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About Bronze Snares

heartbeat said:
While I'd love a re-issued Tama BB, I just couldn't bring myself to pay $4k, so I went with the Gretsch Bell Brass. I really think these are a steal at their current price. Absolutely love this snare (in the limited aged patina finish).

View attachment 159541
Click to expand...
heartbeat--very nice drum! The patina on this model is awesome. Shane Kinney at Drum Center Portsmouth speaks highly of this drum. In his words the Gretsch Bell Brass has a slightly less tuning range than the TAMA Bell Brass but the Gretsch has a killer pop. I would love to add this one to my studio arsenal someday. But at this point I just can't justify the price of the TAMA Bell Brass. If I had a crystal ball that convinced me the latest reissue of the TAMA Bell Brass would go the route of vintage guitars and skyrocket in value, only then I might reconsider pulling the trigger on one.
 
jda said:
Look how rare Chrome Over Brass is in Ludwig then see how ordinarily common they have been (for 60 years) with Gretsch

the original Supra (ie Ludwig 400 was COB) then the drift to kitchen sink oops Aluminum.
Ludwig should be ashamed
There's been very few (in modern time) COB Ludwig.
And that the prettiest sound to me: gretsch 4160 Don't tell anyone keep it a 66 year secret
Click to expand...

I do not mean to steer away from the main subject of this thread, but I will make one post and I will leave it at that. Agree or disagree, this is my understanding so far.

My understanding regarding Ludwig is that the Ludwig COB has not one, but two other fierce competitors - from Ludwig itself.
The first is the Hal Blaine and John Bonham's favorite snare, which is the Ludwig Chrome over Aluminum Supraphonic (aka the most recorded snare in history). The second is the Ludwig Black Nickel over Brass (aka the Black Beauty or the second most recorded snare in history).
 
heartbeat said:
While I'd love a re-issued Tama BB, I just couldn't bring myself to pay $4k, so I went with the Gretsch Bell Brass. I really think these are a steal at their current price. Absolutely love this snare (in the limited aged patina finish).

View attachment 159541
Click to expand...

Can we talk about that custom badge on your case? What a super-cool idea!!!
 
"Ludwig’s Chrome over Brass snare drum, introduced in 1960 as the Super Ludwig, was the predecessor to the Supraphonic. The brass alloy coupled with a chrome plating offers the musical undertones favored of brass with just the right touch of added focus and treble.

Though short lived from its original release, the COB would go on to become one of the most sought after and in demand drums that would lead to its re-release in the 90's."

1753368211644.png

Has die cast hoops and why isn't this chrome shiny
Frankly I didn't even know this drum was on offer does anyone know I never see one in use..
Why isn't that chrome shiny

Ludwig Drums :: Chrome-Over-Brass

Seamless, chrome-plated brass shell with tube lugs
www.ludwig-drums.com www.ludwig-drums.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
the 90s Special Limited edition I remember pre-internet

Used Ludwig 14X5 LB400BTM Brass Edition Supraphonic Chrome Drum Chrome 210​


1753368990352.png


Ludwig Used Ludwig 14X5 LB400BTM Brass Edition Supraphonic Chrome Drum

Get the guaranteed best price on Snare Drums like the Ludwig Used Ludwig 14X5 LB400BTM Brass Edition Supraphonic Chrome Drum at Musician's Friend. Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of...
www.musiciansfriend.com www.musiciansfriend.com
 
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jda said:
"Ludwig’s Chrome over Brass snare drum, introduced in 1960 as the Super Ludwig, was the predecessor to the Supraphonic. The brass alloy coupled with a chrome plating offers the musical undertones favored of brass with just the right touch of added focus and treble.

Though short lived from its original release, the COB would go on to become one of the most sought after and in demand drums that would lead to its re-release in the 90's."

View attachment 159651

Has die cast hoops and why isn't this chrome shiny
Frankly I didn't even know this drum was on offer does anyone know I never see one in use..
Why isn't that chrome shiny

Ludwig Drums :: Chrome-Over-Brass

Seamless, chrome-plated brass shell with tube lugs
www.ludwig-drums.com www.ludwig-drums.com
Click to expand...
Apparently you can get them in shiny chrome, too…

memphisdrumshop.com

Ludwig 14x6.5 Chrome Over Brass Snare Drum (LB402B)

The Ludwig 14x6.5 Chrome Over Brass Snare Drum (LB402B) features a seamless 1.2mm chrome-plated brass shell with 45 degree bearing edges, 10 Imperial lugs, 2.3mm triple-flanged hoops, P88 throw-off, P35 butt plate, 18-strand snare wires, Remo Coated drumhead with Ludwig logo, chrome hardware...
memphisdrumshop.com memphisdrumshop.com
 
That price is fair Jimmy and probably a heck-of-a drum...


Wonder if a 5 x 14 version is on offer too.
~~~~~~
In My Opinion :d That COB should be the Top Line Ludwig snare drum above the Black Beauty- maybe that's why- they want the Black Beauty to be the apple of drummers eye and maybe is cheaper to plate than Chrome; more profit in the Black Beauty than in the COB or that matte-silver over brass
- says Gretsch enthusiast
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
unless it's hidden in some deep corner,
I have to wonder why that "brass Supra" isn't on the company's website
 
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Looks shiny there, does it ?'


Ludwig has so many variants of top end snares "seems"...they can't categorize them all on their website.

I'd like to see High price to Low of every Ludwig brass snare drum available. Some have only a $10-$20 difference...if you haven't Google browser 427.2 Memphis website is difficult



`````````````
whew that Took Forever..
 
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that's how I remember my first snare drum sounding (with it's drumset) Now I'm positive it was a COB "supra/400"



love hearing it right now backs me in to 13 years old again and 14..
ball bat muffle red felt 1962 clip with wood block twin tom post set.

I'll never go back to Ludwig "so many drums so little time" but if I did that snare right there would be my First stop.

memphisdrumshop.com

Ludwig Ludwig Super Ludwig Snare Drum 14x5 (LB400BN)

The 14x5 Ludwig Super Ludwig Snare Drum (LB400BN) has a seamless chrome over brass shell. This Ludwig snare drum has triple-flanged hoops, 45-degree bearing edges, 10 Imperial lugs, P88 throw-off, P35 butt-plate, 20-strand snare wires, and a Ludwig medium drumhead by Remo. This snare drum has a...
memphisdrumshop.com memphisdrumshop.com

started with cars 1965 age 9 guitar lesson at 12 drums at 13...
there's the set (with contact paper on bass/ 20/12/12/16/ brass supra) that's 13/14 summer before Freshman HS year I had a little break riding bikes. Minor healed back stronger..

JDA70.jpg

I sprayed the 400's top head Red...lol I remember :) How could I forget..
 
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Living Dead Drummer said:
I think the fact that all of my favorite records and drummers used Bell Brass (Bronze) snare's, especially in the early 90's, made me want one.
I had the pleasure of renting one from Drum Doctors many years ago. That was the first time I got to actually play one. After that it was like chasing the dragon, mostly because of the price tag. I finally got my hands on one a few years ago. It was a custom job, collaborated by three different sources. The shell, a 3mm bronze, was obtained by a company in Taiwan. Yamaha supplied all the hardware, as I'm a Yamaha artist, I wanted it to stay in line with the company. However, they lacked the tooling needed to drill such a thick metal shell to outfit the hardware. For that I was referred to the now defunct Q-Drum, who specialized in heavy metal drums. Between the 3 sources I got my Bell Bronze dream snare, and at a fraction of the price retail models go for.

It's not the end all be all snare I hoped for. I still find myself using other drums for specific situations, but I do play this one probably more than any of them.
Click to expand...

@Living Dead Drummer
May I ask what was the rental fee for the TAMA Bell Brass? Was it per week, day, hour?
 
striker said:
I do not mean to steer away from the main subject of this thread, but I will make one post and I will leave it at that. Agree or disagree, this is my understanding so far.

My understanding regarding Ludwig is that the Ludwig COB has not one, but two other fierce competitors - from Ludwig itself.
The first is the Hal Blaine and John Bonham's favorite snare, which is the Ludwig Chrome over Aluminum Supraphonic (aka the most recorded snare in history). The second is the Ludwig Black Nickel over Brass (aka the Black Beauty or the second most recorded snare in history).
Click to expand...
If you know and like Brass you don't want- or have to have- any Aluminum. If you like Chrome you don't particularly want a black Drum.
So generally- the only "competitor" to brass is 'another' brass drum. And Ludwig seems to have 7 of them. Some hidden on their own or non existent on their own website 🤣
 
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jda said:
why isn't this chrome shiny
Frankly I didn't even know this drum was on offer does anyone know I never see one in use..
Why isn't that chrome shiny

the 90s Special Limited edition I remember pre-internet
Click to expand...

It might not look shiny because it was photographed in a light booth, so the shell is only reflecting the white tent around the drum.

I'm pretty sure they have offered the COB continuously since they brought it back in the 1994 catalog. At some point it lost the "Brass Edition" badge.

I've played one of those 90s COB's, and I think that a Black Beauty blows the doors off of the chrome plated version. There's some kind of witchcraft with the black nickel that makes the tone fuller and the fundamental pitch lower to my ear.
 
I’m late to the party. Does Ludwig still make the hammered bronze snare in 6.5 with tube lugs? Asking for a friend.

As an unrelated note, a nice Bell Brass snare can end up being very tasteful. Doesn’t need to just be Metallica Black Album. Can tune it down a bit with some muffling for more a fat back thing. Elvin used one for awhile. Drum Doc says Don Henley used the Tanma. I have an Orange County version. The Tama re-issue is super cool but too pricey. It sounds like they are popular in the studio, but perhaps more of an LA thing.
 
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Winston_Wolf said:
I've played one of those 90s COB's, and I think that a Black Beauty blows the doors off of the chrome plated version. There's some kind of witchcraft with the black nickel that makes the tone fuller and the fundamental pitch lower to my ear.
Click to expand...
'team Gretsch" will file that under "silver sealer magic theories" file :D



with stipulation team member JDA statement stating "I totally believe in magic" clause 😁
~
I do hear the difference the Chrome sounds ("seams" no pun..) seems brighter. :)
That's what I would ("wood" no pun) want in a snare to each his own +
 
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I have never owned a brass snare drum. I like steel-shelled snares so I bought one. Peace and goodwill.

100_0635.JPG
 
I got a used 6 1/2" Ludwig bronze drum in the mid 90s, and it was my main drum for everything for about 10-12 years. It was certainly louder than the 5 1/2" maple pre-Craviotto Craviotto drum I was playing. Seemed to have a slighly warmer tone than the average steel drum, I never checked. It looks nice and it sounds good, I never thought about it beyond that.
 
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