MusicRadar Verdict
A very loud drum that is surprisingly versatile but certainly suited for heavy styles due to its ability to slice through the mix. Heavy in more ways than one.
Pros
- +
A real all-rounder, at home in a variety of tunings and settings.
Cons
- -
Seriously heavy...and expensive.
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
Since Tama led the way with the first bell brass snare drum back in the '80s, they have become revered as both live and studio workhorses.
They became so successful that they can lay claim to supposedly being one of the most recorded snare drums on the market. Despite this, they are relatively uncommon; likely due to the enormous price that comes attached to them. Gretsch's latest bell brass model lives up to its reputation on all fronts.
Build
As those of you that have come across a bell brass snare drum before will know, the word heavy barely begins to describe the sheer bulk of one. Needless to say, the Gretsch is no exception, weighing in at a monstrous 20lbs (or just over 9 kilos for the metrically minded among you). One thing's for sure, you'll want a sturdy snare stand for this one.
The 14"x6.5" drum has a 3mm solid cast shell which features 20 chrome lugs, die-cast chrome hoops, Gretsch's rather ornate 'Lightning' throw-off, a 'Snap-In' key holder air vent and the Gretsch round badge logo.
It is supplied with a coated Remo/Gretsch Permatone batter head and enormous 42-strand snare wires. The brass shell has a brushed appearance which is offset beautifully by the chunky chrome hardware.
Hands On
So, how does it sound? Well the short answer is, loud! The drum has an amazingly wide tuning range. Starting low, the backbeat is pleasingly fat whilst keeping a surprising level of warmth to it. It manages to occupy a wide sonic space while still sounding surprisingly snappy due to the massive 42-strand wires.
In a medium tuning the natural metallic hum starts to come through but is still controlled and focused. At its highest tuning the drum is positively ear-splitting, with even the softest of ghost notes being effortlessly audible.
In a live setting, caution should be aired - this drum is an absolute beast. It is dryer than you might expect and doesn't have any uncontrollable overtones that one might expect from a metal drum. It's versatile enough to work in a number of musical styles and the drum remains balanced and responsive in any tuning.
"I'm like, I'm freaked out right now. I'm scared. I feel like I'm drowning on stage and I feel like I'm failing”: SZA on that misfiring Glastonbury headline set
“It sounded so amazing that people said to me, ‘I can hear the bass’, which usually they don’t say to me very often”: U2 bassist Adam Clayton contrasts the live audio mix in the Las Vegas Sphere to “these sports buildings that sound terrible”
"Even if people think it is ludicrous, it's an entry point. And people were just ready for a bit of fun”: Blossoms explain why they named their album Gary
