What's the most versatile snare you'd recommend?

[mdrummer1805]

Hey folks, I'm shopping around for a new snare. Now I've got one snare currently and I'd like to buy a second snare, one that's really versatile. Something that sounds 'fat' and 'warm'. I did a session a while back and used a DW Collectors Maple which was lovely, but it's pretty pricey (around £450).

I've heard good things about the Mapex Black Panther snares but I'd love to hear if anyone has anything to share regarding these snares and which one (if any) you'd recommend I take a look at.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated Thanks in advance

[chilledbongo]

that's such a broad question....there is no such thing.....

i would say something brass 6.5x14 or 5x14...warm when needed, but loud and cutting when needed as well.

another option would be a ludwig supra 5 or 6.5x14....chrome over aluminum. good all around snare.

[erwinner]

Ludwig Supra 400.
Acrolite on the cheap.
Not so cheap in the UK, though...

[dudewuttheheck]

any joyful noise snare.... but if you can't afford it I think the Ludwig Supra or Acrolite would be great options. If on a budget I would go with one of those two.

[marquisjohnson22]

DW 6.5x14 maple VLT or 10+6
Pearl MCX Maple 6.5x14
DW, Ludwig, Pearl nickel over brass
DW 7x13 x shelled maple with rerings

[beermaniac]

Versatile? That has to come down to the size, rather then materials. anything 14x5.5 steel or 14x5.5 maple comes to mind, other details, imho, are just for the looks

[Kiwi]

I find my ES snare versatile, at least for the range I cover anyway.

[Drumming-4-Life]

Pearl MCX 14x5.5... maple, perfect size, affordable price = score!

[LDdrummer]

Pearl MCX 14x5.5... maple, perfect size, affordable price = score!

This X2! The MCX snares are the best bang for your buck you'll find! I could also say a good brass snare, as they are fairly versatile depending on heads and tuning, but I think the maple would be more universal.

[Josh Conover]

What is the "one snare" you already have? What is your budget? Most of these suggestions sound good so far... I'd second Ludwig Acro if you're looking to stay below the $200 mark.

[mdrummer1805]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I know it's a very vague question, so apologies for that, I'm just wanting to see what experience people have had with their snares etc.

The current snare I use is a custom made 13" x 3.85" Birch snare - it's amazingly versatile for the size, but I'm still after something else. Now I've come across a snare which is pretty expensive, £550, it's the Benny Greb signature snare. I've trawled through the internet and watched a load of videos and to me this seems like it could well be the snare. It sounds great cranked up but most importantly (to me) it sounds really 'fat' when tuned low.

Has anyone on here had any experience with it?

[nik12]

Based on what you already have, why not try a deeper 14" metal snare drum.

[trickg]

I think that a great way to answer this question is to look at the history of drum recordings. Unless I've missed something, based on what I've read the most recorded snare drums in history are:

Ludwig Black Beauty (brass)
Ludwig Supraphonic (ludalloy/aluminum)
Slingerland Radio King (1-ply maple)

If someone took all of my drums away from me, and told me I could have any snare I wanted but I could only have one snare drum for all of my playing, I'd probably go with a DW Solid Maple/Craviotto snare in a pretty standard size - anything 5" - 6" in depth by 14" diameter. I have yet to hear one of those that doesn't sound lucious and unbelievably alive, and it could be tuned to work for anything.

Having said that, I also believe that the Acrolite is a great alternative. It's a bit dry for some things, but it has an unreal crack that prints to mic exceptionally well, they are easy to come by and they are relatively cheap. I have one right now that I use a lot, and I have two more Acrolite shells as project drums, just waiting for parts and paint.

[trickg]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I know it's a very vague question, so apologies for that, I'm just wanting to see what experience people have had with their snares etc.

The current snare I use is a custom made 13" x 3.85" Birch snare - it's amazingly versatile for the size, but I'm still after something else. Now I've come across a snare which is pretty expensive, £550, it's the Benny Greb signature snare. I've trawled through the internet and watched a load of videos and to me this seems like it could well be the snare. It sounds great cranked up but most importantly (to me) it sounds really 'fat' when tuned low.

Has anyone on here had any experience with it?

I kind of missed this - I was thinking about snares in idealistic terms.

For what you are looking for, IMO you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with the Pearl Limited Edition Artisan II maple snare. They sell for a flat $199 brand new, and they look and sound fantastic. Every time I see one in Guitar Center I'm always impressed by it and the fact that it flat out trumps other snares on the shelf costing much more. It's killing snares that sell for more than twice that much. Granted, it's a wrapped snare, but the wrap looks like real wood - unless you look for the seam, you can't tell, and in fact I didn't realize it wasn't wood until someone pointed it out.

[Mendell]

Pearl aluminum sensitone are great sounding snares for the price... if you can find one since they have been discontinued. You can click on the link in my signature to see mine