It’s a bit harder to pick a single iconic wooden snare drum. The Signature Model: Slingerland Radio King, Single-Ply Maple 14” x 5” Must-Have Snare Drum #3: Wood Construction, Standard Size It’s a different animal entirely, but to my ear it can do a great job of capturing the vibe of the big 80s power snare. And even Ludwig is in on the game of undercutting itself, making a lower-cost “Black Magic” model inspired by the originals.įor something a bit different, a vintage 14” x 5.5” chrome-over brass Rogers Powertone or Dynasonic can offer beefy power and brash articulation with a character all its own.Īnother interesting substitute comes from an unexpected place: On a budget, you might try the common, affordable, sometimes unfashionable 6.5”-deep steel Pearl Export. World Max and Porkpie make equivalent brass models that can be as little as half the price. But it’s such a popular drum that there are many worthy homages to it. The Black Beauty is on the expensive side – often $700 or more depending on features and finishes. I find it a little less versatile than the Supra, but those are just my tastes, and whenever it does fit, it’s just the thing, and no other type of drum will quite do. If you plan on working on a lot of heavier rock music, then the Black Beauty is a must-have. It is brash, bold, loud and powerful with a wide sweet spot on the head. Much like the aluminum Supraphonic, the sound of the solid brass Black Beauty is also iconic and instantly familiar – A “that sound” kind of drum. The Signature Model: Ludwig Black Beauty 14” x 6.5” Must-Have Snare Drum #2: Brass Shell, Extra-Deep (His drumming can be heard on some of the biggest cuts from The Ronettes, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis, The Supremes, and both Frank and Nancy Sinatra.)įor those who want a bit more resonance and power (and a little less sensitivity from the snare-band on the resonant side) the 6.5” depth, favored by the likes of John Bonham and Alex Van Halen, is a perennial favorite. The standard Supraphonic can be heard on everything from classic rock records by The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Cream to jazz legends like Lionel Hampton and Joe Morello of the Dave Brubeck Quartet, to prolific studio drummers like Hal Blaine, who recorded on more #1 pop hits, between 19, than perhaps anyone else in the world. The aluminum version (and also the even brighter steel model) have a pretty convincing tone. They can even border on indistinguishable from the original when you’re going for more muffled or controlled drum sounds.Īs far as new options go, Pearl makes a snare drum called the “Sensitone” that does a decent emulation of the Supra at about half the price. These models sound a little bit drier than the Supraphonic, lacking just a bit of its complex, trademark resonance, but they are certainly in the same family. But they can be a sensible and affordable choice for many studios, drummers and producers to have on hand.įor those who want to spend even less, vintage 8-lug Ludwig Acrolites and Ludwig Standards are easily found on the used market, often going for 25% – 50% of the cost of a new or vintage Supra. The drum’s 10 lugs allow for a wide tuning range, and it can go from wet-and-ringy to dry-and-controlled, while remaining convincing at every stop along the way.Īt around $450, brand new Supraphonics don’t come dirt cheap. Not only is it familiar-sounding, but it’s flexible as well. If a studio had to have only one snare drum, it would be hard to go wrong with a Ludwig Supra. And its trademark resonance is just as satisfying and memorable as its attack. Its sound is iconic and instantly familiar: Bright, clear, powerful – anything but neat and clean. And it’s one of my own personal favorites. The Ludwig Supraphonic is arguably the most-recorded snare drum in history. The Signature Model: Ludwig Supraphonic 14” x 5” Must-Have Snare Drum #1: Aluminum Shell, Standard-Size Here are a few classics that could help establish the foundations of a small-but-versatile collection of snare drums for any studio. Thankfully, there are a few stalwarts that never seem to go out of style, and every studio owner, engineer, producer and recording drummer would be well-served to get acquainted with them. Even to the initiated, it can sometimes seem as if there are as many snare drums on the market as there are players. So every recording studio should have at least a couple of great-sounding snare drums tuned up and ready to go.ĭeciding what snares to have on hand however, can be a daunting task to those who are unfamiliar with what’s out there. It’s no overstatement to say that a good snare sound is essential to the backbone of almost any kind of pop record – whether that means hip hop, country, speed metal, R&B, punk rock, psychedelia, shoegaze, adult contemporary, jazz or straight up rock n’ roll.
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