I've always wanted the Gretsch USA Phosphorus Bronze; the downside is I don't have the $1300 to buy it.
Here I was gunning for either a Pearl Reference or Black Beauty, then I see videos for the Tama SLP Dynamic Bronze.
I never even considered a bronze snare until I saw Nick D'Virgilo demoing it for that music store he works for. Now I'm in must have it mode.
It's everything I'm looking for in a snare especially since I play aggressive music but it's also very sensitive for the times I feel like switching it up.
And even though it's 5.5x14 and I like deep sounds, it sounds much deeper than it should.
I'm in must have mode right now and it's also around my bday and xmas so that's making things a little easier to pull the trigger.
For anyone who's in the market for a bronze snare check it out.
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Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
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Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
I've always wanted the Gretsch USA Phosphorus Bronze; the downside is I don't have the $1300 to buy it.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
no one faint... but I had the opposite feeling.. I have been debating selling off a bunch of my snares :/
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Here I go again. Going to have to get in my bunker for a couple of days.
Simply put, anyone who pays more than $500 for a snare drum, is foolish.
"The dream one would be the Sonor Bell Bronze Artist Series. But that's $2-3,000+."
That should read Suckers Buy Bronze Artist Series. 2 to 3K for a snare drum. Surely they jest.
THE REASONS:
If you can tune, and are willing to take the time to do so, you can make a $500 snare sound every bit as good as this 2-3K snare.
Drums are such a individual instrument as far as the sound that you like, that basically, you could take any set of drums, outside of a Sears set, and make it sound as good as any top of the line set. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO TUNE THEM.
DRUMS IN GENERAL:
I have mentioned more than a few times about a guy that had 1 of the best sounding sets of drums I've ever heard, and they were US Mercury drums. If it were just me saying that, 1 could chalk it up to "Rick liked the way they sounded". The thing is that, over the years I played, I would run into drummers who would say to me, "Have you ever heard ______________ band. Do you believe he gets such a great sound out of freakin' US Mercury's".
It's not the drums you have, it's how you tune the drums you have.
I'll be in my bunker.
I wonder if there were any hit songs with a $3000 snare drum?
I was rereading a book by Alton Brown the other day, and although it was talking about buying kitchen stuff, it applies to a lot of things, including drums.
I quote:
1. The fewer parts the better.
2. Tools must be comfortable to use.
3. Do some research.
4. Don't fall for marketing ploys no matter how traditional their reasoning may be.
5. Never buy sets of tools unless you need every single tool in the set.
6. Expensive isn't always better.
7. Cheaper isn't always better.
There is definitely a point of diminishing returns when it comes to spending money on anything. There's also cases where being cheap can bite you.
In principle, I agree with you, Rick- especially when it comes to metal-shell snares.
A simple, elegant design is good engineering.
Axis | Ayotte | Evans | Gibraltar | Ludwig | Pro-Mark | Remo | Roc-N-Soc | SKB | Taye | Vic Firth | Whitney| Yamaha | Zildjian
Outside of my very 1st set of drums which were Kents, I've always played either a Black Beauty Super Sensitive or a Supra in my band days.
The most I ever paid for a snare drum was $325. That was for a '70's Black Beauty SS that I found on e-bay about 7 years ago. It was absolutely mint to the point that when it came, my GF said, "I thought you said it was used". She was shocked when I told her that it was in the area of 30 years old.
When I "retired", I sold 4 sets of drums that I had. 2 sets of Ludwigs, a set of Rogers, and a set of Slingerlands. The snare drums went with them but I kept a Black Beauty SS and a Supra and the Ludwigs I use in my videos. All the sets were 1 up, 2 down.
I now have a Black Beauty SS ($325), A Black Magic ($100, 2 weeks old), a Acrolite ( either $50 or $75 with the case), and a Dyna-Sonic ($300). Plus I have a BB SS and a Supra in cases at my brothers house.
Any ring was eliminated by 1/2 a popsicle stick under the head.
I wouldn't pay 2 or 3K for a snare drum (or any single drum for that matter) even if Hannah Ford came with it.
I'd honestly never pay $3000 for a snare either...that's why it's a dream and not reality lol.
But id have no problem paying $5-700 if I had the money for it. Though I've never paid full price because I usually always trade in something for it or buy used.
The only drums I'd look at in the 5-700 price range is are the Black Beauty or the Pearl Reference 20 ply snares. But until I have the disposable income I'll be sticking with the Tama SLP line..the Dynamic Bronze and the G Maple.
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
Right on Rick!
all the best...
I'm currently down to 4 snare drums.
Even though my life-favorites are maple, I have only one maple right now...................it is a 100% original 1964 Slingerland...........3-ply with re-rings.
I also have a Ludwig birch with a 6.5 depth that is really loud.
The other two................
A Gretsch USA 4000 series 5X14 COB;
and a Ludwig 7X13 Black Magic.
I have been addicted to the 13 inch snare lately.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
I'll admit I'm having a big dilemma.....I absolutely cannot choose between the Dynamic Bronze and the G Maple....they're both amazing and can do whatever I need it too....dangit lol
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
I agree with Rick ... $500-550 is about my limit and they have to be players' drums.
At this point, I have all the snares that I'll ever need plus a couple that I wanted to have just because ... a 2005 model 6.5x14 Ludwig Brass Edition (COB Reissue) and a '78 Ludwig Acrolite that I paid $60 for.
Every one of my snares sounds killer with the right heads and tuning and I get compliments from sound men and fellow musicians alike. All are Ludwig except for a 5.5x14 Nashville Slingerland Radio King that I paid $500 for about 10 years ago and a 6.5x14 Yamaha Recording Custom snare that I bought back in the early 80's for $100.
Lately, I've been lusting for a 5.5x14 Gretsch USA Custom maple snare. I keep trying to talk myself out of it but I'm sure one will make its way into my humble collection at some point ...
Last edited by dangermoney; 12-15-2016 at 09:37 PM.
I've only paid over $500 a couple of times... I hate spending more than that.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
Looks like the G Maple won out...only reason....price. Found a great deal on a used one for like $225 in great condition. Waiting on the ok to order it.
Mapex Saturn V Blue Red Hybrid Sparkle 4 pc
Ludwig 6.5 x14 Black Beauty
Pearl Demon Drive double pedal
Sabian 22" Paragon Ride
Sabian 19" Paragon China
Sabian 18" AAX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 18" HHX Xplosion Crash
Sabian 14" AAX Xlosion Hats
Sabian 10" AAX Aero Splash
Sabian XSR Fast Stax
Wuhan 8" Splash
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