Having a reliable snare in your kit is critical to any drummer, serving as the backbone of the beat in many applications and accenting parts and fills with a far-reaching “crack.” Each of the snare drums below is designed with the professional in mind, possessing style, substance, and a delectable sound. Ready to supercharge your kit with a rock-solid snare? Check out our list of seven superb snare drums to find the one that’s perfect for you!
Pearl Masters Maple Complete Snare Drum
Whether you’re already rocking the Pearl Masters Maple Complete kit or you’re in need of a punchy and powerful snare to round out your setup, Pearl’s Masters Maple Complete snare drum fits the bill. Before you even chop out a few licks, this drum’s beauty is sure to catch the eye — its one-of-a-kind, kaleidoscopic “Cain and Abel” graphic is equal parts mesmerizing and stunning. Pearl went with an EvenPly Six maple shell to give the Masters Maple Complete snare its sonic warmth and crispness, constructed using six plies of top-quality maple for exceptional projection and sustain. For an added dose of professional quality, Pearl threw on SuperHoop II flanged hoops for a clean-cutting tone that leaps through the densest stage mixes.
DW Time Keeper Snare Drum
The brainchild of current Senior Executive Vice President John Good, DW’s Time Keeper snare drum is nothing short of functional art. This ode to music’s “timekeepers” features 531 laser-cut inlays across its Santos rosewood–covered purpleheart shell, each illustrating a clock motif and laser cut from yellow koto, gray Italian poplar, and many other exotic and dyed woods. Sweetwater drummers relish this snare’s luscious tone. By using DW’s proprietary Vertical Low Timbre (VLT) grain orientation, less tension is placed on the shell for a deeper fundamental and rich, full-bodied tone. The Time Keeper’s antique bronze hardware is all class with lux leather “watchband” True-Hoops and a Remo Fiberskyn batter head adding to this snare’s visual elegance and custom-shop feel.
ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Snare Drum
Harness the power and presence of heavy-metal icon and “Power Groove” pioneer Vinnie Paul with the ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature snare drum! Those familiar with Pantera’s timeless sound are aware of Vinnie’s thunderous, gut-punching playing style, and this drum’s eight plies of rock-hard North American maple make good on their promise of rafter-reaching rimshots. Twenty face-off lugs and die-cast hoops maintain tuning stability from your first song through the final encore with exceptional sustain and harmonic richness, courtesy of 45-degree inner and 30-degree outer bearing edges. As for looks? Not only does the chrome hardware look phenomenal in stage lighting, but this drum’s dragon and flame wrap also adds more than a dash of visual ferocity to this monster-sounding snare.
Ludwig Legacy Classic Mahogany Snare Drum
Though designed as the perfect addition to their Black Cat shell pack, the Ludwig Legacy Classic Mahogany snare drum’s luscious warmth and minimalist appearance upgrade any kit with stellar sound and looks to match. A 3-ply mahogany/poplar shell delivers classic tone with modern-day cut accented with matching wood hoops for undeniable vintage vibes. To add just the right amount of dryness and strength, Ludwig went with 30-degree roundover edges with 1/4-inch maple re-rings with exciting additions like old-school lugs and a commemorative Silver Oval Keystone badge to satisfy the collector in you.
SJC Custom Drums Josh Dun Signature Snare Drum
Twenty One Pilots fans are sure to love the SJC Custom Drums Josh Dun Signature snare drum! This signature snare is taken straight from TØP’s “Shy Away” music video, boasting the exact specs and construction of the original so you can hit the skins just like Josh. Sweetwater is proud to offer this custom-shop snare in an exclusive finish, badge, and tension-rod washer combination — appointments such as these give this drum a standout visual uniqueness that’s perfectly paired with a top-quality 10-ply maple shell for incredible resonance and depth. While it’s guaranteed to deliver the signature sound of its namesake, the SJC Custom Drums Josh Dun Signature snare drum’s well-rounded tone and eye-popping good looks excel in any application.
A&F Drum Company Raw Steel Snare Drum
In contrast to the other drums listed here, A&F Drum Company’s Raw Steel snare drum focuses on adding effects such as breakbeats and “gock” shots to your playing rather than acting as your primary snare. Its handcrafted 4-inch x 6-inch shell comes from a single sheet of instrument-grade steel and is prized for its incredible tuning range and dynamic sound. Internal snare wires and an L-rod mount make it a breeze to incorporate this pint-size snare into any setup — Sweetwater drummers were able to mount this snare across their entire kit with little effort. A&F Drum Company’s single-flanged brass hoops — commonly found across all their Raw Steel snares — arm you with snappy attack and presence with hardware appointments like center-mounted dual-side lugs and aged tension screws for a thoroughly boutique feel.
TAMA Star Reserve Hand Hammered Aluminum Snare Drum
When it comes to crystal-clear tone with light-speed attack, enlisting a hardworking aluminum snare drum gets you where you need to go in an instant. The TAMA Star Reserve Hand Hammered Aluminum snare drum is no different, channeling the powerful sound of aluminum snares with a rich, low fundamental that works great in all genres and playing styles. To balance the low-mid richness with some welcome brightness, TAMA equipped this hand-hammered snare with Brass Sound Arc Hoops, enhancing sensitivity and accentuating high-end snap in a way that defines this drum’s unique voice. Super Sensitive Hi-Carbon Snare Wires ensure maximum response with extra crispness — everything from ghost notes to all-out playing will come through defined for all to hear. Sweetwater drummers appreciate TAMA’s addition of a Linear-Drive throw off for extra-quiet operation, eliminating the annoying and disruptive “slap” that can occur when snare wires hit the bottom head.
Adding any of these incredible snares to your setup is a surefire way to give your kit a standout sound and look. Though each drum offers unique benefits, all deliver that studio- and stage-worthy sound drummers everywhere crave. Once you’ve made the decision on that special snare, be sure to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700 to purchase yours today!
