Agree with LD - Even my Kent metal snare and a CB-700 COS snare I own have snare beds.

Man oh man, did I ever go through this one. I have a Slingerland Artist model snare that came with my Buddy kit. It really had no snare bed to speak of. Pretty much missing in action. I tested the stupid thing till I wanted to kick my dog...then remembered I only have a cat. Dang. I ended up taking the dremel tool to it in the middle of the night. That snare sings now. I went a bit deeper than most. I've played a few snares over the years and remembered the beds of one of my faves. I popped that one onto this snare and am very happy. I was very surprised that Slingerland would have let a snare out the door without cutting a doggone bed into it. I've since learned that this was not unusual. Oh well. Love the drum now! It's very very sensitive with a soft touch. It doesn't choke at all. I lay into it HARD and it still sizzles. Cool.

Thanks for all these stories and experiences- it`s a kind of collective information that really, really makes a difference. I just came back from the second show with the new Fibes that I cut the beds in and I am really happy with it. Later this evening I am going to begin working some beds on some MIJs.