How did you develop your passion for snare drum and snare drum collecting?

cbphoto said:
It's the Tama KA154 (Kenny Aronoff signature snare, 15" x 4" deep). My local drum shop was hosting Terry Bissette (marketing guy for Tama back in the day) and having a 50% off sale on everything Tama. After talking with Bissette about snares and my desire for "always a new/different sound" he pulled down the KA154 and showed me how Aronoff tuned it for country music (low and fat). Five minutes later: SOLD!

It's a very versatile snare and have used it on several country-style recordings for friends. It's no longer listed on the Tama website though.

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Thanks for the info, it's interesting. It truly is good looking, I like the look of a slim snare like that, it's original.

I'll spend some time listening at these thin snares later, to get an idea on how they sound, in my mind they must have a fast, sharp, response not too much overtones with less resonance but i'll see.

With 4 moongels, now I really wonder, do you have a audio sample of it by chance?
 
My passion started when I noticed that my friend’s snare drum sounded better than mine. Mine was a cheap CB700 metal snare that came with my CB kit. His snare was wood, so I bought a wood Sound Percussion snare for $30 from Guitar Center. That didn’t sound quite right, so I tried several dozen snares out in the stores, each one offering a different sound, but nothing quite right. I finally found a custom maple snare from a local drum shop that I liked (turns out it was Asian maple, but I didn’t know the difference or care at the time…). I also found a copper-shelled snare that struck my fancy. Then, I started hunting snares, buying and selling them, and figuring out what made each one tick, and what they were capable of, and what they were best at.

I had over 40 snares at one time. There were a lot of similar snares in my collection. I started focusing on finding snares that did one or two things REALLY well, and selling off the snares that were redundant, sonically speaking. I’ve whittled my collection down to 10, but I’m back up to 18, at the moment.

What started out as wanting to find a “good” sounding snare evolved into “Yeah, these snares sound good, but what sonic difference do they offer?”

I suppose I view snares like whiskey: I don’t own just one bottle—I have a few bottles at home, because sometimes I want something more peaty, or something more clean, or something more woody, or something more smooth, or something sweeter, or…you get the idea. Variety is the spice of life. Cheers!
 
bermuda said:
6.5x14 Super Sensitive pre-serial (brass shell & hoops) converted to standard wires. :)
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Ah! A drum we both have! Mine still has the SS system. I hope you still have the BB you used on Headline News; that's my all-time favorite snare sound of yours.

My first snare was a steel 5x14 Slingerland that had a nasty honk that I could never get out, so I bought a 6.5x14 Tama Imperialstar, again steel, but that one didn't do it for me, either. Then I saw a deep 8x14 wooden Slingerland in my local Sam Ash. Bought that one and POW! Best sound ever, and really opened the flood gates, added a Pearl Free-Floater next, a Sonor, N&C, and geez, the more I recorded, the more I chased after sounds. I'm up over 50 now. However, if I have concluded anything, it's that Ludwig and Slingerland have the highest batting average, and Indeed, I could probably get anything done with just those two brands, with maybe Pearl nipping at their heels. I just love sound, and that's why I have pursued what I have.


Dan
 
I’ll be a bummer and talk about why I don’t want a collection. Too much stuff to hang onto, not enough gigs to care, and my snare is the best I ever heard, bar none.
 
I think that drum and snare collections are really cool to look at and listen to. If a friend of mine has something really cool, I like to be excited with him, talk about it, and listen to how much he likes it. I'm also happy that I don't have a bunch a stuff I don't play. I only buy what I play. If I don't play it, I get rid of it. I have a few drum sets and snares, and I love each one for various reasons and I play all of them regularly...except for my lowly Tama Rockstars. They were my first kit, and they aren't worth selling.

Long story short: I like collections, but I view them like I do exotic cars. I love looking at them, but I'm glad I'm not the one responsible for them.
 
Ok, a bit of a bump this, stumbling into this thread while searching for info on a(nother) snare drum.

Curiosity, that's what it comes down to for me. I'm not really a collector per se, that's mostly a consequence. I'm just so curious about sounds, kind of searching for 'that' moment when I find 'my' snare. The one that speaks to me immediately.

For years I had my old 14x5 Ludwig Supra. Then I got bored and opened up what turned out to be a portal to a new world. Or a mild addiction that floats in and out of my life.

So now I basically can't help myself, I keep buying snare drums. Not expensive ones, just what I see as good deals on the second hand market. Not loads of them, just way more than I need.

This is the way.
 
JimmyM said:
I’ll be a bummer and talk about why I don’t want a collection. Too much stuff to hang onto, not enough gigs to care, and my snare is the best I ever heard, bar none.
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Well that WAS where my head was at in Fall 2023, and I bought a random cheap coated Acro last summer that I fell in love with. I’m pretty torn now…I thought for sure nothing could beat my L&L, but the more I play the Acro, the better it keeps sounding to me.

Is this how it starts? Because I have no use for another snare, yet I’d like one.
 
JimmyM said:
Well that WAS where my head was at in Fall 2023, and I bought a random cheap coated Acro last summer that I fell in love with. I’m pretty torn now…I thought for sure nothing could beat my L&L, but the more I play the Acro, the better it keeps sounding to me.

Is this how it starts? Because I have no use for another snare, yet I’d like one.
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caddywumpus said:
Yes, this is exactly how it starts.
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Yes, this is EXACTLY how this starts.

While I know that a drum key and perhaps different heads can make almost any snare sound like almost any snare it's the differences (shell material, size, etc.) that make a particular drum get to "that" sound quicker and easier. Plus, it's nice to be able to go from high and tight to low and swampy as quick as it takes to grab a different drum.
 
My desire to try other snares besides the ones that came with my two kits came from hearing and reading about how different snares perform. My two original snares are both wood shells, and both are entry level. I was interested in a metal snare simply for a change of pace. I ended up snagging a Pearl Sensitone COS in good condition for $50 and it quickly became my favorite. Then I saw an ad for a Pearl Piccolo brass shell snare for about $100 and picked it up. Sounds great although I don't use it much yet because the two bands I'm playing in both are blues and classic rock oriented. I'd use the piccolo for R&B and funk. And because of my involvement in those two band I decided I needed a deeper snare. I ended up buying a new Pearl Masters Maple Complete 6.5" and really love how it sounds for that music. Now I'm even thinking of trying to find a brass 6.5" to round out my options. All of the above only happened during the past 5 years. I'm 62 and my entry level Slingerland Stage Band snare with only 6 lugs has served me for 45 years. One thing I noticed was that I could never get the pop I wanted from the Slingerland. I now have that with all three Pearl snares I bought. I wouldn't call myself a collector at all since none of these are really collectors type drums. But I like them and they provide me with some nice sound at very reasonable cost.
 
JimmyM said:
Well that WAS where my head was at in Fall 2023, and I bought a random cheap coated Acro last summer that I fell in love with. I’m pretty torn now…I thought for sure nothing could beat my L&L, but the more I play the Acro, the better it keeps sounding to me.

Is this how it starts? Because I have no use for another snare, yet I’d like one.
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Yes..yes it is. This was me after buying my second snare.
 
Chris_80 said:
Yes..yes it is. This was me after buying my second snare.
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Proud Of You Yes GIF
 
Well looking at Black Beauties has cured me for this week, but I don’t want to let Jeremiah Johnson down.
 
I'll buy snares if I can get a nice deal on them and they sound good. If they're a good deal and they sound like crap, no thanks. If I can't use a drum, what's the use in having it? To stare at it and take photos? That's not me. I bought a rare 1937 Ludwig snare last year with a double throwoff. I used it once. and was so afraid of damaging the throwoff (which is impossible to replace), that I never used it again, and sold it to a drummer in Germany.

I'm seriously considering a new Slingerland Radio King, because I can get artist pricing on it, but due to their potential collectability, I might be paranoid about using it on gigs. I'm still thinking this purchase over, but I better not wait too long. Even at $1999, they're going to go. I know Mike Curotto will buy one. Steve Maxwell will keep one or two for himself also.
 
JimmyM said:
Well looking at Black Beauties has cured me for this week, but I don’t want to let Jeremiah Johnson down.
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Only $100 to get your quiver started. Then you can please both Jeremiah and the BB spirits.
 
JimmyM said:
Well looking at Black Beauties has cured me for this week, but I don’t want to let Jeremiah Johnson down.
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you've selected a brand that arguably has as it's most revered item a snare drum .
now however
if another brand was selected say umm; oh; "Gretsch" you could own their 8 L top line Chrome over Brass all USA sourced parts 60s 70s snare drum used for "$350" Ditto for a brass snare Rogers or a Slingerland from their heyday 60s and 70s. See how that work's?
The word of mouth popularity isn't as strong as with these other brands - despite Roy Burns and his Rogers- despite Elvin and Tony with Miles Williams and their Gretsch and despite even Buddy's occasional use of a slingerland Brass snare-
not saying the Black Beauty is entirely hype but there are other more economical ways that some would argue are equally as important to get with a brass snare. So one is not restricted but only by a particular 'vision'

I ain't Tradin!! 😁
 
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jda said:
you've selected a brand that arguably has as it's most revered item a snare drum .
now however
if another brand was selected say umm; oh; "Gretsch" you could own their 8 L top line Chrome over Brass all USA sourced parts 60s 70s snare drum used for "$350" Ditto for a brass snare Rogers or a Slingerland from their heyday 60s and 70s. See how that work's?
The word of mouth popularity isn't as strong as with these other brands - despite Roy Burns and his Rogers- despite Elvin and Tony with Miles Williams and their Gretsch and despite even Buddy's occasional use of a slingerland Brass snare-
not saying the Black Beauty is entirely hype but there are other more economical ways that some would argue are equally as important to get with a brass snare. So one is not restricted but only by a particular 'vision'

I ain't Tradin!! 😁
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A good point, one I wish had gone unsaid.

Back to shopping.
 
I’ve been up as high as around thirty snare drums. I had myself convinced that I “needed” them all. I’m now at four, and one of the four is a duplicate.

One was a gift from my best drum buddy that never gets used. One is a bamboo drum, because I had a bamboo drum before, loved it, got rid of it, and then regretted getting rid of it. The current bamboo drum feels like a get back. My main snare is a CoB Dynasonic/Powertone knockoff that I love so much I got a second one.

I take the two CoB drums (one as a backup) out to every gig and recording I do. The bamboo stays at home on my practice rig. It’ll probably never get used for real again. The gift snare from my buddy comes out of the case maybe once a year to make sure it’s still there. :rolleyes: I think I’ve come full circle. 🤪
 
RVC said:
I’ve been up as high as around thirty snare drums. I had myself convinced that I “needed” them all. I’m now at four, and one of the four is a duplicate.

One was a gift from my best drum buddy that never gets used. One is a bamboo drum, because I had a bamboo drum before, loved it, got rid of it, and then regretted getting rid of it. The current bamboo drum feels like a get back. My main snare is a CoB Dynasonic/Powertone knockoff that I love so much I got a second one.

I take the two CoB drums (one as a backup) out to every gig and recording I do. The bamboo stays at home on my practice rig. It’ll probably never get used for real again. The gift snare from my buddy comes out of the case maybe once a year to make sure it’s still there. :rolleyes: I think I’ve come full circle. 🤪
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Because of some responses I got from this esteemed membership, I now want a 6.5" brass snare.
 
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