[Der Trommler]

The Sensitone is a very nice snare also without a doubt and I would say it is everybit as good as the Tama. The 5" x 14"' will give you a higher pitched crack and the 6.5" x 14" will give you a deeper toned crack. In a brass snare I personally prefer the 6.5".

[santiman12]

Hey, a guy in another forum recommended me to buy a wood snare instead of a brass snare. Do you think the same or do you think it's more importante to have a brass snare, since I have a wood snare (the QR standard snare, although it doens't have the best quality, I still is wood??

[santiman12]

Guys, I've heard in the Mapex sound the BP hammered steel and loved it, what do you think about that snare?. Thanks.

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[Der Trommler]

The Black Panther has a great reputation from what I have heard, but I have not personally played one so I can't say if it is good or bad.

To help decide to go wood, steel or brass try finding out what the drummers you like are playing. If you like the sound they have, look into those snares.

[santiman12]

Hey, I think that all use steel snares except Larry Mullen Jr.. I liked Chad Smith's snare in californication and it was a Pearl Sensitone Brass. I also saw a video where they tested the Pearl Masters Maple and loved it too. Guess the price will tell me what to choose right?. By the way, the importer doesn't bring tama either haha, so I'll either have to choose pearl or mapex

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	Mapex Drums Shop for Mapex Drums at Musician's Friend

[Der Trommler]

Both the Sensitone and Black Panther are very nice snare drums, and if the sound you like comes from metal snares I would say that's the way you will want to go.

[santiman12]

Does the hammering affect the sound or is it just an aesthitical thing?

[Der Trommler]

You know, that is a great question. In all of my experience I do not know the answer to that question, so we will both learn something if someone here has the answer.

Here is what I would think is the case. Hammering metal makes it denser. So with that it mind I would say that it would indeed change the sound of the drum. I will ask around, and in the meantime maybe someone here knows the answer.

[Infero Exicution]

Yeah, hammering changes the sound hugely.
When you hammer the snare drum, it forces the wood to warp.
In the past, though, the company usually treats the wood or metal with specialized
chemicals to make it so the wood doesn't brake and the metal doesn't warp too much.
when the wood or metal warps, it creates small gaps in the material, making the
sound of the drum more explosive and stage-like. It also makes the snare more
responsive. So, the less a snare is hammered, the more controlled the sound is.
And with Stainless steel, the sound is either more controlled or less controlled and
explosive. So a stainless would be for alternative music. Like yours.
Wood snares are usually hammered more than a stainless. Thus, more explosive.
Stainlesses also tend to be more accurate too.
Hope this helped!

[Harry]

Holy banana's, Infero that's an elusive reply! ha-ha.
I did not know you were into hammering your drums AFTER they were manufactured (just joking my friend)

The hammering of a metal shell does 3 things, apart from making it prettier and increasing the price.

1- It makes the shell stiffer, like the articulated folds or ridges on the metal body work for cars.
2- It gives a slightly bigger (developed) surface area on a given size of the shell.
3- It difuses the reflection (directions) of the sound, making it more omni directional. In other words there are more random reflection angles with a longer distance to travel before they hit another part of the drum. (shell and or head)

The overall effect is a touch richer and more sophisticated sound. I like it a lot.
As for a sharp crack, the smooth metal shell reigns.

Cheers and Happy drumming,


Harry