I'm pretty much a drumming noobie. Take anything I say in that context. I had the same question a few years ago. Supras and radio Kings were out of my price range. With some suggestions from forum people I picked up a 70's Pearl COB. Love it. There is a reason Stewart Copeland used one. I've picked up a few since then. All have a standard 3 mil Remo snare side head. I have an Emperor on the 5 1/2 I tune high and a G1 coated on the 5 1/2 I tune mid to low for a more open sound. And I have a 6 1/2 that I have yet to learn how to tame. It is a cannon. I have a handful of other snares. When play one of those then come back to a COB I'm always pleasantly surprised how consistently good (better) the COBs sound regardless of tuning (high-low.) These are all standard COB not the Jupiter which has the parallel strainer device on it.

The Pearl COB is a great snare drum, especially for the money. The best, or second best drum would be the Black Beauty to me. You can hear the drum well on the Appetite for Destruction album and on many STP songs.

I believe Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes plays a 5x14 BB.

I am very particular to the Rogers Dyna-Sonic in wood and metal

I have a dusty Supra.

And I think the 5x14 Supersensitive Black Beauty is a finely made overpriced pig of a drum. Just my opinion.

Never would have doubted for a second!;)

I also love the Dyna's, both COB & wood, but they have their limitations in certain playing situations. I used the wood in a small club and it was perfect, I don't think the COB would have been the drum for that venue.Car Driving2

My vote for Acrolite as well. I was was surprised at how different the Supra and the Acrolite sound. Both are just phenomenal. Of course the Acro is the best snare ever, given it's affordable price. Get a Keystone era one if you can. mlayton here on VDF is your guy or on ebay.

I can't disagree with you there. Seamless spun shell and all. Apart from I believe Ludwig have the patent on that seamless shell design, it would cost a fortune from a modern drum company. And as you say, cheap as chips and sound phenomenal.

Hated the Supra. No volume. Had one gifted to me, bought a strainer, new heads, cleaned it up, wailed on it for a few minutes, and never touched it again. Gave it to a guy on my crew who had a kid in band or something. No volume, no room at my place.

Love the SoundKing. Can really crank up the volume on that thing, and can get a real nice crack if you tighten the lugs with a crescent wrench like I did at first, prior to getting a drum key.

Fave all time is the 1961 15" x 7" wood Slingerland, Rogersling GAVE me, and JC finished. The harder you hit it, the louder it goes, and the ceiling is waaaaaaaay up there, unlike others that are just ehhh, loudish.

Toodles,

Drumhack LoLoLoLoCar Driving2Group HugLaughing HClapping Happy2

I prefer a hammered bronze over the supra...

I have LOTS to choose from....

Well, I have only gigged a few times and recorded once so with my minimal experience and every day playing I like my downbeat snare the most. But its really hard to pick a favorite when you have so many snare drums to play with. The Dynasonic and Camco snares are fabulous but then again the snares I made from marching drums sound pretty darn nice too, and oh ya there that Gene Kupra model also.

Dan, glad to hear the drum I finished is your favorite!

I have a few second choices in my arsenal - No1 is either of my two Supras, a '65 and a '66, but I 'm loving the '70s Acro I recently acquired. But I also have a '60s Premier HiFi that rings like a bell. Great drum. After that I have a '90s Yamaha something which was my late uncle's and plays great. I must find out what it is...