I used a Black Beauty for a little over a year and loved it. I've always been interested in a bronze, but never owned one. I'm anxious to read the responses. Thanks for starting this thread!

I own and love the "dark" tone of bronze, and someday would love to have a seamless brass when funds allow. The brass is so much brighter and more lively. I use the bronze for it's ability to cut while staying deeper in the tonal range.

As far as depth goes, I would want both in 6.5 for that extra body & projection.

i have a bronze and a cob, both in 6 1/2x14. when i got the bronze, i fell in love with it and its my main snare. the cob i have yet to actually use, but i do like it as well.

I've had a couple of bronze snares. People have said they're "darker" and "more complex" than brass. Meh. Not really *that* much. I got a copper snare, though, and THAT is a darker, richer, and more complex tone! I would say that bronze falls somewhere between brass and copper, being closer to brass in sound. If you really want a contrasting snare to a brass snare, get a copper one!

Of course, it all has to do with what sound you're looking for. Personally, I think having a bronze snare is redundant if you already have a brass snare (or 4...)

Great feedback...I was kind of thinking along this way too...

my silent suffering is gretsch antique copper snare... i know its not vintage but that snare looks fantastic... ufff...

Years ago my buddy loaned me his Ludwig Supra hammered bronze.One of the best sounding snares I ever played.

Have had both.

I would agree with those who say the bronze is a darker sounding snare.

So much so, that in my case that I got rid of the brass because it was too bright for me. I took it one step further and put a COB batter side hoop on my bronze to see what all the fuss about them was. Now I know. It fatten up an already phat sounding snare and added a thwap that just does not stop. This bronze, 6.5X14 Ludwig will never leave this drummers collection.

That said...if you are actually looking for a bright and a dark snare...having one of each (brass and bronze) might be just what you want.

This +1.

There is definitely a darker tone with the bronze. It could also be the hammering on the Ludwig. However, my cast bronze shells have a darker tone and bit of throatiness that I like. My brass is also a thinner shell, which may have something to do with it....