Snaredrum suggestions?

Hi guys

I'm looking for a snaredrum that would work as a good allround snare with a fat sound (6? ?) and a lot of crack. (Not that kind of crack!)
I play mostly rock, r'nb and countrymusic.
I would be very grateful for any suggestion.

Thanks

Eagle

I have heard a lot of people suggest brass snare drums from your description. I have played the Steve Ferrone snare drum (6.5"x14" Beaded Brass) and it is pretty sweet. Try one out.

The dennis chambes signature snare is the nicest snare i have ever played and has that crack sound that i love. he does normally tune it tight but i have seen him slacken it off and it sounds like a rock snare......brilliant drum.

So many choices..........The Black Dawg by World Max is a very inexpensive Black Beauty copy. It's a brass with coating. The Steve ferrone snare i the same drums as this. The guy whom started World Max was from Pearl and designed many of the drums pearl offers.
Picking a snare though is like picking cymbals, it's all personal taste and what works for you and how YOU usee it. Or in this case, TUNE it. Everyone tunes different and what one person says is a great drum verses how you tune could be the wrong drum.
A generic size would be to get a 5x14 in either Maple or Brass, or gravitate to a 6 1/2x14 in the same materials. Yamaha makes some really nice snares. The new Steve Jordan is a nice sounding drum, I think it's a 13"? Now a 13" in a 5-7" depth makes a great all around drum, great body, attack and depending on the type of rim the cross stick can be fat. Just my opinions, but I own well over 20 snares and each one has it's own personanlity.

Man,snare drums are all about research.So many good companies offer alot of options.Follow Randy's post about personal preference.U just gotta pick an afternoon and hit a well stocked store(and well run store with cool peeps) and check out snares.Myself,i use a 13x5-1/2 maple Dunnet.The best snare i have ever touched.But ive played/tried lotsa diff. snares.The Yamaha Steve Jordan snare,again,is great.Akira Jimbo snare is super versatile,and easy to tune.I've always liked Pearl snares,great ideas from that company.I borrow my buddies Keplinger snare from time to time,which is the second most georgous drum ive ever played.Ask your music store if they will let u borrow snares for a night or 2,and do that research...............beats

Wow, thanks for some great tips/suggestions. It will be a tough decesion to make but I'm thinking either Ferrone, Fig, Jordan or Jimbo's signaturesnare. It's hard being a drummer sometimes (eh?) when they all sound so good.
By the way, heard Vinnie mention a while back that he uses 'Longo' snaredrums. Anyone have info. about Longo drums (if that's the correct name) ?

I, too am in the market for a snare drum! My birthday is on the 28th, and I expect my beloved Carol to step up to the plate... I want a fat snare. Not just "fat," but PHAT. Lewinsky PHAT. For instance, I love Vinnie's snare on Zildjian New York (probably a 6.5 or 7 inch maple or birch). I was thinking of a 6.5X14 pearl brass sensitone. Steve has a sensitone, and it's the loudest drum I've ever heard. Plus, they're beautiful looking and reasonably priced ($250 at guitar center).

But is it PHAT enough?! Help me out here.

If you have the money, my suggestion is either a Dunnett Stainless stell with wood hoops ( i have one) or search ebay for a COB (chrome over brass) Gretsch like Vinnie uses. Both of these drums provide phat, crack and body, the most versatile snares a person could have in his or her arsenal.

just get a steel pearl export snare and buy yourself a nice little china to go along with it.

Steel can produce alittle higher pitch where brass and bronze are in the warmer side of tone. 1 of Vinnie's main snares is the Gretsch Chrome over brass and he cranks that bad boy up. But it's a 5x14 and size can also play a huge part in the over all tone.