pretty much sits at home these days, she is too "purty" and sweet to risk taking out now.

I would love to have that drum. That's the year I was born. 

[Bob Dias]

I have my pick from a Rogers COB Cynasonic, a 64 Acrolite, a copper slingy, a keller maple, an ash stave...but the favorite might just be a segmented Burl Maple, 13 x 7. Aquarian  Studio-X coated head, RhythmTech wires, Sticksaver hoops, Trick Strainer, and a Groove wedge.  Always sounds great.

[Vintage Ludwig]

Its a toss up........my old Radioking, or Craviotto Timeless Timber 6.5" deep snare.
But for everyday playing and practice it would be my 1968 402 Supra. Tuff put that one aside lol

[Jimmy Jones]

I have a maple OCDP snare that I think sounds great. It was cheap and I needed a snare fast so I bought even though I thought it might not sound to great, but it sounded fantastic and is about my favorite snare that I've owned.