The Best Heavy Metal Snare Drums

We compare 7 of today's best heavy metal snare drums against the legendary 1980 Tama Bell Brass!

Link to purchase the snare drums in this video:

A&F Bell Brass A&F'er Snare Drum 14x6.5

Gretsch USA Bell Brass Snare Drum 14x6.5

Gretsch USA Solid Steel Snare Drum 14x6.5

Noble And Cooley Alloy Classic Snare Drum 14x6

Canopus 3mm Brass Snare Drum 14x6.5 8-Lug 2nd Line

Tama Signature Series Snare Drum John Tempesta 7x14

Gretsch USA Phosphor Bronze Snare Drum 14x6.5

Link to purchase the drum set used in this video:

Yamaha Absolute Hybrid 4pc Drum Set 22/10/12/16 Silver Sparkle

Follow us on:

#bestmetalsnaredrum #tamabellbrass #bellbrasssnare #drumcenternh

[drumcenternh]

Thanks for watching our Heavy Metal Shootout, and for 25, 000 Subscribers!
At 12:43, pretend we said, "thickest" instead of "heaviest". It was like 100 degrees in the studio that day.

[cbaum]

A&F - 2:12
Gretsch USA BB - 4:49
Tempesta Sig -6:39
Gretsch USA Steel - 8:15
Canopus Brass - 10:21
N&C Alloy - 12:01
Gretsch Phosphor Bronze - 13:14
Tama 1980 BB - 15:38

These are all seriously amazing - absolutely loving this snare series guys.

[beyondthegong]

I’m a guitarist and I find videos like this very interesting. A lot of great drum sounds to he heard throughout the video.. and then you hit that Tama... holy SHIT. My eyes popped out of my head as it caught me so off-guard. Glad I was listening in headphones for this one.. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be in front of one of those things. Thanks for this literal eye opener.

[Rab]

The John Tempesta snare comes closest to the 1980 bell brass to my ears in this vid.

[UltraRareCustom]

damn that A&Fer tho... in your face yet still very open and wide/huge sounding

[sloanslakedenver]

I am a repeat happy, very happy customer of yours. Thank you for the great drum stuff you sell, thank you for the great prices, thank you for the tool box stickers you send in every order, and thank you for these videos. Cheers from Colorado USA

[MikeLuke]

The Tama Bell Brass. The snare that influenced my youth, being used on the „Black Album“ from Metallica and of course on „Nevermind“ from Nirvana. Thanks for this video, guys! 🙏

[woutervanrenterghem]

Totally agree with Shane, the sound of the Gretsch Solid Steel is addictive! I’ve listened to it over and over again and it is the best sounding drum of this video … the mix of that clarity with a warm body is just beautiful … I’ve ordered it today and can’t wait to play it myself. Thank you so much for making this great video 🔥🥁🔥

[robertlamontagne]

I finally bought the Gretsch solid steel & it makes you feel in command when playing!! Very articulate but yet sensitive when you play lightly. Thank you DCP 🥁

[Slingerland]

The winner and still champion the 1980 Tama Bell Brass. There are some good sounding drums there, but the 1980 Bell Brass is still King.

[anthonymedd]

The noble and Cooley just sounds awesome... to my ears😍🤘🏻

[MunchieVB]

Wow, pleasantly surprised with the Gretsch solid steel!

[RVered]

As a guitarist who just stumbled here, the Tama BB is unquestionably the best. it has that unmistakable gunshot sound that instantly had me thinking, "oh yeah, so that's what the drummer from ___ used on ___ to get that sound."

[yourdrumsound]

I 100% agree with Shane. The oversized shell is a part of the sound of the Tama Bell Brass for sure, along with the hardware and everything that is in "touch" with the drum.
Everytime I've got to change the head on my bell brasses is a fight (but a good one...).
The other drums are great (especially the Phosphor Bronze to my hears) but I agree even with that spontaneous "there's no contest!" at the end of the video that comes from the feeling of playing a snare that literally hits you in the "belly" with every stroke. People at home can't feel it of course but it's really predominant.
Thank you for this great one and for doing what you do with your touch and distinctive passion.
Dave

[pescalante]

Loved the John Tempesta one and the first Gretsch, that tama bell brass is a beast

[Twotontessie]

Alloy Classic. How cool. I had one of those in the shallower depth. It was my go to for several years. Loved it.

[kafkaebrasileiro]

this is, seriously, the best video on youtube

[Assimilator]

I found a guy on Reverb that was selling a Tama Starphonic Bell Brass and had a huge write up on why the OG shells are special. The originals were made by a Japanese Craftsman in very low volumes. These shells were sand cast which differ from the newer roto cast shells. Rotocasting gives a consistent density to the metal and sand casting leaves the metal porous which is believed to be the reason the original Tama Bell Brass shells have that certain something no other modern versions posses. Apparently the early runs off the Starphonic cast shell were sand cast but at a certain point the manufacturing was changed to rotocast.

[sejuyz]

Man, these videos are really good to get to know drums. I spend HOURS watching this stuff. The only snare I really loved was the A&F. Kudos to Tama´s bell brass though - what a beast - just not what I´m into these days...

[kkdii]

Unbelievable how good the Tama Bell Brass sounds and imagine how old it is. Great job by Tama