I played a Sonor Force 3000 all-birch kit for years, and it came with a 5" deep snare with triple flanged hoops. I felt it never effectively cut the din of [worship] guitars and keys. After about 5 years on that snare, I saw a sales special on Guitar Center's website for a Tama nickel-over-brass 6.5" deep snare, with nice leather bag, and bought it (see below; @Al Strange may recognize the pic
). The difference in sound and loudness was shocking, and more surprising, it changed the way I played; Less hammering rim shots, and more center-hits with far fewer rim shots.
, @Al Strange might've seen this before 
) for a bright, solid attack. OMG! It gave me another new sound. I tuned it high & tight, then low & fat and it was *so* fun to try new tunings. Naturally, it became my go-to snare.
, @Al Strange loves pic reruns). Once again, I was shocked at the difference in sound, and played this drum until... well, until I was ready for a new sound.
(hello @Al Strange! Recognize it? 
). It's probably the most unique drum I own. It's currently on my kit, but with a die cast batter hoop and Fat Cat adjustable snappy. I love it! There are a few more snare drums in my quiver but I hope you get the idea by now (I limit myself to six maximum 'cuz I'm not a pro).
and try out new things!
I originally began adding snares to my collection because I needed a wide variety of sounds in the studio. Same applied to my cymbal acquisitions. But unlike cymbals, snares (and other drums) can be made to yield a range of sounds. Sure there are sonic aspects regarding size, material, edges, head type, damping etc., but you don't need too many kits. Of course that didn't stop me. Basically, if a snare sounded good to me, and I didn't have that exact drum, and the price was right... I would buy it. Sometimes I would buy a snare I already had if the price was really nice.
Truth be told, I probably could have done all of my Weird Al recordings with just 6 or 8 snares tops. Yet, here I sit with 111 (I recently sold one) and I only use 4 or 5 of them.
A handful are rare or otherwise collectable, but most have been used at some point. My current rotation includes 6.5x14 Copperphonic, 8x14 Black Beauty (my tow favorite snare in life!), 6.5x14 Supra, 5x14 Raw Brass, and 6.5x14 Super Sensitive pre-serial (brass shell & hoops) converted to standard wires.
I normally play 6.5, and I have only a handful of 8" deep snares. But that BB surprised me, it sound spectacular at med-high tension. Occasionally there's a 5" I like, such as the Raw Brass. Every drum is different. My only criteria is that it sounds good for a particular purpose, and doesn't cost a million bucks!
Lovely pics mate, as you know I’m a huge fan of your work and gear. There’s nothing like seeing a great photo for the tenth time; I’ve started seeing aliens and paranormal manifestations in mine…might be time to seek professional help!!I played a Sonor Force 3000 all-birch kit for years, and it came with a 5" deep snare with triple flanged hoops. I felt it never effectively cut the din of [worship] guitars and keys. After about 5 years on that snare, I saw a sales special on Guitar Center's website for a Tama nickel-over-brass 6.5" deep snare, with nice leather bag, and bought it (see below; @Al Strange may recognize the pic
That's the opening of the door: I realized it's a good thing to be able to produce different sounds, and not be locked in to one single sound. (For some drummers, they have "their" sound. I'll never be at that level or in that genre, so I felt free to try things and play around.)
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After five years of playing this drum, I decided to branch out and try a wood snare. I decided on a Tama G-Maple with a 10mm thick shell (
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After playing the G-maple for several years in a funk band, I joined a rock band playing mostly 60s & 70s music. I knew that Hal Blaine had used a Ludwig Acrolite for many recordings, so, being a Tama fanboy, I opted for a Starphonic aluminum drum (
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By this time, I felt free to try uncharted waters. If I didn't like the drum I'd sell it without remorse. I chose a drum with very, very hard wood: the Tama Starphonic Spotted Gum
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Get yourself a drum rack
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.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here, but I reckon this isn’t the thread for you @Bozozoid ?!I really never play snaredrums that cause me to want to collect them. If I have 30 of them it would only be because I'm trying to find one I actually like. Let's say I do find one..I WILL find the room where it sounds like crap. I've heard recordings of black beauties that were dream drums only to buy one thinking it was my worst purchase yet. Collect them?..maybe in a straight jacket
Al...dontchya ever get in one of those tizzy moods where you just think PLEASE can I just have ONE snaredrum that excites me every time everywhere I use it!..Please!.
Oh yes! Mate, for the first 8 years of playing I only had one snare, my beautiful 1970’s Prem 2000 aluminium, then for the next 20+ years I had two after I added my Tama power metal brass! In the last 3 years my collection has tripled to a mighty 6!
It's the Tama KA154 (Kenny Aronoff signature snare, 15" x 4" deep). My local drum shop was hosting Terry Bissette (marketing guy for Tama back in the day) and having a 50% off sale on everything Tama. After talking with Bissette about snares and my desire for "always a new/different sound" he pulled down the KA154 and showed me how Aronoff tuned it for country music (low and fat). Five minutes later: SOLD!
(The kind words came from a bass player, so take it with a grain of salt!)As a touring pro drummer, you can easily get away with having 111 snare drums. Me.... as a part-time, low-talent hobbyist... I'm good for only 6 snares.
I'm fascinated that a "weird" sized 8x14 Black Beauty would be one of your all-time favorites. I'd have thought you'd gravitate toward more of a shallower, more "respectable" depth of maybe 5.0 or 5.5". I never would have guessed 8".
Personally, I've never spent more than $200 for a snare drum. All mine are used Pearl sensitones in various flavors: brass, aluminum, steel. I'm very happy with all of them. That said, I'm 59 years old, just starting to draw a pension and could be easily manipulated into getting a once-in-a-lifetime snare.
Incidentally... My new band had a barbecue. While we were shooting the breeze, we were talking about drummers. YOUR NAME actually came up in conversation. The bass player actually knew your name and had nothing but good things to say. (The kind words came from a bass player, so take it with a grain of salt!)
