Originally Posted by
AndyC
They Say:-
My Yamaha Gigmaker snare, after 3 years of gigging WAY beyond it's intended use, (I more more less accidentally found myself gigging 4-5 nights a week in an Indie Rock band, and HAMMERING the kit,) started to get a few niggling problems. I decided to replace it with something better.
In the end bought this:- Mapex 14"x5,5" Special Thomann Edition Black Panther Snare Drum
What's it like' I LOVE IT! Opening the box, First impressions were that it was reassuringly heavy, and the finish was beautiful. I found it really easy to tune, and it remained responsive across a wide tuning range.
What's it like on the gig? Took it out that night on my Indie Rock Gig. Must admit I was a bit concerned before I got there as I wasn't sure if it would be loud enough. I needn't have bothered. With the original stock heads, at a medium tuning, with one moon-gell, it was plenty loud enough and had a full sound. Took a bit to start nailing the rimshots, as the die-cast hoop was deeper than my old one. Once I was hitting them consistently, they were really stinging. Actually, As the gig went on, I started to try to get less "Rim" in the rimshot as in a loud band, with earplugs in, with a full rimshot, all I could hear was the "sting" with no depth or snare response. Again, needn't have bothered, listening back to a recording, (Bless you My Zoom H1,) it had good depth and the snare response was there at all volumes and at all levels of Rimshot.
Because the music is never off in the club that we played that night when we are there, I mainly tune with a torque key. At the end of the gig I checked the tuning and had to turn each key, evenly round that head, maybe 1/16th of a turn to get it back to where I started. That was after an hour and a quarter of serious tonking! As it was even around the head, I put this down to the new head stretching/seating, rather than any tension rods detuning.
Overall, I'm Chuffed to little mint balls with it. Cannot imagine there's better, "bang to the Buck," available anywhere than this. As long as it continues to be reliable, I think I've got a brilliant buy.
Andy
*Sorry Andy, but I had to remove the commercial link. I tried to get you a pic, but it didn't work. If you can get one, please do because it's a beautiful snare. - PB*
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