If it was a nightclub that was the place to play, then I would choose an "intimate" drum. For me, that would be my 5.5 X 14 Ludwig Pioneer circa 1964.

If the crowd was noisy, then I would bring my B/O Ludalloy Supra

But that would be a weird gig...just playing a snare drum! Mister T

I like Remo Diplomats on all...mainly because they are the closest feeling head to the old Ludwig Weathermasters and "dB" series heads.

Depending on the music, I would use either this:

[img]http://www.billmaley.com/downbeat.jpg[/img]

Or this:

[img]http://www.billmaley.com/lsf.jpg[/img]

with ambassadors or diplomats.

The 60s Gretsch 5.5x14 with Acquarian American Vintage for wood and any metal snare to barter for a thatched hut for the new love of my life I'd have to snag that night. Metal rusts in the ocean breeze anyhow.

My metal snare choice would be my Big R 5 x 14 Dynasonic, Fiberskyn on batter, Diplomat on snare side, tuned high and no dampening, ringing like a bell. Wood snare, my 1951 Slingerland Radio King, Ambassodar on batter side, Diplomat on snare side, loose and fat.

I just put a new Diplomat coated batter on the 10x7 which belongs to my Gretsch USA Custom 18/13FT/10 kit ( Ambassadors on the 13 and bass ) and it developed dents minutes after I started playing - lightly - as in an acoustic setting . How can they hold up on a snare drum ?

I can't answer that one! I can only say that I currently have Diplos on my Jazzette kit and I play with 7A sticks and brushes and I haven't had any problems at all. When I say I play lightly...I mean I play reeeeeeally lightly! Burger Kin I used to use Ambassadors on everything, but they always felt "harder" in terms of rebound. When I switched to Diplos, I felt like I was playing an older Ludwig kit with old Ludwig heads. Then, I realized that the Diplomats are in fact 7.5 mil. thick -which is what the old Ludwig heads used to be. For example: I have an original Big Beat kit from the early 70's and it has its original "dB" series heads. They are all db 750 (translate to" 7.50 mil thickness). The exception is the bass drum head which is a dB 1000 (translate to 10.00 mil. thickness) -which is what a Remo Ambassador is. When I play those original Ludwig heads (not made that way anymore), I get a certain kind of signature Ludwig-esque feel...which makes me want to play them a bit differently. I could never get that feel with an Ambassador...but the Diplos are more of an accurate facsimile of the older Ludwig heads, in my opinion.