Definitely steel Yes Sir is my preference.

Ralf

I agree with RALF- MIJ steel is my preference by far.

Like many of us, I too have a pretty nice collection of modern and vintage snares ( over 20!) and a 1970 Pearl Challenger steel shell 14x5 is just about my favorite snare sound I have ever played, heard, owned. It`s crisp and responsive, a bit dry with a crack- there is a tone without bite that I don`t hear in modern drums. Pearl Challengers are nothing high-end - just right down the middle of the road.Why this drum sounds so great is a mystery to me- I use it alot.

[IMG]http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/PearlChallengersnare.jpg[/IMG]

Drum looks like a winner!!...a Star snare stand??

It may be (snare stand)- no name on it- I thought it was most likely a Rogers from the early 70s. I got it with a upper end 1969 Pearl kit shipped from the US but it`s def. not a PEARL. I saw it listed on another post thread as a Rogers.

MIJ's - Steel is the only way. I agree, they have a unique sound.

I love the sound of a King Beat, and I have a Star 8256 chrome over steel. I has such complexity for a simple drum. All I have to do to have a different drum is change the batter. But, I also have a stack of wood snares of many different shell types and they all have a smooth, sultry smokey sound. To me, it is more about the particular timing, the sound you are after for the playing you are doing...know what I mean, Vern?

I,ve been looking for a word to describe wood MIJ snare drums and i found it thx to Jonnistix."SMOKEY"..It says it all!,but it does lack projection for harder hitting gigs,but that does not bother me at all.:)

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Well, what type of shell are you playing? I have some super thin 1, 2 or 3 ply, I just don't know, then I have several really cheapo 2 ply, and a couple of different types of mahogany, 5 ply and the other I just don't know what it is.

Some of these are LOUD, some are ringy, and some sound deep and woody, really fat and smokey. So, some project really well, others are kinda wimpy, sounding great from up top, and really funky from audience range. I dunno, they all have a sound unique to itself. I have three that are identical shells, same wrap, exact same ring and edge, and they all sound different, using the same heads, switched to them. So, it is up to the drum itself.

And of course, then we have the Acrolite. Sounds like all the others, except when I put different heads on it.

I love the sound of my wood 5-1/2" x 14" Stewart snare. I own both wood and steel snares, but the woodies I believe sound best for the type of music I play. The steel snares sound better when playing heavier genres. This is only my opinion.