Hey everyone, I'm thinking about picking up a Black Beauty for the studio. I've chosen the Black Beauty for three reasons; 1) the clips I've heard sound excellent 2) drummers recognize this snare perhaps more than any other, so it will be good for business, and 3) from what I have read, it is very versatile...and 4) it's
gorgeous!
There are quite a few options available though, and I was hoping you guys could explain the differences between them (especially regarding tone)...
Hand hammered vs. smooth shell
Is there a benefit to having a hammered shell? It looks very nice, but will this affect the tone of the drum? If so, how?
P85 Supra-Phonic, P86 Millenium or P70 Super-Sensitive strainers
Is there a sonic difference between the three strainer types available? Are they capable of different ranges of tension? Is one more/less likely to fail than another?
Imperial or tube lugs
From what I've read, tube lugs will allow the drum to resonate a little more, but is there any benefit to the imperials (other than the cool 20s art deco look)? Does one hold tuning better than the other or anything like that?
Die cast or triple-flanged hoops
I already know a little about this. Die cast is less likely to go out of tune with rim shots, but can be a little 'harder' sounding. I want to minimize tuning problems (nothing sucks the life out of a session like tuning a snare in between every take!) but not at the expense of good tone. I'm worried that a die cast hoop on a metal snare is overkill, but I'd appreciate the opinion of someone who has more experience.
Thanks for any info you guys can give me!