pearl, tama, ludwig, DW :convince me...

[GMSDrummer]

i have been saving up for a tico torres snare drum for quite some tine now. however, after i ordered it, and recieved it, i was very dissapointed in how it sounded, nomatter how it was tuned. so i sent it back, and now i have $400 to spend. i am looking to purchase a brass snare drum, but i need to know what to get. i dont need to spend every cent, it can be anything, even if its $100. but i need to know what snare to get. i am looking to buy either:
A.) 5x14" pearl FF brass

B.) 5.5x14" ludwig black beauty

C.) 5x14" DW collecters brass

D.) tama 5x14" kenney aronoff sig snare

what should i get? anything else to suggest? ever heard any of these snares? thanks alot if you can help me!

[GMSDrummer]

i mainly want a metal snare higher in pitch than aluminum. brass is my top choice, and from whats above, the one i think that i want the most is the DW brass. convince me what to get tho...thanks a lot guys!!

[creep]

post some pics of each

[Jake]

I tested the Tico for some days, and was dissapointed too. But the Ian Paice Signature, well that one sounded pretty darn good! That along with the UltraCast makes this weeks nicest snares...

[PADman]

GMS, if you haven't done so, you should check out the results of the 'Snare Drum Olympics' at :

http://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/sdo.pdf

[GMSDrummer]

i dont want to have you give me advice on what to get solely because on what they look like, dont tell me to get this one or that because it looks the coolest, i will, but im most interested in the sound....heres the black beauty, more to come...

[GMSDrummer]

the tamas, im looking at the 5x14" one....

[GMSDrummer]

the DW brass......

[GMSDrummer]

the pearl FF brass.....(i think that these are copper tho, same thing, i just want the BRASS ones...)

[disord3r]

The DW would be my choice out of all of those, with the Black Beauty in a close second.

[Tabla_Man]

If money is no object get the Black Beauty. However I voted for the Brass Free floating shell. For the price/quality it can't be beat. As I mentioned on another thread, I have a brass FF snare from 1988 and it still sound great today!

The die cast snare bed will give you unbelieveable snare response, better than any drum on the market.

BTW, if you really want the Black Beauty sound but want to pay less, get the Steve Ferrone signature snare. It's not quite like a Black Beauty, but it's close.

[JC]

Ill go for the free floaters. Go Pearl!

[GMSDrummer]

ok, good stuff, i think im gonna go for the black beauty, but i still want to know how much the DW is...anyway, what size should i get? 5x14" or 6.5x14"?

[PADman]

I owned both size BB's back in the late 70's before I made the switch to Pearl. The 5" was hands down the best snare in the studio and the 6.5" was killer live.

The 'Brass on Brass' BB in your pic is a wonderful looking snare but I personally wouldn't spend twice as much for it than a Pearl SensiTone Classic II brass.

For around $400 (street price) you could get a 6.5" brass free floater and BOTH the 3.5" and 5" brass replacement shells and have '3 snares in 1'.

[TLD]

I can name a snare that I thought I was going to be disappointed with, and it turned out the other way, I really loved. I'm talking about the chad smith snare. Its inexpensive, metal, and sounds great when tuned up high. But it all depends on your opinion, its your money. I dont know if the c.s. snare is what you're looking for.

[GMSDrummer]

hmm, well, im at an impass:

1.)black beauty

2.)pearl FF

3.) what size of each of those?

tell me which to get of those, and what size and ill be a happy camper, ive heard very many cool (that includes good) things about the black beauties, but you guys are tellin me to go with the pearl. so, whats it gonna be? like i said, CONVINCE ME THAT THERE IS NO BETTER CHOICE!!

thanks a ton guys!

[prankmonkey]

Having never played or owned a BB, I can't comment on it, although I'd love to. It has a mystique about it, that's all I know. And yes, I want one too!
But, I did own a Pearl FF Brass snare for about 6 months, and that thing just knocked me out! it was the 13"x3", if I remember right, a great little popcorn snare. It would pick up the lightest brush stroke, not to mention the lightest stick stroke. It sounded great at low volume, and came alive if you had the nerve to lay into it! I had to get rid of it, because it sounded so good I just couldn't help but beat the devil out of it, and it just wouldn't choke!! But my ears did. That's the only reason I got rid of it, the tinnitus in my right ear. If it wasn't for that, I'd still have that little hell raiser! Cheers, Prank

[Tabla_Man]

Just a couple warnings about the Black Beauty. These are beautiful sounding drums, but the fact is the new ones sound nothing like the vintage ones (even with the tube lugs).

The other thing is that Ludwig strainers just plain suck. There's really no nice way of putting this. I've had 3 different Ludwig snares and the strainers all broke on me, and they're about 35 bucks to replace.

Just do yourself a favor, before you buy one, just play the Ferrone signature snare. You may be pleasantly suprised, and you can get one for a street price of around 300 dollars. Black Beauty sound for 1/3 the price.

Steve's signature snare may be the best kept secret in the Pearl snare line. I hear alot of folks talk about the Chad Smith snare, and the 'Smitty' Smith snare, and Omar's snare. But nothing about the Ferrone snare, which is arguably the most beautiful sounding snare that Pearl makes.

[Brk]

Tabla_Man,

Ferrone signature is a Best sounding Brass Snare I've ever played.

[GMSDrummer]

woah, woah, woah guys, havent you heard the song that radio stations across america killed? Creed - My Sacrifice. thats a 6.5x14" Black Beauty. it sounds incredible!! then again, they're in a multi-million dollar studio. hmm, well, i think thats off my list due to the problems with the strainers, theres no reason for that, its just not worth it. well, im down to this now:

1.)pearl FF brass

2.)DW Collecters brass (AFTER I GET THE EMAIL BACK ON HOW MUCH IT IS!!) if its less than $450, then thats prolly what im gonna go for, but chances are, they wont be able to touch pearl's price.

3.) Steve Ferrone sig snare, how would this snare sound with a die-cast hoop on top? good? (or is the superhoop the best shot for it?).

then the next issue is: what size? 5x14" or 6.5x14"?

thanks a ton guys! keep it comin!!

[Tabla_Man]

Don't get me wrong, I love the Black Beauty. However the best ones are the vintage ones that have the vintage hoops and tube lugs, and are very hard to find. The next best ones were made 10 years ago in a limited edition series that had the old vintage engraving on them.

The ones made now sound OK, but as I said the strainers suck big time, and the counter hoops are different.

[GMSDrummer]

for cryin out loud!! i got my e-mail back from DW asking then how much the brass would be, and all i get is a "sorry, we do not sell direct to customers, please conact your local dealer". but i already TOLD them that i dont HAVE any DW dealers around me!! geez!!

[johnny13]

I've been a fan of Free Floaters for many years. I bought my first one about 15 years ago. That was a 5x14 Bronze Shell. I totally regretted selling it after I had purchased my first 8 x14 Brass Shell 12 years ago . I currenty own 2 - 8 x14 Brass Shells, 6.5 x 14 Brass Shell, a 6.5 x14 Bronze Shell and an 8x14 Maple Shell. They all have different characteristics but they are all great sounding snares. My 8x14 Brass shell is my favorite though. There is nothing quite like it. The drum has great dynamics not mention awesome projection. I have been recommending them for years and I strongly recommend it to you. You'll be hard pressed to find a metal snare that sounds better. Too band Pearl doesn't offer the 8x14 anymore....

[Tabla_Man]

Hold on to those 8x14 shells as they will be collectors items since they were discontinued. I used to have an 8x14 maple FF, which I sold and now wish I hadn't.

[johnny13]

Wow I feel like an idiot now! I just realized that I posted claiming to own Bronze shells when I jsut realized that it's Copper not Bronze that I have. Sorry about that!
I fully intend on keeping those babies? I had sold my first FF to my best friend at the time because he really loved it and I wasn't using it. I regretted it the minute I heard him hit it.

[Tabla_Man]

At least you sold it to someone you know. For me, I bought the 14x8 FF to be used as a symphonic snare because of the depth it was very versitile. I wasn't using it a whole lot, because most of the symphonic gigs I was doing , I was playing mallets, or cymbals.

Anyway I fell on some hard financial times so I knew I needed to sell it and sell it fast. I went every where in town, put it in the paper, went to every one I know, and the only people who would take it was at a Pawn shop, where I sold it for 200 bucks (it cost me over 400 because I bought a nice 100 dollar anvil case for it). I wanted 300 for it, but the guy told me "these drums just don't sell any more, now everybody wants piccalo snares". I'm sure that drum would sell for over 500 dollars now.

When I finally got out of a jam, I went to buy it back, hoping it would still be there. Alas no luck.

[GMSDrummer]

how is the brass sensitone classic II snare? it looks very nice, no anything about it?

DW finally got back to me, the 5x14" brass snare is $525 list. whats that regular? like $350? $400? around there?

get back to me on that sensitone above there** its doin pretty well on my list...

[PADman]

Originally posted by GMSDrummer
how is the brass sensitone classic II snare? it looks very nice, no anything about it?

get back to me on that sensitone above there** its doin pretty well on my list...
The brass sensitone classic II is my primary recording snare. Put die casts on a 5" black beauty and it's basically what you have. The drum always gets compliments from engineers... most of them don't believe me when I tell them it's a Pearl.

I have puresounds on it now and I'm gonna try out Pearl's ultracast uncoated replacement snares at a session this weekend. For half the price of a brass on brass black beauty, how can you go wrong?

[GMSDrummer]

ok, ok guys i get the fact that i wouild be wasting my money if i got the black beauty, ok? geez i didnt even buy it and i already wasted my money....WHICH ONE, WHICH SIZE:

1.)Pearl FF brass

2.)pearl Sensitone classic II

3.)Pearl steve ferrone sig snare (how is it with the superhoops?)

4.)DW collecters brass (list for $525)

[GMSDrummer]

anyone?

[Dry]

sorry havent tried the sensitone classic II, but black beauty all the way

[Pyrotechnic]

The ludwig black beauty 5x14 got 3rd place in the 2002 snare drum olympics, and the kenny aronoff sig. ltd edition 6.5x14 snare got 5th, those were the only metal snares in the top 5.

[cp999]

i was considering replacing my brx snare with a ferrone snare with my new kit thats being ordered now, should i call the dealer and do so?

[czx]

GMS, the magic with the Black B's, is that the shell is seamless. The Pearls have a welded seam in them. However, Pearl has gotten their seamed shell production down pat. I heard that Ferrone, and I was blown away. I was even more blown away by the discontinued Sensitone Classic with single flange classic hoops and clips. I have one in new condition and will sell it to you if you want it. I am getting rid of all my stuff, including my set/cymbals etc... So if you are interested, it is 6.5X14, brass, mint. It sounds different than triple flange or die cast.

[Tabla_Man]

That's correct CZX, that's the "beauty" of the black beauty is the seamless shell.

Pearl however, does make seamless shells with the UltraCast and Tico Torrez shells. That's die cast aluminum in there. Beautiful drums.

Just curious, but why are you getting rid of all your equipment? Are you gonna get new stuff?

[czx]

Yeah, those cast 3mm aluminums are seamless. I'm sure they could make a seamless 1.2 mm, or whatever the thickness is, regular shell if they wanted to, but they probably feel the difference is too small. I know there are some Ludwig freaks who would go on about that one, and there would be no beating them.
I am selling my stuff because our bass player, who took us one to two years to find, developed severe wrist problems, and simply cannot play bass anymore. We gave up our rehearsal space for the time being, and I am suffering a large pay cut at work. I had two Sonor sets, birch and maple, and just have three of the maple drums left, and the snare. I am gonna get something eventually, but for much less dough.

[ohfunkydrummer]

Don't overlook The Kenny!
I own the 5x14 Aronoff & it's great! And the Classic look is f-i-n-e, fine! And compared to the other's it's not that much$$$. Consider it!

[GroverDrummer]

The best metal snare line is that of Dunnett. www.dunnett.com

[Fixxxer]

DW EDGE baby

[GMSDrummer]

thats not in the price range. those are nice, but overpriced.

[GMSDrummer]

im seriously considering getting the sensitone classic II now.

good choice?

[Pyrotechnic]

i say black beauty or the kenny.

[GMSDrummer]

yeah well like tabla said, the throwoff sucks on the black beauty.

i agree. i tried one out in my local drum shop, and it was definatly VERY chincy (love that word). it kinda felt like it was gonna fall apart. but other than that, it sounded great!

[Pyrotechnic]

Yeah, the ludwig P-85 throw off is a bit outdated, BUT, as long as you take care of it, it will hold up just fine. I have one on my ludwig and it doesn't have any problems, sure it doesn't feel like a nickel drumworks, but it functions fine.

I'll have to disagree with you about the throw off being "VERY chincy." Mine feels fine, it's doesn't feel REALLY solid but it's not like it's gonna fall apart, but like i said before if you take care of it, you wont have any problems with it.

[I Like Cake]

Get the free floater or the DW

[GMSDrummer]

i like cake too...(well, only if its chocolate or marble. the other stuff is too dry.)

[GMSDrummer]

this brings me to another conundrum:

WHAT SIZE GUYS?!!!! HELP ME!

[Pyrotechnic]

I'd also check out the Tama stewart copeland sig snare, thats a 5x14 brass that looks really nice.

[GMSDrummer]

dammit! now the ultracast is on my list, EVEN THO ITS ALUMINUM! i keep hearing how sweet it is. dunno...

CONVINCE ME!

[Brk]

Originally posted by GMSDrummer
dammit! now the ultracast is on my list, EVEN THO ITS ALUMINUM! i keep hearing how sweet it is. dunno...

CONVINCE ME!

GMS ! Don't buy it :D ;) Look et my SWIM'DRUM' POLL-POOL !:)
http://66.40.220.17/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2243

I'm still loughin about my self... :D ;)
..such spontenious "JOKE" ...see ya dude!
Buy a ÜLTRACAST, it's a best i ever heard a real Workhorse !

[Pyrotechnic]

How about YOU decide ? after all, you will only be happy with whatever is best to YOU ! :D

[GMSDrummer]

but i dont want to order it, then hate it (like with the tico snare), so i ask for your opinions, very helpful might i add...

[Brk]

Originally posted by GMSDrummer
but i dont want to order it, then hate it (like with the tico snare), so i ask for your opinions, very helpful might i add...

Ok, Now seriously. I owned and played Ludwig Supraphonic /alloy-aluminium/ 5x14" very long time. Later i tray a few others Alu snares, inclusive D.Weckl model, and i don't like them. I said ok! "only Ludwig Alu is good Alu for me", till i tested Pearl Ultra. It's a realy good allround SD with dry character. Nevertheless I took S. Ferrone in my collection. Maybe 'cause of price, but not only...
I copy some other people review for you:

...Ultracast, I think it might be a bit "quiet"...
A Dry (almost sterile) sound and lessened high-end frequency's, which contribute to a lack of brightness and volume.
However, I found the Ultracast 5x14 to be a well crafted instrument and would make a great addition to any drummers' "arsenal".
Hope it's helpful. see ya GMS

[Pyrotechnic]

FF brass is not a bad choice.

I like the strainer on the FF alot, how it has the extended snares, a major + right there. The new ones have marching style lugs so you can crank the hell out of them without fear of a busted lug.

I'd keep it simple and get that FF brass

[Brk]

No, it's not bad choice.
'Can say FF is todays standard- reference, good to have near by testing a newcomer.

[GMSDrummer]

i think im gonna order the sensitone this coming friday, sound good to you guys?

[Brk]

Shure !

[GMSDrummer]

great!

[Pyrotechnic]

Sounds good, but i'd try it first before i just went and ordered it blindly.......

[GMSDrummer]

well, im really good friends with the guys at this drum shop, i even take lessons there. so i could just say that id like to try it, and they would order it for me (great guys huh?!!). but from what ive headr this is an awsome drum. and i think that chad smith used it on that VH1 thing in that vegas chicks backyard. it looks just like it anyway. it sounded AWSOME!!!!

[GMSDrummer]

LUCKY ME!! i called to order the sensitone, but before i did, i asked the guy which he would go for, the sensitone, or the ultracast....he said that he could order BOTH for me!!! so ill be able to try them both, then buy the one i like!! he said that they are both such awsome snares that he'll be able to sell them anyways.

ill post what i thought in around a week and a half!! thanks for all the help people!!! i REALLY appriciate your opinions.

[GMSDrummer]

ULTRACAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this thing rocks!!!

[GMSDrummer]

thank you everyone for your help in this matter, i REALLY appriciate it.

it certainly paid off. thank you VERY much my forum friends.

[cp999]

gms, are you really 13?

[Pyrotechnic]

i believe he is 13...BUT PLEASE, DONT START CRAP IN THIS THREAD TOO !!!!!!!!!

[GMSDrummer]

Originally posted by cp999
gms, are you really 13?

who said i was 13?

[Phi]

YO MAMA DID!!!! :D :p :D

lol, j/k. You made a good choice with the Ultracast. I have one on order form Roli. It should be coming in within the next 2 weeks (I hope *crosses fingers*). When I heard one at my local music store, I was blown away. It has such a fat crack with hardly any overtones. The snares are so sensitive and that beast is loud. Have fun with it.

Phi :D

[GMSDrummer]

THANK YOU! i will...

and you couldnt be more correct about its sensitivity. its killer.

[cp999]

in the how old are you thread, you said you were 13

[GMSDrummer]

dont see why its important tho.

plus...

this is the internet, i can say i am 89, and people would believe me. so i might be 13, or i might not.

but it shouldnt matter.

im 30

[Pyrotechnic]

nah dude, your 13, i can tell, not thats it's bad or anything......:D

[cp999]

im just curious how you can afford all that gear when your are 13, im not trying to start up anything, its just odd

[GMSDrummer]

Originally posted by Pyrotechnic
nah dude, your 13, i can tell, not thats it's bad or anything......:D

yeah it is. people would think, aww who cares what that little kid thinks.

[GMSDrummer]

Originally posted by cp999
im just curious how you can afford all that gear when your are 13, im not trying to start up anything, its just odd

riiight.

we (my dad, brother, and i) have very special connections with very many friends around us that own music stores. they can gives us very good deals.

my father is also a very succesful business man as well.

[ab]

whoa your 13 and your first set was a gms double bass set?? and youve got an ocdp AND and ultracast??? how long have you been playing???dang your family REALLLLLLLLLY needs to adopt me.

[GMSDrummer]

yeah, thanks bro. im VERY fortunate to have a family that believes in me and my "musical oppertunities and potentials".

ive been playing for about a year and 10 months, but people TELL me that it sounds like longer. i consider myself to be a very hard worker, and if it wasnt for my mom, i would practice all day cuz ive never felt the way that drumming makes me feel before. its incredible.

BTW, i also have the dennis chambers sig snare and a small pintech electric kit (which was my first kit, but i wanted an acoutic, and we all agreed that it would be better cuz the pintechs were rather low end).

[GMSDrummer]

and 1 more thing.

DONT think that my opinions and feelings toward drumming in general are at all "insignificant" or "mundane" because im young. ive done my reading and i know all the stuff (cept for BD and snare heads, theres so many of them).

and before i even CONSIDER buying something for myself that is OVER $20, i do EXTENSIVE reading and studying up on the product. just look at how long ago i made this thread, and the length of time that is between now and then! i value other peoples opinions VERY much before i would like to buy something. we spent nearly a year looking for, and reading about, the PERFECT kit. i finally decided to buy a masters birch kit, but then the GMS came in used (for 6 months, and didnt even go to a gig, so they ARE literally brand new), i knew that these were TWICE as awsome, and i love them. we got them for the same cost as the birch kit would be, because, like i said, we are very good friends with the guys at the drum shop that had this kit, and we are a very fortunate family, so we grabbed them!

im VERY blessed.

[ab]

i know, no hard feelings. weve been playing drum set for the EXACT same time and i love everything about drumming. im just curious as to how you make your money???for me- i mow yards,allowance,chores, good grades,etc.
i myself actually just got an incredible deal on a set of dw collectors. all brand spanking new , never been played 10/12/16/22 for $1490. this was a HUGE step up from my cb's, and i know im very lucky to have them.

[GMSDrummer]

i would love to earn some extra money besides my allowance. but nobody seems to need somebody like me.

congratulations on the DW'S man!

[Phi]

Cool, I don't care how old you are or how much experience you have. If you are knowledgeable about drums (which you are) and can hold decent conversations with out getting into flaming wars, then I will respect you. BTW, I'm 18 and play on a 6 piece MMX and I'm waiting for an Ultracast, a few extra toms and a Sabian "Mike Portnoy Performance set", so I still know how it feels to be looked down as a spoiled child, even though I would say I'm quite the opposite and it seems that you are the same way. Keep on postin' and rockin' hard.

Phi :)

[Warhamster]

Pick whichever you feel is for you. Apart from that...... PEARL!

[GMSDrummer]

THANKS Phi!!

i really appriciate the understanding.

and yes, like i said, ive done my reading, and i can tell things in the "drummer's world" apart.

thank again bro!

[ab]

hey gmsdrummer- whats your setup??? heres mine:
Dw Collectors Series maple in Azure satin oil finish.
16x22
8x10
9x12
13x16
pearl steel snare(soon to be rocketshells/stainless steel dunnett/ or dw edge by christmas)
Cymbals:
8" AAX splash
10" A Custom Splash
12" AAX chinese
13" Z Custom hats
16" AAX stage crash
18" AAXplosion crash
20" AAX stage ride

i use a pearl eliminator pedal, assorted pearl hardware, and dw 9000 series tom/cymbal stands.

[Pyrotechnic]

Your very lucky to start on something high end like that, with a great selection or cymbals too !

I started out with a 3 piece slingerland kit, it wasn't mine, it was my dads old kit. Kick, snare, tom, ride, and hats, the bare miminum basically.

This summer i bought a used (1983) 6 piece tama set for $400, and this is $400 that i just had in a bank account that i had been saving for a LONG time, and i had finally found something to spend that money on. As for the cymbals my dad bought a crash for his kit, but he's letting me borrow his cymbals till i get the $$$$$$$$ i need for my own.

For those of you who dont know, i'm 14.

I dont care if your 11 and have a 12 pc Masterworks with 20+ cymbals or your 45 and you have a cheap 5pc made in china ebay set with 2 cymbals, if you can play those drums well, thats all that matters !

[ab]

pyro- nonono, i payed for it ALL myself!!! i started out on a cb with cb cymbals and cb hardware. ive been working MY BUTT OFF to pay for all this stuff for 2 years. i got the aax stage crash for my birthday and hats for christmas. THATS IT. i payed for everything else myself.

[Phi]

$1000 of my kit was payed for by my parents as a graduation/birthday gift. I had to pay for the rest of it by working for my parents. They own a gas station and refuse to hire any employees. So, that leaves me there with them, working 17-hour days. I was supposed to be taking this semester off for rest and relaxation but things have a funny way of NOT working out. Oh well, atleast the Slim Jims are free :rolleyes: :p .

I started out a decade ago on some 70's P.O.S. Ludwig "Slow Rock" 4 piece set. Let me emphasize the P.O.S.ness. The bottom hat was cracked almost all the way around. The bottom snare head was held together by packing tape. The Ride cymbal sounded like the most horrible chinese gong, and the speed king pedal would break every 30 minutes. The floor tom's legs were stripped and every once-in-a-while the leg facing me would give up and the whole tom would fall on me. The first pair of sticks I had were so crappy that I ended up using chopsticks instead (yes, I'm asian.) But, I loved that set.

Now, it is resting on a family-friend's garage floor, collecting dust. I should pick it up one day and restore it.

Phi

[GMSDrummer]

im with all you guys here.... if you can play it, thats all that counts!!

however...

many times, if you have good equipment, you are more motivated to play them, cuz you'll need to live up to the awsome kit. you wont really want to play on a $200 kit as much as you will on a $2000 kit, right? if you are in a store, you'll go straight to the high-end kit to see how it is. especially if you have a lower-end kit than that one. therefore, i know that i need to live up to this awsome kit that i have, or i know that the money will have been wasted. but i dont feel obligated, its great that i actually need to play them!!!

keep blastin guys, its worth it.:) :)

[ab]

tell me about it. when i got the dedubs, my energy leval to play sky-rocketted. i now love everysecond of playing my drums. i feel more motivated to play.

[GMSDrummer]

exactly

[Phi]

Yep, all you (y'all) say is true. I started on a Fender Deluxe Strat Plus which was $1200 from Musicians' Friend (enemy) and I feel that it motivated me to become as good as I am today. I always want the best and accept no less (yes, I'm a poet too :p).

Phi :)

[luvmydrumz]

I just heard a Tico Torres snare last week and it sounded awesome. What didn't you like about it. This is the aluminum snare right?

[GMSDrummer]

it didnt crack. it was fuzzy. and when i had some pros tune it for me, and they told me that thats how its SUPPOSED to sound, well, NO WAY.

[Pyrotechnic]

Isn't the Tico a FF with a ultracast shell ?

I bet i could make that thing crack, it's all in the tuning and head selection, and snare wires.

[GMSDrummer]

that was the problem...the snare wires. they couldnt be manipulated into sounding good on and not rattling off. thats just the way the FFS throwoffs are tho.

[Pyrotechnic]

Looks like the FF has a semi-parallel throw off system, you could have just put normal length wires on it, then ran the strings straight to the head instead of over the bridges.

[Drummer1]

I agree. I own a ton of snares. The Steve Ferone is my current fave. I have Diecast hoops on it, great for rim shots and more focused sound. I know the super hoops will open it up more. I just did not like the Gold hoops on that drum.

I also have the Chad Smith, it is just killer. It is a much better Stewart Copeland snare than the current Tama offering. It rings like the telephone company on Mother's Day.

I have a few FFS all in Maple nit the brass. 3.5, 6.5, and a FFS Marching. FFS are great drums, use must use lock nut on them though. All of mine will detune without them.

Scott Phillips is fond of the Maple FFS 6.5 with a P3 on it also.


Luvs me some snares... I could go on, but I digress...

[Happy]

Always go Pearl. Try the Ultracast Snare Drum by Pearl before spending,or check out Eric Singer's Signature :D

[GMSDrummer]

read back a few pages.

[jszach]

I just want to say that this was a great thread. I learned quite a bit. I have the DW brass shell snare, however I have nothing to compare it too, since I just recently got my kit (BRX). It's the first kit I've owned in about 5 or 6 years and the best Kit I ever played on. I like the DW but it took me a little while to dial it in. I'm still experimenting with it. I don't know what it sounds like in a live sitiation because I have my kit set up in my house, but as soon as I get my chops back and hook up with some other guys I'll find out. I'm also impressed with the ages of some of the contributers to this thread, It just goes to show that drummers are smarter people no matter what the age is.

Joe

[GMSDrummer]

why thank you very much!...

[giantmink]

Hey GMS,

Have you ever thought about re-finishing a cheaper snare or possibly constructing you're own? That is practically all I do and it is a great way to come up with personalized sounding snares. You can modify any drum quite easily.

Ben

[GMSDrummer]

i could never find the time, the effort, nor the relevance and/or worth. convince me its a cool choice.

tho i would like to build a 6" tom cuz i keep hearing that they're really cool. however, i wonder if it would be cheaper to buy...

[giantmink]

Well, most of the time I could end up buying a snare but I find more grattitude in making my own custom things. For example, I got an all new Export Snare from a friend for 30 bucks... pretty cheap. Took off the green wrap that I can say was not installed well at all. Put wood filler in clumps all over it for texture, sanded that down, did some custom paint work and drilled spikes onto the shell. It sounds fairly good, it has a nice "pop" to it with the paint and the texture coat making it a little bit dryer. Plus... I got the satisfaction of making it look totally bad ***. I will post a picture of my works tomorrow.

Ben

[GMSDrummer]

thats sounds sweet looking...

love to see! cant wait!...

[giantmink]

Ah! What the hell, how do I make some of my pics smaller so I can post them, apparently they are too big.

Ben

[GMSDrummer]

THAR WE GO!

[giantmink]

Thanks for doing that for me, I think the e-mail in which I sent you the picture I was a little bit rude and did not specify that I actually wanted you to do that for me. Thanks for doing it and sorry if I was rude.

Ben

[GMSDrummer]

i dont recall that...

[revolution9]

from what ive seen and heard free floaters r the best snare for the price.

[Blank]

Check out the date on the first page...

I think GMS has prolly decided by now.

[Jookbox]

Originally posted by Brk
Tabla_Man,

Ferrone signature is a Best sounding Brass Snare I've ever played.

this is the best sounding snare i've played period :)

[Full Collapse]

Brass on Brass Black Beauty. But I by accident voted for the DW.

[Full Collapse]

Its good to start out with a high end it. Because in the long run you'll save money. I went from a Drum Zone until I figured out how bad it was to my Starclassic. You play a lot more with a high end kit. And now with my new snare coming by June, I'll be playing like crazy.

[plaprl2]

I choose other. THE free floater is a definite yes, but I have the 5 x 14 copper and it is awesome. I think it is more crisp than the brass. Trust me you should try one out before deciding. If you were close to Illinois come on over lol

[chilipeppermaniac]

I have never played the Ferrone,

But a drummer friend who plays many times a week has one and it sounded awesome.

Ferrone Sig would be good to try out anyway!!!!

Good Luck