articles & reviews

Buying A Snare Drum: The Center of Our Universe
By Greg Gaylord (Music Market September1997)

The snare drum is, in my opinion, the most important drum a drummer has in his or her arsenal. Certainly, arguments can be made for hand drums of various types, but as an overview of the general drumming population, the snare drum is the backbone behind most of today's popular forms of music.

Rock and roll needs to have that driving 2 and 4 back beat to propel the music, orchestral music requires that "pure" snare drum sound for rolls, funk needs that dual sound of quiet ghosts along with ripping accented rim shots, and jazz has the voicing of brushes like that of Clayton Cameron which can impress even the most particular of musicians. To all these needs, the snare drum is central. It is like home. No matter how far out on the kit we go, eventually we all come back to it.

Look at where we place the snare drum within the drum set. It is usually immediately in front of us, in the most accessible place. Other drums and cymbals are then placed around it. The snare drum is the central component in the set. So why do so many drummers neglect this sound? Why are they willing to pay big bucks for a set of drums, but not for a snare drum? Shouldn't it be just the opposite? Spend the money for a quality snare drum that meets your needs, and then fill out the rest of the set with drums that are within the remainder of your budget.

I have tried to come up with a brief outline of snare drums, as well as some starting prices. Prices will of course vary, and will go up as other "goodies" such as brass lugs and/ or hoops are added.

What Snare Drum Is Right For You?

For the beginner, just about any snare drum will do. Sound is not yet of primary importance because the drum is a means of acquiring the basic skills necessary to begin to make the drum sing.

An entry level (to be interpreted as inexpensive) snare drum can be found in either metal or multiple plywood. The metal drums seem to be the most popular and least expensive among entry level snare drums. If you shop around, a metal snare drum and stand can be found for under $100.

Quality Snare Drums

There are a lot of options available on today's market when it comes to snare drums. Choosing a drum can be very difficult and time consuming, but worth the energy when you find the right drum. Avoid compromises! Before you buy the drum, ask to play it. Then ask someone else to play the drum while you stand back 10 to 15 feet and listen. This is how I bought my Noble Cooley/Zildjian snare drum, and I have no regrets about the purchase.

In the category of metal drums, there are basically two types: rolled and what I will call "cast" shells. There are of course many options in the type of metal used, but the most popular is brass. Brass has been used for a very long time in the manufacture of musical instruments such as trumpets and other horns. The tones offered by brass sound great, which is why high quality snare drums will often feature brass lugs and sometimes even brass hoops.

Rolled snare drums are a long piece of flat metal, which is then sent through a piece of machinery which bends or "rolls" the metal into a circle. The two ends are then welded together. A rolled brass snare drum will start around $250, and if you want it engraved, add about another $125.

A "cast" shell is one in which the metal is melted and then poured into a casting. After cooling, the metal is removed from the casting and then needs to be "turned.". This means simply that the oversized casting is placed onto a lathe and has the excess material removed from it until it has been reduced to the proper size. This is a more expensive method of producing a metal drum, but I prefer the results to that of the "rolled" snare drum because the casting method allows for thicker shells, and I am partial to thicker shelled snare drums. Expect to pay at least $450 for a quality cast snare drum.

Within the category of wood shells, there are four types: multiple ply, one ply, segment, and stave shells.

Multiple plies have compromised some sound qualities to achieve this. The adhesives used between the plies act as an isolator, inhibiting

the vibration of the shell. These drums are the least expensive of the wooden snare drums, starting around $200.

One ply shells resonate more freely than multiple ply shells, which is a large reason for their popularity. They sound great. The disadvantage to one-ply shells is the tendency to go "out of round." Reinforcement hoops are placed inside the shell to stabilize it, but these hoops choke the drum. One ply shells do sound great, but they are also the most expensive of the wooden drums. Expect a one ply shell to start at around $400.

Segment and stave shells have very little adhesive to inhibit the vibration on the shell, but they are not a single unit as with the one ply shell. Some people do not like the look of the segment shells, but it is remarkably strong and offers great sound and the ability to use woods which might not be available in one-ply shells. Besides being very resonant, these drums are also worth checking into because of their price point. They are typically less expensive than one-ply shells, and offer terrific resonance and a fabulous sound that in my opinion rivals if not surpasses that of one ply shells. These drums will start at around $300

The stave shells also offer terrific resonance and the ability to use exotic woods, but I have heard of numerous problems with stave shells "exploding." Since I have no experience with stave style shells, I do not feel I can offer any more than that at this time. These drums will start at around $350, if you can find them.

I strongly encourage anyone looking for a quality wood snare drum to check into both one ply and segment shells (teak is a favorite of mine). If you can not find a commercially made drum that fits your needs, there are many custom drum builders throughout the country who can help you in obtaining "your sound", many of whom can do so for less than the cost of a new "big name" drum.