I completely agree 1000%! In this case, both snares sound excellent, so I was just looking for an aesthetic opinion from others.

Thanks bpm. It's a 12" x 18". It's a typical jazz kit in that it's 12/14/18, but shallow depths (rack tom is 6" deep and Floor tom is 10" deep).

I did hear back from Mapex, and they said the drum pictured is their version of a natural finish on MPX Maple snares. I think it's a little deceiving. It's way too amber/yellow/orange to be labeled as "natural" at least to me.

I'm going to return the MPX Maple and probably go with an MPX Birch instead. The birch is more natural blonde in color. It's the exact same as the MPX Maple, just a "true" blonde. Even though the kit is Maple, I think it would be ok to have a birch snare. I just wish the maple snare was actually blond.

I thought about possibly a Yamaha Stage Custom snare as well in natural lacquer. It too is a 100% Birch shell and has 10 lugs, exactly like the Mapex. They are both well built and excellent snares, especially at their price point. Also, Pearl's Modern Utility snares are excellent values for the money and are 100% Maple, but they only come in Satin Black or Matte lacquer finishes, whereas I'm looking for a gloss. I'm pretty handy with polyurethane, but I figure they come that way for a reason, so I don't want to alter the mojo of the original. Also, it's only an 8 lug, and although the lugs are fine, I like the look of the Mapex and Yamaha lugs better. Just my preference.

In case you were wondering, I could get an Ellis Custom snare to match the kit. I bought the kit as a "floor model" at the Chicago Drum Show last year. I got a very good price on it. When I contacted them about having them build me a matching snare, the price they quoted me was more than 50% of what I paid for the whole kit. I know I got a good deal on the kit, and I know custom USA built snares aren't cheap, it's just that I have a hard time spending more than 50% of the price of the entire kit just for the snare. Does that make sense?

Also, I'm sure you're asking "Why not just use the Grover Snare with that kit?". I do quite a bit, but I also use the Grover snare a lot (it's awesome!) with other kits, and I leave my Ellis drums set up in my studio full time, so it's mostly a matter of convenience. That's why I'm looking for a good quality, well built snare at a lower price point, such as the Mapex MPX's and Stage Custom.

Thanks a lot for your opinions and guidance!

V

I was going to recommend a Pearl Modern Utility snare. I think it would match the kit really well color-wise, but you are right, they only come in matte. They do sound surprisingly good, I played many of them at the Namm show.

Hold onto that kit, she is a beauty.

I also play a 12 X 6 rack and I really love how staccato it is.

I prefer the Grover too, but imagine this on there: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1966-Ludwig-5x14-Jazz-Festival-Duco-Snare-Drum/282740073653?hash=item41d49f24b5:g:cPUAAOSw4PxaMFj5

In blonds finish I’d suggest the Yamaha concert snares. But I believe they only come in satin clear finish.

Tama SLP snares are wicked nice for the money and come in your finish.

But, once I saw this is a dedicated studio kit, I must suggest the most recorded snare drum in history; the Supraphonic. Or, if on a budget, the equally awesome acrolite.

A chrome Supra would look right at home back there. As would a brass 13” piccolo if that fits your music style.

Aesthetically, the Grover looks better, but I used to endorse Grover products and dropped them because I got tired of the Grover snare I had after a while, and their lousy snare wires kept on breaking. One by one, the strands kept dropping off during gigs. I went to Puresounds. Problem solved and Grover kicked to the side of the curb forever.