Tama Snare Drums

[Guitfiddle]

Anyone using a new tama signature snare and loving it?...Looking at the JB snare and it seems versatile. I am also loving the bubinga snare, but too expensive, and the Simon Phillips snares.

[C.r.a.p.]

Mike Portnoy signature user over here. Great dry sound that is easy to record. For me the 3 step strainer is helpfull for switching to marching style in the blink of an eye.

I've heard the Simon Phillips snare on the Alan Parson's Art & Science of Sound series and it sounds wonderful. Granted, it's been processed by Alan Parsons and he's done the leg work, but it still sounds phenominal with a 57.

[WinstonTone]

Rocking an old 70's TAMA Fibrestar over here. From what I've heard I'm not a fan of JB's new snare. Too thin and generic for my liking. Otherwise anything TAMA is solidly built and usually big sounding. thumbsup

[surfspank]

Copeland Signature Snare here. What can I say? I've had it for 3 months and it's my main snare...and going to stay there for quite a while. I absolutely love the thing for what I'm doing. The easiest word to describe it is balanced. It's the kind of drum that gives back what you hit it with. Very nice at all volumes.

[Guitfiddle]

Thanks guys

[Nutmeg II.]

The Kenny Aronoff 14"x5" which is a great allrounder.
The Bill Bruford 14"x6" is a loud beast, great for rock playing.

I still play a Ludwig COB or Ludalloy Supra most of the time.

[Guitfiddle]

keep the ideas flowing!!!! Thanks!!

[Jax]

Originally Posted by Nutmeg II.

The Kenny Aronoff 14"x5" which is a great allrounder.
The Bill Bruford 14"x6" is a loud beast, great for rock playing.

I still play a Ludwig COB or Ludalloy Supra most of the time.

Hey Nut! Long time. I heard that the Aronoff is very similar to the black beauty. In fact, it looks almost the same.



Does it sound like a BB?

[Guitfiddle]

There are so many snare drums out there my head is spinning. I am still on that quest of finding the right one. I have noticed that a lot of the ludwig drums have that same shell design of the black beauty, you would think they would all have that same similar sound, maybe? I have been using a 13 x 6 maple ludwig with a rather nice sound. I also have a Premier birch 14 x 6 1/2 that has a distinct character, but needs some work. I am going through a snare drum phase right now...I like that Kenny A sig snare, looks nice, haven't heard it though. The search continues...

[CB_Photo]

There are so many snare drums out there my head is spinning.

I know what you mean. It takes time & patience to go to a drum store and listen to a properly tuned snare, then another one, then another one, etc. I've done it and learned a few things.

• Metal shell vs. wood shell. This makes the most difference in a snare's sound.
• Shell thickness. A thin wood shell resonates much more than a thick wood shell. A thick wood shell gives more crack & punch, for loses some tone.
• Shell depth. A deeper shell gives more body to the tone. A thin shell makes a thin sound.
• Die cast hoops vs. rolled steel hoops vs. brass hoops vs. wood hoops. The hoops, to me, make the most obvious differences in a drums sound. Line up a couple similar sized snares side by side and listen to the difference.
• Type of metal shell. This makes for a subtle difference, but brass is the most common due to its warmth and lack of harshness.
• Type of wood. I can barely hear the difference between a bubinga snare and a maple snare of the same size. To me, it's almost indiscernible.

[jmik]

I've gone through a few snares over the years, but I pretty much bounce back and forth between 2 these days: a 7x14 Spaun 8-ply maple, and a 6.5x14 Pearl Masterworks 4-ply (6-ply rings) maple. I have a 5.5x14 Pearl brass and a 4x14 Mapleworks that I'll haul along just in case, but engineers/producers always pick the Spaun or the Masterworks. I've never had good luck with 13" or smaller snares; they sound a little too choked for me. Also, the deeper ones have the sensitivity I'm after. The only thing I'd like to add to the arsenal is a mahogany shell for some thick fat ass.

[Guitfiddle]

Thanks for the help...I have a Chad Smith Sig, Pearl 14x6.5 Brass free floating, yamaha 14x5.5 absolute maple custom, pork pie 10x5 not sure, sounds cool. My favorites are the Pearl Brass, and the Yamaha maple. However I still want to get something else after I fix my Premier Genista Birch snare. I have played a bunch of snares, but I haven't had time to really tune them up and try them. Most of them aren't tuned up right at the local store. What about the Bubinga/Birch Snare? What do you think of pork pie? It seems a drum is a drum, but they all have a little different sound.

[jmik]

Nothing wrong with spending some time with a snare at the shop. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it. It's an investment like any other piece of gear.

I don't know a whole lot about bubinga, but birch only strikes me as okay. Some people swear by it. Personal choice I guess. I used a 7x14 Pork Pie on a recording session and it sounded great. Conversely, a buddy of mine has a 5x13 Pork Pie acrylic snare and I hate it.

If you're after different sounds/flavors, why not consider a different shell for that free floater?

[BCAUTS]

I literally just opened my Tama Bubinga and Maple 13" snare. Got it for 58 bucks!!! I cant wait to put heads on it

[CB_Photo]

Originally Posted by BCAUTS

I literally just opened my Tama Bubinga and Maple 13" snare. Got it for 58 bucks!!!

What a score!

[BCAUTS]

Originally Posted by CB_Photo

What a score!

I KNOW! haha what is their retail?

[Guitfiddle]

Wow! That is a score! Where did you dig up that deal? Lucky Dog!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Tama-Sta...33-i1433813.gc

If you're after different sounds/flavors, why not consider a different shell for that free floater?

That Free Floater sounds so good I can't replace the shell!

Have you heard this?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Tama-Sta...50-i1534071.gc

[BCAUTS]

Originally Posted by Guitfiddle

Wow! That is a score! Where did you dig up that deal? Lucky Dog!

GuitarCenter



That Free Floater sounds so good I can't replace the shell!

Have you heard this?

GuitarCenter

i bought it off this kid on facebook haha he needed money fast i guess hah

[Guitfiddle]

Still searching!!! Help Me!!!

[CB_Photo]

Originally Posted by Guitfiddle

Still searching!!! Help Me!!!

Get this one!

No wait! This one!

Oops, I mean this one!

Hurry!

If it were for me though, I'd get either this one (I think it elicits the perfect "brass" sound) or this one. Yes, I'm a Tama fan. I find their hardware the best, most well-engineered and their sonic consistency unsurpassed (geez, I feel like I just came "out of the closet").

[cajonezzz]

80's tama Bell brass is a pretty safe bet for a fairly "rawk" sound.

That being said, I did sell mine to finance some Photo Gear.

great drum, and ridiculously expensive if you can find one on the open market.

cz

[Guitfiddle]

Thanks guys, cymbals are so much easier to pick! I have narrowed down my search for snares...still haven't decided though. Thanks for the links, that really helps my search.