One of the most important components of any snare drum is the material it is crafted from. The eternal drummers' debate of wood vs. metal (without mentioning synthetics) continues to rage on, with die-hard partisans on both sides. Wood tends to give the snare drum a warm and natural sound. Metal, including brass and steel snare drums, have a brighter sound, and often a more powerful and dynamic range.
The world of metal snare drums is vast, and there are many factors to consider before purchasing, from sound, to response, to the look, to the practicality. Drum Center of Portsmouth has put together a buying guide for the metal snare drum seeker on a budget, including three solid options from Pearl, Tama, and Ludwig.
What To Look For In a Metal Snare Drum
Before we get into our options, it's important to know how to shop for snare drums. It's important to keep in mind that at this price point, a snare drum of this material is going to be made for your intermediate to semi-pro drummer.
There are plenty of higher-end models that you can mount straight out of the box and play perfectly, but most snare drums in this range are going to require add-ons, from new tube lugs to extra snare wires. Always be mindful of the material (brass will play much differently than steel snare drums, for instance), the tuning range, the size, and the too often disregarded wires.
Without further ado, let's get into our best snare drum under $200 guide:
Pearl Modern Utility Steel Snare Drum - 14x6.5
Pearl's widely respected Modern Utility line offers a range of sizes and shell specs. This 14x6.5 snare has a blasted steel shell crafted with its proprietary Superior Shell Technology. The smooth, pearlescent finish on this one will pair well with any drum kit, and you can always swap it out for the other finishes available on this line: Black Ice or Matte Natural.
The steel shell is paired with a decent Remo head. You'll want to pay attention to the sound of that head because it's where part of the price compromise comes in. If the sound starts to break down, you can always replace it with one of Remo's higher-end heads.
Tama Soundworks Steel Snare Drum - 14x6.5
This Tama Soundworks snare has a thick 1.2 millimeter beaded steel shell, which does make it heavier than other snares in this range. But that shell allows for a sound that slices through even the most chaotic live setting.
The shell on this Tama makes it quite a versatile snare drum. The Sound Arc flanged steel hoops and Evans G1 batter head give the Soundworks snare drum a bright, classic tone that makes your ghost notes shine. This is the only drum on our list that has USA heads, which are some of the best snare drum heads on the market, making it a hard option to beat.
Ludwig Supralite Snare Drum - 14x6.5
The Ludwig Supralite snare drum has a sparkling, polished steel shell, but is the only drum on our list to swap out all steel everything for chrome-plated brass tube lugs and snare wires. Brass approaches wood in its resonance and warmth, cutting the cool brightness of the steel shell with a great sounding depth.
The hoops on this drum are triple-flanged, making them exceedingly strong and long-lasting. These hoops securely clamp on the drum head for a soaring tone. That beaded shell gives you a cutting attack and a great stick response with a wide range of mid-tones.
The stock heads and stock snare wires that come with this drum will only need to be replaced if you want to beef up your sound. They may be the best quality on this list, enduring batter after batter of practice.
Your Home for Snare Drums
Drum Center of Portsmouth is a nationally renowned retailer of drums and drummer accessories located in beautiful North Hampton, New Hampshire. Our online store carries all our whole inventory, from complete drum kits, to cymbals, hardware like tube lugs, percussion, accessories, and more.
Our team of experts have toured the world playing the products that we carefully select to be part of our stock. We're not only product experts, we're industry professionals who know what drums sound like in any setting, from the recording booth to a 10,000 seat capacity amphitheater.
Check out our online shop to learn more about all the snare drums reviewed on this list.