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Brass vs. Wood for a high tuning snare

JaysonJeanChannel

JaysonJeanChannel

Active Member
Hello! I'm on the market for a new snare drum for high tuning. I was originally was going for an wooden snare, but now I was considering an brass snare as well, so now I am the middle. Which one would you recommend?


EDIT: I don't think I was as clear now as I should has been. I am getting an snare custom built for me and was originally going for an wooden snare because I want my new snare to be tuned tight and cracked high with an nice POP. But now I think an metal snare would do an better job, especially a brass shell.
 
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best answer is Buy the best you can
of both.
Because eventually you're going to
have both
and then the choice becomes
which fits which band best. on which night or which locale.
Having both (sometimes multiples of each) gives you the luxury.

Brass is louder but that maybe psychological. if you have both you don't have to pick.
You just sense what the gig requires.

The dimension -number of lugs- type of hoops- being equal a good brass and a good wood shell can be close.
It's the dimension first. A 5x14 I'd recommend for piecing cutting volume. If it's brass with die cast hoops.. that's a Gretsch 4160. Rimshot to break glass with. I got a little 60s Ludwig Pioneer that's wood and 5X14. and It's No slouch either. Little mellower.

over time Buy the best you can of both over time.
 
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The easiest answer that comes to mind for a brass snare is a Ludwig Black Beauty or any of the many copycats that exist, they all sound great. (Ludwig Black Magic, Ludwig Universal, Pork Pie BoB or Patina model, DW Design Series BNoB, Worldmax Black Brass, Pearl Sensitone Black Brass, etc).

Make sure to get one with a center bead. The flat-shell models (like Tama SLP Black Brass, or certain Gretsch or DW models) won't sound as much like a Black Beauty (in my humble opinion).

The snares I mentioned all sound great tuned high.
 
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jda said:
best answer is Buy the best you can
of both.
Because eventually you're going to
have both
and then the choice becomes
which fits which band best. on which night or which locale.
Having both (sometimes multiples of each) gives you the luxury.

Brass is louder but that maybe psychological. if you have both you don't have to pick.
You just sense what the gig requires.

The dimension -number of lugs- type of hoops- being equal a good brass and a good wood shell can be close.
It's the dimension first. A 5x14 I'd recommend for piecing cutting volume. If it's brass with die cast hoops.. that's a Gretsch 4160. Rimshot to break glass with. I got a little 60s Ludwig Pioneer that's wood and 5X14. and It's No slouch either. Little mellower.

over time Buy the best you can of both over time.
Click to expand...
Love the idea! But I do want an snare that I can use mainly so I don't want to go between one of the other as of yet.
 
IBitePrettyHard said:
The easiest answer that comes to mind for a brass snare is a Ludwig Black Beauty or any of the many copycats that exist, they all sound great. (Ludwig Black Magic, Ludwig Universal, Pork Pie BoB or Patina model, DW Design Series BNoB, Worldmax Black Brass, Pearl Sensitone Black Brass, etc).

Make sure to get one with a center bead. The flat-shell models (like Tama SLP Black Brass, or certain Gretsch or DW models) won't sound as much like a Black Beauty (in my humble opinion).
Click to expand...
All great options!
 
there's a few lower priced brass snare too- pork Pie, DW Design series, even a Taye for $234 on ebay.
Some Brass snare can go for $1199

Brass Snare Drums | Guitar Center

Enjoy the lowest prices and best selection of Brass Snare Drums at Guitar Center. Most orders are eligible for free shipping.
www.guitarcenter.com www.guitarcenter.com
doesn't have to be a Black Beauty. Slingerland, Rogers and To this Day Gretsch make all made (strong as an ox) classic Chrome over Brass snares
that was the sound; doesn't have to be new either. Plus -more chrome!- chrome (over brass) looks good
 
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jda said:
there's a few lower priced brass snare too- pork Pie, DW performance? even a Taye for $234 on ebay.
Some Brass snare can go for $1199
Click to expand...
Oh definitely! So you would go for an brass snare? Especially in a higher tuned, over an wooden snare?
 
IBitePrettyHard said:
Generally speaking, brass snares almost always sound great. Wood snares can vary a lot more, and be more hit-and-miss. There are some great wood snares out there, but there are definitely models that won't handle high tuning as well.
Click to expand...
Gotcha, because I want the snare to be tight in tuning.
 
JaysonJeanChannel said:
Oh definitely! So you would go for an brass snare? Especially in a higher tuned, over an wooden snare?
Click to expand...
Narrowly yes but not exclusively.
It's band genre dependent.
Pop Motown Classic Brass cuts the backbeat thru.
Mellower jazz a Vintage wood snare works.
 
jda said:
Narrowly yes but not exclusively.
It's band genre dependent.
Pop Motown Classic Brass cuts thru.
Mellower jazz a Vintage wood snare works.
Click to expand...
I mainly play in a Gospel/Worship Genre.
 

Brass Snare Drums | Guitar Center

Enjoy the lowest prices and best selection of Brass Snare Drums at Guitar Center. Most orders are eligible for free shipping.
www.guitarcenter.com www.guitarcenter.com

and Ebay and the Drums For Sale section over at drumforum.org,
 
JaysonJeanChannel said:
Oh thank you lots for that! But I wanted to know which out of the two would you prefer, but I do appreciate the feedback.
Click to expand...
Me personally? I have Three sets. Two have wood snares . One has Brass.
Brass in recent years have doubled and tripled in price.
If you play and concentrate on your playing-----get a well known brand the best you can afford in either material and the crowd will respond,

Make the best of what you can want to afford.
My brass snare I got second hand in 1975 today - I couldn't replace. it's $619 new today.
(and mine is all USA sourced parts screws rods washers everything- 1967 - mojo)
I wouldn't trade it even for a new one.

My wood Snares are from the 40s and 60s. WFL and Ludwig. Ditto. You can't replace (for any amount of money) the brass hoops they were built with. The 1965 to be exact wood Gretsch snare I own is $969 new today.

So -2023- Find the best you can afford without taking out a bank loan.
 
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jda said:
Me personally? I have Three sets. Two have wood snares . One has Brass.
Brass in recent years have doubled and tripled in price.
If you play and concentrate on your playing-----get a well known brand the best you can afford in either material and the crowd will respond,

Make the best of what you can want to afford.
My brass snare I got in 1975 today - I couldn't replace. it's $619 new today.
Click to expand...
Love that take!
 
That's an appealing priced Brass drum.
www.ebay.com

Taye BS1405 14 x 5 in. Brass Snare Drum 733665933405 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Taye BS1405 14 x 5 in. Brass Snare Drum at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

I'd give this one a listen also.
www.guitarcenter.com

DW Design Series Black Nickel Over Brass Snare Drum 14x5.5 Inch | Guitar Center

Shop for the DW Design Series Black Nickel Over Brass Snare Drum in 14x5.5 Inch and receive free shipping and guaranteed lowest price.
www.guitarcenter.com www.guitarcenter.com

Also Ludwig has a import brass series.
www.drumcenternh.com

Ludwig Universal Brass Snare Drum 14x6.5 w/Chrome Hardware

Ludwig Universal Snare DrumsLudwig's Universal Snare Drum series offers the discerning drummer a new sonic palette of sounds to complement virtually any style of music. Universal Snares were designed to bring unique musical voices to the stage that work well in various musical styles across...
www.drumcenternh.com www.drumcenternh.com

Worse comes to worse befriend a boomer drummer in your area and maybe he'll lend you a lightly pitted Supraphonic from 1969 (pas away and you keep it in his honor)
 
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I would try some drums. Go in with no preconceptions. Your ear is King. Tune them tight and evaluate.

Keep in mind that a drum shop is not a good place to evaluate a drum due to all the other drums in there that will sympathetically vibrate. That makes it difficult to evaluate one drum, while 50 other drums are actually contributing to the sound you hear.

If I was in your situation, I'd pick a local store that has the 30 day return policy. Buy a drum, bring it home, change the batter head to your preference and evaluate it at home. If you don't like it, return and repeat until you get one that you don't want to return. You're the buyer, why go all in on a drum that you think you want. Your ear is King. Let it pick for you.

It's a dilemma, because drums sound different in every room. I've had some I liked in my studio (supra)
But on the gig, it lasted one song and then I switched it. So it's a conundrum. Your ear is King, not brass or wood.
 
I will say that IMO the playing field evens out more when you tune tight. I think I could pick out a high pitched brass snare compared to a high pitched wood snare but I have been wrong before with my ear. My wood snares can get very ringy. A metal snare drum is too harsh on my ear from the throne, that's why I prefer wood snare drums. I like hearing a good brass snare but I'll pass on playing one. I tried with a BB.
 
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