Snare Drum reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 167 Reddit reviews across 7 subreddits and 37 posts to rank the best Snare Drum brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/drums, r/Drumming, r/musicians, r/AskDrummers, r/drummers. Top-rated brands include Ludwig (4.7/5), Tama (4.5/5), Mapex (4.7/5).
Stats
Reviews167
Subreddits7
Posts37
Brands36
Products84
167 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Ludwig
4.7
(63)
"Supra is like…THE snare."
"It's a great drum all around."
"It does everything well at any tuning."
"I'd check out some used Ludwig Acrolite or Supraphonic in your area."
"Sometimes, people will not know what they have and let them go for a steal."
"Very responsive and consistent drum."
"I have a 1960 Ludwig Jazz Fest in champagne sparkle that I love."
"I agree with everyone recommending the Ludwig Acrolite or Supraphonic."
"The Ludwig Acrolite hands down."
"I snagged a Black Ludwig Pioneer for $300 -- 6 lugs, thin wood shell with re-rings, vibes for days."
#2
Tama
4.5
(21)
"Every tama SLP is a beast"
"The SLP walnut is a KILLER. Highly recommend another SLP."
"The Tama Big Black Steel is great. Unreasonably great for the money."
"I personally use a 13x6.5 inch Tama Metalworks steel snare that I picked up used from Guitar Center."
"Dude. You can get a Tama Starphonic from Thomann that meets your budget."
"Go for a metal shell that is also insanely thick."
"I recommend the Tama SLP Big Black Steel snare. It's 14x8 and sounds like an absolute beast!"
"Love my Tama SLP bubinga 14x6."
"Tama SLP G-Bubinga enough said."
"I love this snare. I love it for metal. I love it for funk."
#3
Mapex
4.7
(10)
"It is great for jazz when tuned high."
"I use a Mapex Birch/Walnut Exterminator 14x7 with wide puresound wires and an Evans Genera Dry HD."
"I picked up my mapex black panther 14" maple snare used for 300 Canadian dollaridoos."
"If you are set on wood shells, I know the Mapex Black Panther snares come in a bunchhhhh of different options."
"It sounds fantastic and didn’t break the bank at all."
"I fell on the 12*5.5 Mapex Warbringer Chris Adler signature snare."
"Look into the Mapex Black Panther snare drums."
"The Brass Cat still sounds amazing but is shallower and has a bit less body."
"Mapex Black Panther Sledgehammer."
"I play a Mapex 6.5 inch hammered snare and use an Aquarian Triple Threat head as my batter. I tune it all the way up and it has an awesomely deep exploding thingy going on that ruins eardrums."
#4
Pearl
4.2
(11)
"Pearl Sensitone is best snare."
"My hammered bronze Supra excels at that 200Hz thump better than just about anything I've played."
"Pearl piccolo snares"
"Pearl Sensitone Brass is a nice, versatile snare."
"There are alternatives that sound 90% as good for a quarter of that (pearl sensitone, Ludwig black magic, Worldmax brass)"
"One of my best learning experiences was when I got a cheap used $25 Pearl Export Steel Snare."
"For example there is a Pearl snare on Dave's drum shop that's only $120 CAD which would be fine for a practice set."
"I'd say a 14" Supra or wood Pearl Reference."
"I got a used steel Pearl piccolo for $80."
"Copeland plays a 14x5 chrome over brass snare, so I would get this."
#5
Pork Pie
4.3
(8)
"Pork Pie's acrylic snare is absolutely fantastic."
"I love my Acrylic Pork Pie."
"Buy a Pork pie snare."
"Even though I love my 13"x7" Pork Pie snare."
"I went for the Pork Pie Big Black Bob."
"Black on brass pork pie, 6.5x14."
"Pork Pie Big Black Brass tune that beast up high with a coated ambassador."
"Pork pie snare are the best "cheap" snare."
#6
Yamaha
4.5
(6)
"My Yamaha Maple Custom, traveled the country with me everywhere and never let me down."
"I have a Yamaha Musashi oak snare that size that I love"
"My workhorse is a 5.5x14 Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute."
"I have an old Yamaha stage custom from the early 2000s. It was cheap and it's a great all-around performer."
"If you want an all-Yamaha setup, and your budget can handle it, the Recording Custom metal snares are very good."
"Yahmaha Stage Custom Snares are real nice"
#7
DW
5.0
(5)
"They are the best you can get."
"If you got the money, a DW Edge snare will cut through anything."
"DW Collectors nickel over brass."
"I would take my DW R30 "Starman" Edge snare."
"I got a brand new 14x6.5 Black Nickel over Brass for $300.15."
#8
Rogers
4.2
(5)
"I just got a 1968 Rogers Powertone that I love, its a punchy brass shell with a wide tuning range."
"I have a rogers dynasonic I found for about 350 used, it’s really beefy as it is."
"I have a rogers dynasonic I found for about 350 used, it’s really beefy as it is."
"I have a rogers dynasonic I found for about 350 used, it’s really beefy as it is."
"Rogers dynasonic cob."
#9
Canopus
4.7
(3)
"Canopus Zelkova 6.5 x 14 or A&F 4 x 15 brass."
"I'm sure Canopus makes a snare in that price range."
"Canopus, much better than Puresound can wish."
#10
Black Magic
4.3
(3)
"I would go with the Ludwig Black Magic."
"See if you can find a used Black Magic"
"Anything that's steel and has a depth of over 6". Black Magic?"
#11
Keplinger
5.0
(2)
"If money was no issue, a titanium 14x7 Keplinger with diecast hoops."
"6.5" Keplinger with wood hoops."
#12
Evans
4.5
(2)
"Replace the top heads with either Evans HD Dry or Remo Controlled Sound, bottom heads Evans EC. Also replaced the wires with PureSound Blasters. Sounds awesome."
"I got an Evans HD Dry and it sounds really good to my ears"
#13
Remo
4.5
(2)
"Replace the top heads with either Evans HD Dry or Remo Controlled Sound, bottom heads Evans EC. Also replaced the wires with PureSound Blasters. Sounds awesome."
"I usually pick heads that have some kind of dampening in the middle like a Remo Controlled Sound or Powerstroke 77"
#14
Craviotto
4.5
(2)
"I've got a custom Craviotto that I'd prob my grab out of a fire before any important documents."
"A used Craviotto."
#15
Gretsch
4.5
(2)
"You can usually find Gretsch Full Range series snares used on EBay in that price range. I have several different models and they’re all great sounding drums!"
"Check out the Gretsch metal snare drums."
#16
Noble & Cooley
4.5
(2)
"Noble & Cooley Zildjian Snare. It's the go to snare on many recordings."
"Noble & Cooley piccolo"
#17
Sonor
5.0
(1)
"Tunes up easily."
#18
Inde
5.0
(1)
"This drum is incredibly sensitive and articulate with an almost infinite number of tuning possibilities."
#19
Meazzi
5.0
(1)
"It sounds wonderful."
#20
Off Beat Drum Co
5.0
(1)
"Off Beat Drum Co are my favorites. Copper shells with maple bearing edges."
#21
Sugar Percussion
5.0
(1)
"Sugar Percussion has a phenomenal payment plan. Zero interest. Top tier drums at affordable rates from a real class act."
#22
Q Drum Co.
5.0
(1)
"One is a Q Drum Co. 14 x 6.5 Nickel over brass (black beauty)."
#23
Edge
5.0
(1)
"Failing that, a 7" Edge."
#24
Taylor Hawkins
5.0
(1)
"The Taylor Hawkins snare sounds damn good actually!"
#25
Samplonius
5.0
(1)
"Second i have a Samplonius custom made Kauri timber stave drum."
#26
British Drum Company
5.0
(1)
"This one is the one."
#27
Black Galaxy
5.0
(1)
"Agreed….also called the “Black Galaxy.” Super versatile, great snare. You won’t be disappointed"
#28
Aquarian
4.0
(1)
"I'd recommend an aquarian studio x head, it has a damping ring and helps a lot if your tuning isn't the best."
#29
SLP
4.0
(1)
"I get compliments on it at gigs more than my SLP bronze."
#30
Big Fat Snare Drum
4.0
(1)
"It's like a super big O-ring that'll make the drum sound much fatter."
#31
Remo Ambassador
4.0
(1)
"I use a coated ambassador, next head I buy will be a calf skin."
#32
Roland
4.0
(1)
"Any roland snare pad should work fine with your module EXCEPT the new digital snare."
#33
Acrolite
4.0
(1)
"Vintage acros can be found quite easily and though they're not as cheap as they were, they're still pretty affordable."
#34
Masters
4.0
(1)
"Masters MCX is a great drum, but what kind of sound are you looking for?"
#35
Unknown Snare Drum
4.0
(1)
"$200-$250 will get you something decent."
#36
PDP
4.0
(1)
"I picked up a 14x8 PDP walnut/maple that is just great."
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