Snare reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 161 Reddit reviews across 5 subreddits and 36 posts to rank the best Snare brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/drums, r/percussion, r/Drumming, r/edrums, r/Hardcore. Top-rated brands include Ludwig (4.7/5), Evans (4.5/5), Gretsch (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews161
Subreddits5
Posts36
Brands41
Products88
161 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Ludwig
4.7
(60)
"Look for a used Ludwig Black Magic or Pork Pie BOB if you want some brass in your life if you got $300."
"I have the all die-cast 13" model and it's a monster of a snare drum. Pretty much the perfect brass snare."
"Supraphonic."
"Black Beauty."
"I have a Ludwig Universal Series “Black Magic” brass 14x8” and play in a trad metal band. It’s perfect. I got it new for $349."
"You really can't go wrong with an Acrolite or a Supraphonic, but keep an eye out for a Pearl Sensitone, Tama SLP, or Mapex Black Panther."
"Get a Ludwig Acrolite. You can easily find them used and in great shape for under $250."
"Acrolite 100%."
"Ludwig Supraphonic used. It’s the sound of hits."
"Acrolite is not only the best affordable snare, but one is also one of the best snares."
#2
Evans
4.5
(11)
"Evans EC Reverse Dot. It's like the Remo P77 but imo better."
"In my opinion it’s the Evan’s Genera Dry. You could have a snare cranked to the max and the GD will muffle out the long ring."
"I use copper snares with the Evans Hybrid head, wide open, cranked up. Loud as can be."
"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."
"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 love the Evans EC5 reverse dot beater head. Its fantastic for all genres"
"Evans Hybrid"
"Onyx is a good head that’ll work"
"Evans onyx has always been good for me!"
"I go back and forth between Evans Genera Dry and Power Center Reverse Dot."
#3
Gretsch
4.6
(8)
"Gretsch renown is one of the best sounding mid snares."
"Gretsch renown snare is fantastic for some reason, like better than snares I’ve had for double the price."
"The Gretsch Keith Carlock signature model is a raw brass shell and it absolutely slaps."
"Works in most situations and is solid."
"Gretsch renown"
"Gretsch Brooklyn Steel."
"The older RN1 Gretsch Renown Maple snare drum holds its own against snare drums 10x the price."
"I’ve heard Gretsch Drums 14”x6,5” Silver Series Ash is an absolute bargain."
#4
Tama
4.6
(7)
"People slept on Tama's Metalworks 13" x 4" steel snare."
"Tama SLP Black brass (used) smokes a lot of pricier, posher snares."
"Big fan of the Tama SLP black brass. I have a heavyweight head and muffling on it and it’s still unreasonably loud."
"It works in almost every scenario I've ever tried it."
"If you want something for the sludgier side of things, you probably couldn’t go wrong with that Tama SLP Big Black Snare."
"One of the older Metalworks steel snares or one of the metal S.L.P models like the Big Black would be good."
"I don’t have any experience with it but it looks fantastic."
#5
Vic Firth
4.4
(7)
"For low price I always recommend good old fashioned SD-1s from Vic Firth."
"Vic Firth SD-1 is a fantastic general stick."
"Vic Firth SD1. Great for general use. They are pretty cheap too"
"Vic Firth SD 2 Bolero"
"I also usually have a pair of SD-4s in my bag which I prefer to the SD-2s for quieter playing because of the thinner shaft."
"The SD-2 bolero is also extremely handy to have in your bag."
"I use 2Bs and SD1s by Vic. They’re sticks"
#6
Pearl
4.4
(7)
"Spend less and get a Pearl Sensitone in the Heritage Brass Black Nickel finish. This is a beast of a snare drum, loud as hell and half the price."
"I picked up a 2000s pearl masters maple for $300. Sounds great in a wide tuning and dynamic range. I’ve probably played a dozen gigs with it so far and the tuning is really stable too. Those things are solid. Highly recommended."
"Used pearl brass free floater all day."
"Used Pearl Free Floater. Absolute game changer!"
"Pearl sensitones are underrated, the aluminium ones do the supraphonic/acrolite type thing really well."
"I quite like the snare on VS by Pearl Jam."
"Very nearly any functional 5x14/5.5x14 metal snare will do the trick."
#7
Pork Pie
4.8
(6)
"I just bought a 14x6.5 pork pie big black brass “BOB” snare used for $230 and I love it. That thing is absolutely killer."
"Another vote here for a used Acrolite or a Pork Pie big black brass."
"Pork Pie BOB all the way."
"I’d agree with the Pork Pie BOB."
"Pork Pie Big Black Brass if you can find one. This is in my rotation and it really whips."
"Check out Pork Pie Big Black Brass - it's 400 new so a used one would fit for you."
#8
Remo
4.7
(6)
"The smooth white is durable and gives a nice dry controlled crack without killing overtones completely."
"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"
"I use Remo Coated Control sound they are great for me"
"I like Powerstroke 3, personally."
"I usually pick heads that have some kind of dampening in the middle like a Remo Controlled Sound or Powerstroke 77"
#9
Yamaha
4.3
(6)
"Is my go-to."
"Does absolutely anything and everything."
"I really like my yamaha recording custom brass but seems its just about $100 above your price bracket."
"I’m using an old Yamaha steel shell snare or a Ludwig acrolyte most gigs."
"I have a deep 14” brass yamaha, and on the side I have a few 10” popcorn snares."
"Yamaha makes nice shit. Especially their Oak drums."
#10
John Mayer
5.0
(3)
"Perfect combo of low tuning with a soft yet fat sound."
"Vultures by John Mayer. Fatness to the max. Ultimate ballad snare."
"Not just the snare, the entire kit. That bass drum is sex."
#11
Pearl Jam
5.0
(3)
"I really love all the drum tones on Pearl Jam’s Vs."
"The perfect sound in that mix."
"Plenty of attack, can hear snare response."
#12
Worldmax
4.3
(3)
"An LM402 is the ideal snare if you can get a used one. The ultimate swiss army snare."
"If you can't find a good used Ludwig in your price range, check out Worldmax snares, excellent value. Particularly their Black Beauty copy."
"Check out Worldmax snares, particularly the brass and aluminium ones."
#13
Roland PDX-12
5.0
(2)
"If you want to be playing something closer to the real thing, go PDX12 for the snare."
"Get the PDX-12 for the snare, I guarantee you'll be very happy with it."
#14
Off Beat Drum Co
5.0
(2)
"Check out Off Beat Drum Co, super awesome drums. Copper shells with maple bearing edges."
"I love my Off Beat Drum Co snares, copper shells with maple bearing edges."
#15
Black Chrome
4.0
(2)
"I second the Black Chrome for your needs. I’ve been a hydraulic player for a few decades and only used them on a snare once."
"I used a Black Chrome in a metal project on a snare and it was actually pretty nice."
#16
Promark
4.0
(2)
"Promark concert 2s. Long taper like the lambs, atkatz, etc. But still hickory, so pricey hasn't gotten out of hand."
"Get the promark concert 2s. Almost the same stick for a lot less."
#17
Chris Lamb
4.0
(2)
"I love my Christopher Lambs! Pretty good all-around stick. Great quality too!"
"Chris Lamb 1’s are my faves"
#18
DW Collectors
5.0
(1)
"I bought a used DW Collectors for $350 and I love it. 14x6.5 brass in the “black” color and it’s awesome."
#19
Jobeky Snare
5.0
(1)
"Had one as a snare for my roland kit for 6 years now. its amazing."
#20
Led Zeppelin
5.0
(1)
"When the Levee breaks - Led Zeppelin ( Bonham had awesome sound)."
#21
The Raconteurs
5.0
(1)
"“What’s yours is mine” by the raconteurs. Wide open black beauty."
#22
Yusseff Dayes and Tom Misch
5.0
(1)
"“What Kinda Music” by Yusseff Dayes and Tom Misch. The whole album has pristine drum sounds and performances."
#23
SJC
5.0
(1)
"I have an SJC thrash can which I use as a side snare. It sounds amazing and would be perfect for that."
#24
Cheap Trick
5.0
(1)
"The flame - cheap trick has a lovely sounding snare."
#25
Pansy Division
5.0
(1)
"Honestly, That's So Gay by Pansy Division has this awesome barking snare with some killer room sound behind it."
#26
Breadwinner Drums
5.0
(1)
"If you can stretch to $425 check out breadwinner drums. I got the steel ne from Nelson drum shop recently and love it."
#27
Sublime
5.0
(1)
"The self titled sublime album, particularly Garden Grove. Monster snare tone."
#28
AC/DC
5.0
(1)
"I always loved the snare sound on the Highway to Hell and Back in Black albums."
#29
Phil Collins
5.0
(1)
"Some of my favorites are Easy Lover-Phil Collins."
#30
Slaughter to Prevail
5.0
(1)
"Love the snare during the breakdown of Demolisher by Slaughter to Prevail."
#31
Helmet
5.0
(1)
"Helmet. Anything off of Betty, but particularly Wilma's Rainbow. THWACK."
#32
Black Panther
5.0
(1)
"Find one of them Black Panther Snares honestly."
#33
Eric Valentine
5.0
(1)
"Any Eric Valentine made track has stupid good sounding snares and drums in general."
#34
PDP
5.0
(1)
"[PDP Eric Hernandez Piccolo]"
#35
Freer
5.0
(1)
"Best sticks hands down for me are the Freer General Orchestral, but they'll run you $36. Effortless rolls and great articulation."
#36
Meinl
4.0
(1)
"Recently I have been loving the Meinl SD1. They are dense but have a smaller tip so they sound very precise with some body."
#37
Lemon Snare
4.0
(1)
"Honest either pdx-12 or lemon snare. If your gonna go biggger go big or go home."
#38
Joey Snare
4.0
(1)
"You can't go wrong with the Joey snare! Lots of people say it's a one trick pony, but I've found it sounds killer at any tuning."
#39
JJ Snare
4.0
(1)
"Can’t go wrong with the JJ."
#40
Joey Jordison
4.0
(1)
"I know the Joey jordison Sig is pretty “cheap” and I’m pretty sure you could strangle the thing and it would only sound *better*."
#41
Sonor
4.0
(1)
"Sonor protean Gavin Harrison signature."
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