DW 7x15" Classic Series Snare Drum

[dudeitsree]

A customer brought in a 1958 WFL 7x15" snare to the drum shop I work at, I just fell in love. So I emailed our DW rep to see if they would make me a 7x15" custom. Well, yep I'm ordering it soon. Freaking pumped!

Anyone ever played a WFL like that?

[LRhodes]

i have a dw 6 1/2 X 15, and it's quite a drum. It's one of those heavy many-plies jobbers. I've never been able to make it work in a recording ('74 ludwig supra phonic wins all of the time). I really wack the snare, and the 15 just dominates a mix. I'd reccomend it for a drummer that is hat heavy because of the volume it projects.
I'd also reccomend it for high tuning. My other drums sound better tuned low than the 15. It is fun to do rudiments and rolls on a big bouncy 15. A friend borrowed it for a punk gig and went nuts for the drum. Cool purchase!

[dudeitsree]

Ordered it today, it's going to take 12-16 weeks! What a painful waiting period..

[relayer]

You know I've been playing drums since 1972, and I've never played a 15" snare. Always heard a good bit about them, just never had the opportunity. I'll bet it's hard to find cases for them. But yeah, congratulations on the new bit of gear. I'm sure your drum will sound great. Not to be a downer, but I wouldn't expect a DW drum to sound as good as the WFL. Hopefully, yours will. I wouldn't sweat the time frame. I custom ordered a Craviotto several weeks back, and there's a 8 - 12 week wait for that as well.

Cheers.

Steve

[chrisso]

I've played a couple of 15" snares and owned one.
I can't say I noted any sonic difference between a 7 x 14" drum and a 6 x 15" drum. The one drawback of a 15" drum is the space between your legs. they are a little bit less ergonomic. Also, the slightly less choice in 15" snare drum heads (especially snareside).

I've played a couple of truly outstanding WFL snare drums, so had I played this 7 x 15" drum I would have been tempted to look for a similar WFL drum, rather than ordering a different drum other than the dimensions.

[dudeitsree]

Case availability and head choice fortunately for me is a non issue. I work for a rather large drum and percussion specialty store in Dallas, so anything I need is easily acquired.

As far a sound quality goes, I understand the DW classic will be no doubt different, but I am optimistic that it will gain me a much different sound than the seven drums
I already own.

[relayer]

That's great that you work in a drum shop. Here's a video I found of a guy using an 8"x15" WFL snare with a vintage kit. Sound great, although the audio is pretty crappy. It's cool.

Nawlins Drummer - YouTube

Steve

[dudeitsree]

Thanks for sharing! Have you by chance ever bought from or heard of Lone Star Percussion? You might have heard of the shop, it has been around sense the late 70's.

[relayer]

Originally Posted by dudeitsree

Thanks for sharing! Have you by chance ever bought from or heard of Lone Star Percussion? You might have heard of the shop, it has been around sense the late 70's.

Haven't heard of the shop, but I checked out the web site and it looks very cool. We had a great little shop here, with lots of vintage drum stuff. But they went to guitars only. The biggest and best drum shop here has been around since the mid-'70s as well, but they're an hour away by car or train.

Again congratulations on the new snare. I checked on ebay, and there aren't any WFL 15" snares to be had, except for marching drums.

Steve

[digibird]

Originally Posted by dudeitsree

A customer brought in a 1958 WFL 7x15" snare to the drum shop I work at, I just fell in love. So I emailed our DW rep to see if they would make me a 7x15" custom. Well, yep I'm ordering it soon. Freaking pumped!

Anyone ever played a WFL like that?

I have not played a WFL like that, but recently ordered a DW Classic Series snare like you did. I went with an 8 x 14, going for that Slingerland Radio King vibe, probably very similar to what you heard with the 1958 WFL.

I ordered the snare as part of a DW Classic Series kit in Vintage Marine Pearl, with 14 x 24, 9 x 13, and 16 x 16, tom rail mount & cymbal mount on the bass drum. Old school 3-ply drums, a sandwich of mahogany-poplar-mahogany, with 10-ply maple reinforcement rings. The most jaw-dropping bass drum sound I have ever heard.

We will have to compare notes, pics, audio/video when our DW Classic Series drums arrive (8 weeks?). These are truly amazing sounding drums, a total departure from the DW Collector's Series. I can't wait, either. Here's wishing you patience, happy holidays, and a solid groove. :-)

[dudeitsree]

I love the DW Classics, I have never really been a huge fan of the Collectors. Those 14x24's sound incredible!