8 replies to this topic

[caulkie]

I have to admit that one day at work, I was day dreaming out of the window thinking about drums when I thought "It would be ace to have a snare of my own specifics, a ME signature snare". The only way I could acheive this is to have a snare drum custom made.

A text to Carl at Animal and then a phone conversation and Carl had no problem cornering what my requirements were. I wanted maple, and I wanted a 14" diameter with 7" depth and I wanted that retro-but-modern look to the snare, rather like an old model with a state of the art engine, if you know what I mean?

So lo and behold, what arrived, partially built as I wanted to complete the build and assemble myself, was this beauty............





I loved this snare so much that I hinted to Carl that if he were to produce this spec as a mainstream Animal Snare that I would be happy to put my "Signature" on it, although the conversation was taken as banter and a bit of fun, I would seriously put my name to this snare if I could!

Specs

Shell - Wood (Maple) surrounded by a White Oyster Wrap
Hoops - Triple Flange (Black Nickel)
Lugs - Tube Lugs (Black Nickel)
Throw - Trick
Size - 14" x 7"

Heads - Remo Ambassador Tom head (Batter) Evans Hazy 300 (Snare side)

Conclusion - This snare is built to my own requirements by Carl and the crew at Animal Custom Drums, Carl knew what I wanted before I told him and thus there is no conclusion really other than AWESOME! This snare plays a huge part in my gigging "fleet". On one occasion she was back-up snare to one of my Edge snares and I must've placed the edge snare awkwardly on the stand and the stand pierced the snare-side head in the first song and I was unable to continue with the Edge and my "Signature Snare" took over the reigns perfectly, and I felt guilty that I used an Edge over this snare. A custom snare is not out of everyone's budget, seriously!!! Get one to your specs, not going silly and asking for a really exotic wood, but if you were to stick to the main roads of specification then you can get a seriously great snare like this one. The only downside with this snare, and its more a nit picking think, this is a serious rock snare, a pop-funk snare it is not, it doesn't have that funky ping, but then I wanted a rock snare and that is what I got!

Overall score - 9.9 out of 10

[melteddrummer]

That's one beautiful snare mate, love it!!

[israbatista]

Just wow , that oyster wrap idk but i found very rare the way the lines are so gorgeous.

Love the black nickle hardware


My question is why a 9.9 instead of a 10?

Is it keller?
How many plys does it have?
Bearing edges which kind?
Snare wires?

[caulkie]

That's one beautiful snare mate, love it!!

Thanks mate, its now got full black nickel tension rods too, looks even better.

Just wow , that oyster wrap idk but i found very rare the way the lines are so gorgeous.

Love the black nickle hardware


My question is why a 9.9 instead of a 10?

Is it keller?
How many plys does it have?
Bearing edges which kind?
Snare wires?

Easey to answer, 9.9 out of 10 because there is always room for improvement )

It is an Animal Custom Drum shell at 8mm thickness, I wanted a thinish shell. The bearing edges are just filed down like normal and the snare wires are Puresound 20

[Worcester Drummer]

Hi Martin,

Loved the line "...I was day dreaming out of the window thinking about drums ...". Who doesn't do that?!!! ;-)

Great Drum! the Shell looks a bit like my Ludwig 14x6.5 Black Oyster Shell only mine is mainly black with a bit of white and yours is mainly white with a bit of black!

My latest mad idea is to get a DW 14x6.5 Brass Snare. I need to add Brass to my collection! I can pick one up for the same price as a Black Beauty so I have a tough decision... Just wondered if you've ever played the DW Brass Snare?

Keep smiling!

Ade.

[israbatista]

Hi Martin,

Loved the line \"[font=\"arial, helvetica, sans-serif\"][size=\"2\"][color=\"#454545\"]...[/color][/size][/font]I was day dreaming out of the window thinking about drums ...\". Who doesn\'t do that?!!! ;-)

Great Drum! the Shell looks a bit like my Ludwig 14x6.5 Black Oyster Shell only mine is mainly black with a bit of white and yours is mainly white with a bit of black!

My latest mad idea is to get a DW 14x6.5 Brass Snare. I need to add Brass to my collection! I can pick one up for the same price as a Black Beauty so I have a tough decision... Just wondered if you\'ve ever played the DW Brass Snare?

Keep smiling!

Ade.

I had a black over brass , amazing snare

[Gannut]

That is one fine looking snare. Great idea to get a 7 rather than a 6.5 regarding depth. You wouldn't think it would make that much difference, but it does.

I have a DW maple 7x14 and it's my number one snare. I can tune it up really high and it doesn't choke...it sings like an angel. I can tune it down and it just growls.

Nicely done Caulkie. That is one beautiful drum. I am glad you are enjoying it.

[Chunkies]

I am not a fan of wraps, but that one is nice. All the hardware is matching too which so many builders fail at getting this detail right.

[caulkie]

Thanks