Is there any value in pursuing cheap, steel snare drums?

[Lennytoons]

I also found a Premier Hi Fi from the 60's in mint condition. Somebody bought it, put it in a closet for 50 years then gave it to Goodwill. Side by side with my Supraphonic it's very hard to tell the difference. Original heads look nearly untouched. Plus, the chroming is absolutely beautiful. Got it for $70 plus shipping.

 

[RickP]

I atypically dislike steel shell snares the exceptions being the Sonor Prolite (not cheap) and the Ludwig Heirloom stainless steel (very reasonably priced but no longer made).
I picked up a NoS Ludwig Heirloom 5.5” Steel snare to use as a backup snare to take to gigs . It sounds much warmer than most of the cheaper steel snares and it has the same lugs, hoops and throw off as the high end Ludwig snares .

 

[Soulfinger]

I love steel snares, even for jazz.
Have a Yamaha Stage Custom 6,5" (excellent drum, and not just for the money), a Pearl 13"x3" piccolo (superb. plays much bigger than it is) and a Gretsch 14"x6,5" that is a bit of a mystery to me. It´s a inexpensive import model, no hint as to what series it was part of. Got it for 50,- and it sounds great.
So yeah, inexpensive steel snares are fun - that´s enough value for me.

 

[Super Phil]

You owe it to yourself to check out Taye's steel snare. I got mine on ebay years ago for $66 and have been very impressed with it.

 

[A J]

I found something I liked on Ebay. It's a Pearl 10-lug steel snare, probably 70's-80's vintage. The photos were terrible, so who really knows what I just bought!?

I'm expecting it to be a fun rainy day project restoring an old beater. Once complete, I can work it into "the rotation" or potentially use it as a backup snare at gigs.

Thanks for all your feedback. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[JohnRick]

I also found a Premier Hi Fi from the 60's in mint condition. Somebody bought it, put it in a closet for 50 years then gave it to Goodwill. Side by side with my Supraphonic it's very hard to tell the difference. Original heads look nearly untouched. Plus, the chroming is absolutely beautiful. Got it for $70 plus shipping.

That's a once-in-a-lifetime-price. They normally go for 300 EUR+. I have one from -68. Supraphonic does not come close.
Normally Premier 2000, 1036, 35 or 36 are mentioned as the main rivals to the supra. OP should easily be able to find an old Premier 1025 och 1026 (8 luggers) for around 100 USD. A no-brainer since Premier had the best chrome in the business.

 

[PorkPieGuy]

Do you think owning one (or more) of these would have any value to a bar band drummer like me?

Not for me. Snares should be easy: Easy to tune, easy to make sound good, etc. Every metal snare drum I've owned sounded bad.

However, it looks like you've answered your own question.

I love metal snare drums. All mine are metal.

 

[rungeflash]

I think this japanese made Tama rockstar sounds pretty damn decent

 

[striker]

I found something I liked on Ebay. It's a Pearl 10-lug steel snare, probably 70's-80's vintage. The photos were terrible, so who really knows what I just bought!?

I'm expecting it to be a fun rainy day project restoring an old beater. Once complete, I can work it into "the rotation" or potentially use it as a backup snare at gigs.

Thanks for all your feedback. I'll let you know how it goes.

What is the model name? The 10 lug Pearl steel that I have is called "Pearl Steel Shell". Does it have a built in muffler?
Here is a picture of my Pearl steel.

 

[A J]

What is the model name? The 10 lug Pearl steel that I have is called "Pearl Steel Shell". Does it have a built in muffler?
Here is a picture of my Pearl steel.

View attachment 138721

The photos and description were so bad I can't tell you much. The seller didn't typically sell musical instruments and was clueless. I do know that the shell has two crimped bands that go around the shell. I saw this same exact shell in all sorts of Pearl steel snares to include the World Series. It has a muffler as well. I paid less than $60 shipped with an old stand. I may have scored a gem or just donated $60 to a unscrupulous Ebayer. We'll see.

Incidentally, the drum in your photo is one of the ones I'm watching right now on Ebay. I (or you) can still get if for $100. The one on Ebay is very clean with original heads. Since you're very familiar with this drum, a few encouraging words could convince me to snatch this drum. I'm weak. Very weak.

 

[striker]

The photos and description were so bad I can't tell you much. The seller didn't typically sell musical instruments and was clueless. I do know that the shell has two crimped bands that go around the shell. I saw this same exact shell in all sorts of Pearl steel snares to include the World Series. It has a muffler as well. I paid less than $60 shipped with an old stand. I may have scored a gem or just donated $60 to a unscrupulous Ebayer. We'll see.

Incidentally, the drum in your photo is one of the ones I'm watching right now on Ebay. I (or you) can still get if for $100. The one on Ebay is very clean with original heads. Since you're very familiar with this drum, a few encouraging words could convince me to snatch this drum. I'm weak. Very weak.

I already own the Pearl Steel Shell Snare 5x14 in the picture that I posted AND a Pearl Export Steel Snare 6.5x14. I bought both of them from local sellers and I had the advantage of seeing first hand what I am getting. So, I will not be buying any snares in that price range and class.

My next experiment in snares will be to buy either a Yamaha Stage Custom Steel or a Pearl Sensitone Steel to see if those will come close to the sound of the legendary Ludwig snares.

I am happy with the quality and sound of the $75 Pearl Steel Shell Snare 5x14. My recommendation will be to take it one step at a time. See if you like what you just bought. If you liked it, then you may want to buy something else if it suits your needs.

 

[AzHeat]

I used to have a PDP 6 lug 5x13 steel snare my band mates used to love. The thin hoops would cloverleaf, but the cheap throw off was one you never thought about. It actually sounded amazing and band mates always preferred to hear that one. It annoyed me so bad I told them I sold it for my new one. Never really understood why it sounded so amazing, but it felt terrible to play!

 

[Cmdr. Ross]

IMO most of those snares can yield a usable sound, but their hardware is the real weak point. Lugs will detune, strainers won't work correctly or hold in place, etc. Having said that, there's something to be said about having a super cheap beater snare in case you ever end up backlining a kit for a festival or blues jam.

This.
I love them as I can experiment with them. I took an old steel school snare and hand hammered the shell to see what would happen. It made it really dry & had a great look to it.
I'd never do that to a snare worth anything, and now I have a cool back up one if needed.

 

[A J]

I already own the Pearl Steel Shell Snare 5x14 in the picture that I posted AND a Pearl Export Steel Snare 6.5x14. I bought both of them from local sellers and I had the advantage of seeing first hand what I am getting. So, I will not be buying any snares in that price range and class.

My next experiment in snares will be to buy either a Yamaha Stage Custom Steel or a Pearl Sensitone Steel to see if those will come close to the sound of the legendary Ludwig snares.

I am happy with the quality and sound of the $75 Pearl Steel Shell Snare 5x14. My recommendation will be to take it one step at a time. See if you like what you just bought. If you liked it, then you may want to buy something else if it suits your needs.

The drum arrived today. It's a 5x14. Very impressed! It's super clean without a speck of rust anywhere! The heads, however; are trashed. There are a few minor scratches here and there, but nothing major. I scored a deal.

I'm in the middle of building a barn, so have to place this drum off to the side until I have time for it. All I'll really need to do is lube the lugs and swap out the heads.

 

[striker]

The drum arrived today. It's a 5x14. Very impressed! It's super clean without a speck of rust anywhere! The heads, however; are trashed. There are a few minor scratches here and there, but nothing major. I scored a deal.

I'm in the middle of building a barn, so have to place this drum off to the side until I have time for it. All I'll really need to do is lube the lugs and swap out the heads.

New day. New snare drum. It will be great to find out your impressions about this snare when you are done upgrading it.

 

[Juniper]

Hope you enjoy your new snare AJ

I have the 14x6.5 model and I can’t speak highly enough on switching the snare wires to 30 strands, fitting a CS Dot head to the batter.

That’ll give you even more bite to it. I’ve used mine regularly in recordings as it sounds great.

Very underrated drum.

Enjoy!

 

[A J]

Hope you enjoy your new snare AJ

I have the 14x6.5 model and I can’t speak highly enough on switching the snare wires to 30 strands, fitting a CS Dot head to the batter.

That’ll give you even more bite to it. I’ve used mine regularly in recordings as it sounds great.

Very underrated drum.

Enjoy!

Thanks for the feedback.

I went through my pile of spare used drum heads. I put a clear Ambassador on the snare side and a coated Emperor on the batter side. I rough tuned it, gave it a few whacks and it didn't sound half bad. I'd describe the sound as loud, ringy and not particularly sensitive (probably due to the relatively thick reso head).

Overall, I like it. This drum isn't going to be on anyone's short list of "must have" snares, but I'm enjoying what I'm hearing so far. Might even pick up another one.

 

[IBitePrettyHard]

There IS value in pursuing a cheap steel snare drum... especially if that snare drum is a Ludwig Supralite 14x6.5".

IMHO, the Supralite is the best-sounding Steel snare I've ever heard, at any price. There are $800 and $1200 steel snares that don't sound anywhere near as good as a Supralite. I will die on this hill.

That's right, I think the Surpralite sounds better than any expensive steel snare out there, which includes a cast steel A&F, stainless steel Dunnett, Sonor ProLite Steel, Gretsch Solid Steel, Yamaha Steve Gadd Signature steel, Yamaha Steel Recording Custom, or even a Keplinger. All these drums are good or even great, but I think the Supralite sounds better. And it only costs $200.

Since the Supralite isn't the prettiest drum, you can trick your brain by closing your eyes during this video and imagining that it's a Dunnett or A&F or Keplinger. We're all prone to making biased judgments based on how good or bad a drum looks. Trust me, closing your eyes can totally change your perspective!

 

[striker]

Thanks for the feedback.

I went through my pile of spare used drum heads. I put a clear Ambassador on the snare side and a coated Emperor on the batter side. I rough tuned it, gave it a few whacks and it didn't sound half bad. I'd describe the sound as loud, ringy and not particularly sensitive (probably due to the relatively thick reso head).

Overall, I like it. This drum isn't going to be on anyone's short list of "must have" snares, but I'm enjoying what I'm hearing so far. Might even pick up another one.

Looks like this purchase was not the disaster that we all feared. These cheaper steel drums are ringy. On my 10 lug Pearl Steel shell I have used plastic control ring and DrumDots jell to control the ring. I chose DrumDots to control the ring because with the plastic control ring the drum sounded too muffled to me.

Also, since I like bright sounding snares, I use single ply standard batter head which is Remo Coated Ambassador.

 

[striker]

In the brand new category, I am looking into:
10 lugs 5x14 Pearl Sensitone Heritage Steel at $235
10 lugs 5.5x14 Yamaha Stage Custom Steel at $139. I have seen these as low as $119 and $99 in the past.