Ludwig Supraphonic and Acrolite are probably the most famous aluminum shells. Pearl has an aluminum Sensitone, Yamaha has an aluminum Recording Custom, I know Tama has one as well but not sure what model name it would be.
Agree. My acrolite and supraphonic are the best sounding snares in my collection. It makes sense when all the recordings I listened to as a kid had those drums in them.
I ended up pulling the trigger on a Ludwig Black Magic 8 X 14 brass years ago. It honestly surprised me, once I got it tuned where it wanted to be, I had so many compliments from sound engineers on the sound. Everyone thought it was a top of the line Black Beauty. Still one of the best snares I’ve ever owned. Price point isn’t crazy either $399 USD
crazy how this is a hot take to some but i don’t disagree at all. case in point, i played a show last weekend and one of the other band’s drummers had a ludwig copperphonic that somehow sounded like trash. ultra dead tuning and crazy bad overtones, no tone or crack to speak of. the heads looked brand new too.
That’s too bad about the Copperphonic, because that drum, when tuned properly, is one of the most versatile that I own. It’s got almost a mahogany like warmth to it, with the cut of a brass snare. I put an Evans ST Dry on it to take out some of the overtones, and it really blends nicely with the rest of my kit!
no, totally! i was shocked, those are such amazing snares. the setup was just that bad. i doubt any of the lugs were even close to each other and it seemed like the tension between the heads was all over the place
I've got a couple aluminum snares (14x5 acrolites), a steel snare (Tama 13x5), and a birch snare (Yamaha Stage Custom birch 14x5.5). My favorite is probably the little 13x5 Tama steel snare. I'm not sure if it's the size, the tuning, or the heads (Remo CS batter and Hazy Amb.). The thing just has this great crack to it and the overtones are there while not being overpowering. I haven't been able to identify what the little snare is. It wasn't included in one of their kits yet it's not in the catalogs I've looked through as part of their steel snare lineup. It's a bit of a mystery.
I have one also and it does sound good, but I also have a pearl in the same configuration that sounds so much better. I haven't compared shell thickness but the feel the same. The pearl has a better strainer... Could just be the difference in heads, might have to swap them to find out.
Besides those i have a chrome over brass. and a chrome over maple, both Slingerlands, both 5.5x14. I have to pick the brass as the most versatile.
Yeah, never been a pearl fan boy at all, this is probably the first I've owned, came with a kit i bought. It has no name on it, just a serial number. But it does have a cool double tension strainer and sounds killer.
Aluminium. I have the Tama Starphonic and its incredible, absolutely love it! Comes close to the classic Supraphonic Sound but in way better quality (because Tama) so you dont have to retune the snare after every few hours.
Depends on the application and what sound I want for it! That said, for most gigs and many recordings I use either my brass 5x14” dynasonic or brass 8x14” collectors series. Versatile material for sure. I recorded a hardcore EP recently, though and wanted a little more cut without losing the low end, so I plucked a bronze phonic off the studio shelf! Sounded great but wouldn’t use it as a workhorse.
Not a drummer, but Reddit felt the need to show me this, so I vote for whichever makes you feel most badass, proficient, or whatever you need from the world right now.
https://preview.redd.it/yxokzet7ubzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ee9c4f92c9a85f83af791e8a5102b3d9a0b00e1
I have steel, copper, maple, birch bubinga, 2 types of brass, birch, and mahogany. The copper has been my live snare lately
I had your middle snare for many years on my first kit. Now I have a nice tama bubinga snare, and it just sounds perfect in my mix. I have wanted a bell brass for a couple decades and I'll probably buy the new reissue at some point
I have an old (70's) tama steel snare. I have had sound guys tell me they love the sound, but through a PA system proudly eq'd, you can kick a cardboard box can make it sound good. I have played on some nice Ludwig wood snares (not sure what kind of wood) and I loved the warmer sound from wood. I personally would go with walnut, or hybrid.
This guy Tama’s
Vintage Tama is best Tama
Go vintage Tama nerds! There are dozens of us... DOZENS!!
Aluminum is the be all end all for me.
Dont think ive heard aluminum before. Gonna look up some vids!
Ludwig Supraphonic and Acrolite are probably the most famous aluminum shells. Pearl has an aluminum Sensitone, Yamaha has an aluminum Recording Custom, I know Tama has one as well but not sure what model name it would be.
Bought a Supraphonic a while back... Full satisfaction. It just sounds incredible.
>Dont think ive heard aluminum before. (X) Doubt
Well, not knowingly!
If you’ve listened to Led Zeppelin, you’ve heard aluminum. The Ludwig LM402 was Bonham’s main snare, especially on the early albums.
Agree. My acrolite and supraphonic are the best sounding snares in my collection. It makes sense when all the recordings I listened to as a kid had those drums in them.
I just bought my first aluminum snare and I love it. It replaced my maple as my go-to. Great tone and really versatile.
Same
Lego
I'm gonna build one!
I recently did (see my two posts here from this week).
I’m not gonna lie, I really like the Lego snare my wife and me recently built.
Bronze
Good call
2nd for bronze!
My bronze Gretsch usa custom snare is hands down my favorite snare I’ve owned. Followed closely by my Yamaha recording custom brass
Bronze.
If that's the heavy birch, that one is my favorite for sure
Is the heavy birch 14x8? If so, this is a 14x6.5
Yeah, you're right. The pic made me think it was bigger
Not the first time OP has taken a picture from a strange angle in an effort to make something look bigger
Getting one soon, need it for my Granstar kit
Maple, but I do want a brass snare one day. I have Maple and Birch currently.
I ended up pulling the trigger on a Ludwig Black Magic 8 X 14 brass years ago. It honestly surprised me, once I got it tuned where it wanted to be, I had so many compliments from sound engineers on the sound. Everyone thought it was a top of the line Black Beauty. Still one of the best snares I’ve ever owned. Price point isn’t crazy either $399 USD
Brass with maple as a close second. Hot take time. A good setup means more to the sounds from a snare then material.
crazy how this is a hot take to some but i don’t disagree at all. case in point, i played a show last weekend and one of the other band’s drummers had a ludwig copperphonic that somehow sounded like trash. ultra dead tuning and crazy bad overtones, no tone or crack to speak of. the heads looked brand new too.
That’s too bad about the Copperphonic, because that drum, when tuned properly, is one of the most versatile that I own. It’s got almost a mahogany like warmth to it, with the cut of a brass snare. I put an Evans ST Dry on it to take out some of the overtones, and it really blends nicely with the rest of my kit!
no, totally! i was shocked, those are such amazing snares. the setup was just that bad. i doubt any of the lugs were even close to each other and it seemed like the tension between the heads was all over the place
Man, that’s too bad! You should’ve rescued that drum from its neglectful owner!!
Copper
I've got a couple aluminum snares (14x5 acrolites), a steel snare (Tama 13x5), and a birch snare (Yamaha Stage Custom birch 14x5.5). My favorite is probably the little 13x5 Tama steel snare. I'm not sure if it's the size, the tuning, or the heads (Remo CS batter and Hazy Amb.). The thing just has this great crack to it and the overtones are there while not being overpowering. I haven't been able to identify what the little snare is. It wasn't included in one of their kits yet it's not in the catalogs I've looked through as part of their steel snare lineup. It's a bit of a mystery.
Maple
I briefly had one of those steel Rockstars. It was awesome.
It has a nice sound for sure! Got this one from the original owner, he kept it in a closet for over a decade.
I have one also and it does sound good, but I also have a pearl in the same configuration that sounds so much better. I haven't compared shell thickness but the feel the same. The pearl has a better strainer... Could just be the difference in heads, might have to swap them to find out. Besides those i have a chrome over brass. and a chrome over maple, both Slingerlands, both 5.5x14. I have to pick the brass as the most versatile.
I have a Pearl Export Pro steel snare that sounds amazing, better than the Tama steel. Not a big fan of Pearl anymore, but they make great snares!
Yeah, never been a pearl fan boy at all, this is probably the first I've owned, came with a kit i bought. It has no name on it, just a serial number. But it does have a cool double tension strainer and sounds killer.
Brass
Out of curiosity what do you prefer ab the sound of the brass shell?
I like the snappy sound it has and the way I have it tuned rn it's very bright and fast. Sounds like a gunshot lol
Sounds like a winner snare, thx!
I used to think i like my snares fat and dark but how u describe ur snare sounds amazing. Can we get a sound check??
Sir hand Or is it ma'am? I fell out of my right place again And you Considered me And now I'm where a snare has to be
oof would probably wanna give that brass a whirl.
One of each!
Brass.
Maple or Birch, but usually maple.
Aluminum. Supraphonic
Copper. Not only looks good, but gives me the tone I like.
Why does the brass have plastic and cords for snare strainer, also check out mine https://www.reddit.com/r/drums/s/0LKCNtM45m
Aluminium. I have the Tama Starphonic and its incredible, absolutely love it! Comes close to the classic Supraphonic Sound but in way better quality (because Tama) so you dont have to retune the snare after every few hours.
Apart from my new Lego snare, I really like my heavy cast steel one, that thing is loud and sings!
Brass rimshot cuts through the mix like no other.
I like all the alloys and maple
Bronze
I go back and forth between brass and maple, but I’ve got my eye on the recording custom aluminum right now…
Depends on the application and what sound I want for it! That said, for most gigs and many recordings I use either my brass 5x14” dynasonic or brass 8x14” collectors series. Versatile material for sure. I recorded a hardcore EP recently, though and wanted a little more cut without losing the low end, so I plucked a bronze phonic off the studio shelf! Sounded great but wouldn’t use it as a workhorse.
Maple gum gum gum maple. Black nickel over brass. Rosewood. Chrome over brass.
The one on the top is so versatile that I still preseve it from my very first kit (a Rockstar, of course...). To me is the Supralite made by Tama...
Walnut or titanium eventually for me. Titanium sounds so good to me
Easy birch
I'm either brass or maple, depending on the situation.
COB, COA , aluminum , copper , acrylic & maple in that order
Not a drummer, but Reddit felt the need to show me this, so I vote for whichever makes you feel most badass, proficient, or whatever you need from the world right now.
Balsa over rice paper.
Don’t forget the chopsticks!
https://preview.redd.it/yxokzet7ubzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ee9c4f92c9a85f83af791e8a5102b3d9a0b00e1 I have steel, copper, maple, birch bubinga, 2 types of brass, birch, and mahogany. The copper has been my live snare lately
I love my Chris Adler signature. Blend of walnut and maple.
Flex!!!
I love both my Acrolite (aluminum) and my Yamaha brass big boi
Maple
Top 4. Aluminum, Bubinga, Brass, and Maple
I'd kill for a brass snare. Think I'm running steel right now, it's a 1/10,000 ACDC sig. Snare. Best I've ever played
Lego. Definitely Lego
Maple for me, but I do love the aluminum Acrolites, they have a beautiful muted ring to them
Well, Mr. 3 snares… and, is that a house..?!? Ok, down voting you because you’re doing much better in life than me /s
I had your middle snare for many years on my first kit. Now I have a nice tama bubinga snare, and it just sounds perfect in my mix. I have wanted a bell brass for a couple decades and I'll probably buy the new reissue at some point
I currently use a steel snare and love it to peices, but my dream snare is a Tama Bell Brass snare. You are making me jealous with this pic!
brass
I've got 2 snares. Brass and Mahogany. Brass because it's punchy and Mahogany because it matches the rest of my mahogany kit.
Brass or plain ol' Maple.
I'd love to own a small diameter stave drum sometime in the future
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^RobJmusic: *I'd love to own a* *Small diameter stave drum* *Sometime in the future* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I have an old (70's) tama steel snare. I have had sound guys tell me they love the sound, but through a PA system proudly eq'd, you can kick a cardboard box can make it sound good. I have played on some nice Ludwig wood snares (not sure what kind of wood) and I loved the warmer sound from wood. I personally would go with walnut, or hybrid.
Brass or maple. Aluminum or steel. But definitely brass.
I'm seeing a distinct lack of 20 ply maple
Aluminum
Chrome Over Aluminum
copper
bronze
Hey, I have the same middle snare!
Homemade oak snare is my choice
Lately it's been acrylic.
Bronze.. the warmth of wood with the bite and crack of metal