Yamaha Recording Custom 14x6.5 Aluminum Snare Drum

Wow.I am in awe. Just wow. It's heavy but it's wow. You won't be disappointed, that's just crazy.I am speechless, this is something I was debating on buying against the Black Beauty Snare from Ludwig. Definitely positive I chose the right one. It's solid. I've checked out the Black Beauty at the store and honestly with this in my hands you can tell it's a quality build and beautiful sound. I play different styles and I think I just found my go to. My other snares are Pork Pie, Gretsch, Premier, Pearl, Ludwig, Rogers, Royce Pro, etc...Feel free to find one at a store and pick it up, hold it, then play it. Mess with the tuning. I cannot imagine why anyone wouldn't want this in their main performance collection.

This is officially my new favorite snare drum! (And I’ve got like 15 others.)I call this one “A Quieter Version of A&F Raw Brass Snare.” The same beautiful brass overtones as the A&F’s, but a little bit quieter. And the wire buzz is a little more gentle.What a joy!P.S. Just like the A&F Raw Brass drum, this one is extremely sensitive to where exactly you’re hitting it. Hitting one inch off-center produces a significantly different sound with much more metal ring to it. Therefore it is not a beginner’s drum. But if your hand is steady and precise, you’re going to enjoy the versatility.

Sweetwater has Amazon beat here.

Great snare drum

I've had this drum for just under three months. There are reviews on this drum but I'll add a bit more detail.The sound is very full, warm, dry, and pleasant. It is very articulate when played lightly, which I think is due to the weight (it is very lightweight) and the aluminum die cast hoops. It is loud and full when whacked. I've found that when the snares are turned off, it sounds beautiful. I've recorded rock and some slow metal with this drum and it was an easy process that didn't need much tweaking. I've played it with a big boomy bubinga kit and it sounds excellent. I've also recorded it with a tight standard sounding birch kit and it sounds right at home. Sonically, I honestly don't know of anything this drum can't do. This one will cover a lot of musical bases, kinda like a drumming swiss army knife.It's very nice looking and subdued. The chrome hardware against the matte gray finish is esthetically understated and classy.The strainer...is perfection. I've owned and played many high quality metal, wood and other material, snares ranging from $200-$1000. This strainer is the best I've used. Second place isn't even close.Bottom line, this drum should be in your arsenal. I don't know about the steel or the brass, but this is my go to aluminum snare. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!