These improve the overall performance of my copperphonic snare. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because the lug holes are tight. Lugs can't always be finger tightened because of binding.

I purchased five of the Ludwig Batter Side Die Cast hoops and three of the Ludwig Snare Side Die Cast hoops in order to experiment on a number of drums in my arsenal that we problematic with overtones (to my ear). The goal was to install three complete sets--top and bottom--of die cast hoops on three specific snare drums and to have two batter side die cast hoops to float around on different snares and experiment with their tuning/sound. The first snare drum up was a 5-inch X 14-inch Black Beauty. I installed a fresh Aquarian batter head, Canopus Vintage snare wires and a set of the Ludwig die cast hoops. It dialed in quickly to the amount of sustain and focus I wanted. The next snare drum was an 8-inch X 14-inch Copperphonic: new Aquarian batter head, Canopus Vintage plated snares and die cast hoops top and bottom. Loved the sound it achieved: slightly moire focused with a tad less sustain. The third snare drum was a 5-inch X 14-inch Noble & Cooley SS Classic Maple. No bueno! The tension rods splayed inward and did not properly line up with properly with the tension tubes. Otherwise constriction, fit and finish was excellent. I'm an old school biker and I'm extremely picky about chrome plating quality. The Ludwig die cast hoops had exceptional chrome plating. Very pleased overall and recommend the Ludwig hoops if you're looking to dry out the sound of your snare and achieve more of a focused sound. Just don't get these if you own a Noble & Cooley snare, they simply won't work.

I am a huge believer in die cast hoops on snare drums. I bought a Ludwig Black Beauty and immediately upgraded to Die Cast. Without doing an actually side by side comparison of all the die cast hoops on the market, they all seem to be somewhat generic. I don't know if this is true with Ludwig branded die cast hoops, but they all tend to run the same price give or take a few dollars. SO, for me to upgrade this high quality drum, it made perfect sense to buy Ludwig hoops, even if the others are close or even the same hoop. (I wish I knew more about the origins of the different brands of hoops, as there may be difference beyond what meets the eye-weight and material, for example)

These really got my snare drum sounding great. AWESOME!

If you want that old time "Buddy Rich" snare sound, these rims are great. I put them on a 6.5" x 14" Black Beauty and the attack is outstanding. The review that showed the tension rods inward leaning must have been a flaw on that particular set because they didn't do that for me.

The title says it all. I have a PDP Classic Maple snare that suffers from annoying ring and overtones, regardless of tuning. The die-cast hoop (I did batter side only) does help the ringing and makes the overall tone somewhat more pleasing, but I still use a little moon gel to tighten up the sound. The rim shots and cross stick tones are the most improved and I really like them. Overall, I'm happy with the results of this investment considering the alternative is several hundred dollars more for a higher end snare.

I replaced the stock, triple flanged hoops that came with my 23 year old Ludwig 5x14 Black Beauty with these die cast hoops top and bottom and wow! This is exactly the sound I was hoping to get out of this snare. I'm a huge fan of Gretsch and their thin shell, die cast hoop combination for a tight, focused sound. Loving this enhancement to one of the most recorded snares in history, the Ludwig Black Beauty!

My 1970 Rogers Dynasonic original hoop was a triple flanged chrome on brass. After years of the rock wars and countless rim shots the COB hoop began to roll over.

I've been looking for a die-cast replacement. Again Sweetwater came to the rescue.

Totally satisfied! My Dyna regained it's old bark!

Perfect fit, looks great and super cross sticks and rim clicks

I had a Gretsch snare that sounded decidedly un-Gretsch. Pop this guy on to that drum, bam! Sounds like a Gretsch! it's a bit of an investment, but a big game changer in changing a snare drum's sound.

Sales was spot on w/ description. Price, service and deliver... was GREAT!
It totally transformed my Ludwig Standard Maple Snare 14 x 8.

Reqlly nice chrome, great fit. Exactly the tone I was looking for!

Upgraded every single piece of my Pearl and K's kit..majority are Mastercast Pearl...most my toms and 2 new snares ALL Ludwig...identical except a Black and silver sticker...Makes your kit rune and play and SOUND BETTER!!!

They are almost dimensionally out of spec. I bought this (and the mating snare side) to replace the flanged hoops on my Ludwig Brass Edition snare. When I put them on I noticed that on both top and bottom the diameter of the hole pattern for the lugs is smaller than the pattern for the lugs. So if you overlayed 2 circles, 1 representing the centers of all of the lugs, and another representing the centers of all the holes in the hoops, the circle for the hoops would be smaller. I was able to get the drum tuned up, but the rods are going into the lugs at a slight angle. Doesn't seem to affect the sound, but it can't be great for the threads.

As for sound, I gave 3 stars because it focused the sound and overtones of the brass shell and improved the crack of the rimshot, which was what I was after.

It would be nice if factory parts would fit properly - the main reason I didn't buy another brand. These seem like factory seconds, or production parts that escaped quality control.

I picked up the top and bottom hoops and couldn't be happier. Tightened up the crack (for a Black Beauty), and lessened the overtones. Saw some complaints about the chrome being suspect, but the ones I received are perfect. I highly recommend.

This hoop really does the trick for taming and focusing the sound of my Ludwig Black Beauty, for recording purposes!

Just added these to my Ludwig Supraphonic 6 1/2 X14. They make a nice "crack" sound on rim shots. Chrome quality could have been better, but overall I'm happy. With my triple flange hoops I had problems with tension rods loosing off. I hope this stops the problem.

Inconsistent chrome plating. Quality control needs to improve.