Understood.

Even in a perfect world, there really is no need for a lot of different snare drums -other than collectibility. A working snare drum should sound good tuned low or high. It should respond well. From there, it's a matter of heads, muffling, sticks and technique. If one chooses to use a fancy drumhead and a pair of aluminum sticks, near the edge of the drumhead it's going to sound completely different from the very same drum equipped with an Ambassador and played with a pair of RegalTip 2Bs played dead-center...and so on and so on...

So, in the case of snare drums, whatever nuance that may be present, in one instance, is and should be changeable in a different setting/application -and not just be a one-trick pony drum. Field drums and stuff like that might be the exceptions.

Most of the people I know who have collections of snare drums, still like to play on just a few particular ones -and, yes, usually they are Supras or Acrolites!x-mas1

Thanks for the responses everyone. Its really appreciated.

I agree that sound depends on how it is set up and played. I also agree that a good snare should have a broad tuning range and versatility. However in reality some snares just sound much better tuned a certain way (pearl chad smith for example sounds best when cranked IMO).

Really I just sent out this appeal because I have a limited budget. I am buying 2nd hand online to get the best bang for my buck. This means I can't try the contenders or A/B compare them against each other. I just have to go by descriptions and online media/reviews.

Like many have pointed out this is misleading and I could write off a drum because it is played with the wrong tuning, the wrong heads and in the wrong room.

I am just trying to narrow down the chances of picking something that doesn't work in a particular context. The snare I played at the audition sounded totally out of place, and I don't think it would be right regardless how I tune it. It just sounds better for pop, funk or rock and doesn't suit intimate music. That said I am going to try research all the recomendations people have suggested so thanks again. Here is the band ...

http://www.myspace.com/theaceproject

What do people think would work best? For snare I reckon a deep maple shell would provide the warmth and subtle grace notes needed for intimate passages and yet crack nicely for the distorted sections. What do people think?

Also ... what cymbals do people suggest. For crashes I was looking for models which open up responsively at medium volumes without having to lay into them, but which can also cut through denser mixes when needed. I am struggling with ride decisions as there are so many!

Thanks again all ...

I would suggest you attempt to locate a DW Workshop Series snare in about a 5x14 size. They don't make them anymore and are a bit tough to locate. But, if you do find one, they are a very nice and relatively inexpensive snare. These are not the Pacific snares and are not the Collector snares. Very expressive, sensitive, warm, woody, and powerful when needed. A cool snare.

I'm going to swim against the current (as if that's unexpected) and suggest a Slingerland COB Krupa snare. The aged brass has a very nice warm sound. It's ultra sensitive when needed. It has an incredibly powerful deep and loud backbeat when needed. The rims provide an outstanding percussive rim click. It's not ringy or uncontrolled and unkempt like other metal snares. It has a wider sound spectrum than my Supra. Your sound sample does not sound like my snare. Your head choice may play a factor.

My first snare drum was a Supra (long gone), and all I have now is a couple of '69 Acrolites and a '60s Pioneer. Along the way I've owned a couple of Jazz Festivals and Slingerlands, but the only snare I could never get a good sound from was a WMP Rogers Spotlight. It was a very pretty drum, but the sound was always unpleasant to my ears, whatever the heads or tuning. It was quite a surprise, and I've never figured out what the problem was.

I now prefer the 60s Acrolites, so I'm set for life! x-mas3

For the snare drum you should use a Ludwig 400 it is the snare drum you "need", >QUOTE< IT is the most recored snare drum on the planet< as for cymbals use a medium thin weight cymbal it has enough weight to it for soft and medium to loud volume without haveing to lay into it, choose whatever brand you like Yes Sir

There's a saying "if you have to ask, it doesn't matter".

Do I need to get a tube compressor?

If you have to ask, it doesn't matter.

I know it's not always true, but in this case, that was my first response to this thread.

As far as the vintage/calf thing, for me "vintage" is before 1960, before we entered what I call the PLastic Era. That's what I meant, and listening to an mp3 of a Leedy snare with plastic heads and thinking you can hear "the vintage sound" is to me, bonkers.

I've got pretty good gear, Neumanns and such and I've recorded my calf heads and my old K's and there's no way to record them so it represents what they sound like. It's not even close. Part of the problem with cymbals is that over 1/2 the energy is above 100KHz and although we can't hear that we do feel it.

I have yet one other suggested snare ---> The late 70's bronze shell 6.5" Black Beauty. In a fit of stupidity I traded mine off and truly regret that, since it was so versatile.

Tuning range is the same as the Supra, but a bit more full bodied. I even played the drum with nylon snares and was amazed by the sensitivity at medium and lower tunings. With wire snares it was brilliant.

There a flaw with this statement here though........the original poster never stated if this was a VINTAGE Leedy snare or one of the NEW Leedy snares made by Gretsch....the two do not sound alike.......the new Leedy snares sound a lot like a more sensitive modern Gretsch snare, I own both so I feel I can acurately comment on that. A new Leedy and a vintage Leedy side by side....no comparison. The vintage will win out in everything over the new everytime in my opinion, it just has a warmer, better tone. The new Leedy is a bit harsher sounding....might have a lot to do with the shell design and the steel triple flange hoops.....never mind the plastic heads. The new Leedy snares use a 10ply shell with NO reinforcement hoops and 30 degree bearing edges. Modern, yes.....warm sounding, somewhat.......but not as warm as a vintage Leedy. You can get closer using calf heads or simulated calf heads like fiberskyn 3s.....eh, I could do this all day......lol!

There's two schools of thought:

One thinks it's no good because it's old.

And the other thinks it must be good because it's new.

Some of us are guilty of leaning towards the inverse, too.