Ahead Snare Drum
Written by: The MusicRadar Team

Better known as a manufacturer of hi-tech, non-wood drum sticks, Ahead changed direction with the introduction of the company's two models of snare drum. The products have been greeted with praise from pundits and punters alike. And, it would seem, with good reason.

Back To Basics
These solidly designed drums are the brainchild of Bob Kasha, who runs Ahead's US distributor Big Bang. Before moving into distribution, Bob owned a drum store in the States where he forged a reputation as a custom drum builder.

The two models are separated by diameter only, being 14"x6" and 13"x6". Each drum is constructed from a thin, unbeaded brass shell finished with an exterior coating of black chrome encircled by 10 chrome tube lugs which taper in at the middle a little. The tuning rods are equipped with TightScrew nylon inserts to prevent detuning and a pair of S-Hoops can be found on both drums. Triple-flanged and 2.3mm thick, the top of each hoop is folded at a shallow angle towards the head, giving a top width of some 10mm.

The design means that cross sticking is achieved with ease, while rim shots take on a whole new dimension. Muffling rings can be slid under the lip of the hoop and once there, are safe from being lifted off by a stray stick. S-Hoops have a similar, though less influential effect to that of die-cast hoops, striking a clever balance between pressed and die-cast alternatives.

Ahead Of The Game
A 24-strand Fat Cat snare is stretched across the resonant head. The snare wires are divided into three sections - a central band of 12 strands and two further six-wire groups either side. The two six-wire bands are adjustable in the normal way, via the knurled nut on the snare release.

The central portion of wires can be tensioned or slackened independently through a screw that is housed within the top of the same knurled nut, opening up possibilities for altering the response, and the smallest tweak results in a subtle shift in sound. In a recording situation, this sort of flexibility provides myriad sound choices.

There is a choice of snare throw-offs. The piston-type Dunnett model supplied with the review snare works beautifully and is the cheaper option of the two. The alternative Trick throw-off adds £50 to the price, so must be very special indeed.

Soundwise, it's pretty damn loud. Most drums are when hit hard, but this is louder than most snare drums. Backbeats are blasted out, while rimshots scythe through with a timbale-like brightness and brushwork sounds as though it's being reproduced via an onboard amplifier.

The actual sound that the drum produces is as impressive as its volume. The thin, resonant, brass shell gives vent to utterly delicious snare tones. Imagine a stinging attack sitting above fat, meaty body with a finishing touch of papery crispiness and you're getting close. You would expect these three qualities to be vying for supremacy, but they mesh in perfect harmony. It is as though John Bonham, Bill Bruford and Stewart Copeland have all collaborated on a joint signature snare. Outstanding.

The Ahead snares might seem as though they have arrived from out of the blue, but this project was a long time in the making.

Verdict
Bob Kasha, who knows a thing or two about making drums, has seen his knowledge and input paid off handsomely in these drums. Every facet looks, feels and sounds right. The individual components ooze quality and influence the overall sound. This is a desirable snare regardless of cost, but for the price, it's nothing short of amazing.

WorldMax Snare Drums
Written by: Adam Jones - MusicRadar

WorldMax is a Taiwanese manufacturer that's supplied UK firm BR Distribution with drum hardware and components for 15 years. But it's only within the past 18 months that WorldMax drums have been available in the UK. We were quietly impressed with the first four previously-reviewed Vintage models, but WorldMax appears to have upped its game even further.

Build
Like the original quartet of drums, these latest snares are exclusively metal-shelled. The most obvious upgrade is in the construction method, as all the shells have been spun. This contrasts with the cheaper technique of taking a sheet of metal, bending it into a cylinder and then welding it.

All the drums feature tube lugs, die-cast hoops and are fitted with quality brass snare wires. Visually, they look the business, with the only blight being the cheap and nasty badges, thankfully only worn by two of the snares.

Hands On
Two of the drums feature 3mm-thick shells, and a mixture of temptation and fascination led us to them first. The 14"x6 1/2" 3mm aluminium shell has a simple brushed finish and smoked black hardware. To its credit, WorldMax has managed to include the lugs, hoops, tension rods, snare throw and butt in this scheme – basically every piece of shell dressing – achieving a uniform result.

Generally, an aluminium shell will produce a drier, more controlled-sounding drum compared to other metals. Spinning aluminium to this sort of thickness counteracts these usual characteristics however, encouraging a wicked bite and no small amount of volume. Some of the aluminium qualities remain, though: it didn't overly ring and a rapid decay gave it an air of cleanness that would suit intricate playing.

Its combination of authority and playability would make it ideal for the studio or any close mic-ed work.

The 14"x5" 3mm steel snare's shell extends to 5mm thick in two bands that are positioned at the top and bottom (where reinforcement rings would be on a wooden drum). The exterior of the shell is polished and contains three engraved strips as a counterpoint. All that steel makes for a hefty drum and lifting it onto a stand nearly required a bending of the knees.

The sound produced is suitably intense; at its core is a hardness that doesn't so much cut through, but batters. The level of attack is not confined to the top-end; it incorporates lower frequencies as well and influences almost all aspects of the sound. Tuned to the natural timbre of the shell, it delivers a suckerpunch that would have any sound engineer's needles bent into the red.

Response was pretty good, but it's not a drum for quiet moments. Once you get beyond anything harder than a tap, it enters its powerband and takes off. One for the budding Chad Smiths out there then...

The 6 1/2" Laser-Engraved black brass drum is decorated with a gothic-tinged coat of arms that scrolls all the way around the shell, almost meeting. The deep brass shell endows it with the sort of bright, thick snare sound that had me pawing at an imaginary 26" bass drum in unison. Slackening off the head brought about a massive, fat crunch, while tuning it up delivered a blink-inducing rifle shot.

Whatever the tuning, cross-sticks and rim shots were relayed with great clarity, while its metallic ring was just within the boundaries of enthusiastic.

The 14"x5" Chic Grey plated hammered snare consists of a brass shell that's been nickel-plated and then hammered. The deep, patterned hammering of the shell would normally increase complexity – all the extra surfaces inside the drum create reflections of the soundwaves – and this is the case here. The natural zing of brass mixes with altogether darker shades, creating an individual and musical drum. It's a little like playing a heavily hammered ride cymbal, in that different areas of the drum seemed to elicit different characteristics.

Verdict
Compared to the first batch of WorldMax snares, this is a definite step up, not just in the level of accomplishment, but also ambition. These drums have clearly been designed to compete against modern, high-end branded snares. Regardless of their value for money – which happens to be excellent – they put in a strong showing.

Worldmax Vintage Classic Black Snare
Written by: The MusicRadar Team

A bit of a ghost company, you won't find a website dedicated to WorldMax, although the company is held in high regard. Based in Taiwan, it supplies drum parts at budget prices to many other companies, and also makes snare drums, although not whole kits.

Build
For review we have four snares: a cheap steel shell model and three more expensive Vintage Classic brass shell models. Top of the class is a hammered brass shell 14"x5" with expensive looks that would grace a top line drum. It has a great solid feel about it with its deep profile die-cast hoops and nicely proportioned steel tube lugs.

In the middle are a 14"x5" and a 14"x6½", which are very much in the image of Ludwig's Black Beauties. Again, they both have tube lugs, plus a central strengthening bead. The 5" has chrome lugs and triple-flanged hoops. The 6½" is totally finished in black nickel plate, including the die-cast hoops.

Real Black Beauties have shells that are spun in two halves, top and bottom, and joined at the central bead. This pair is a third of the price, with shells made from a single sheet that's bent into the round and welded with a butt join. The cheaper, steel drum is 14"x6½" with 10 full length bridge lugs and triple-flanged hoops.

The lugs are reminiscent of Pearl's and, although they are big, the bridges ensure minimum shell contact. All four drums have the same strainer, which is a familiar generic, side lever job. It's stout and quiet with a positive feel, if not luxurious.

The three brass drums have die-cast butt plates and WorldMax's own, excellent German-made, brass-ended snare wires. The steel drum has a cheaper butt plate with basic steel wire snares, attached by plastic straps.

Hands On
The hammered brass model performed well while gigging - there's a darkness and thickness to the brass timbre that is attractively musical, although we wondered if this particular drum was maybe a bit too dark - towards the end of the night we were thinking about swapping to a steel or aluminium snare for a little brightness and light relief.

The extra darkness is prbably due to the hammering, the effect of which is to create a complex surface for the sound waves to bounce off inside the drum. There's a lot of cancelling out, which makes the sound even drier than with a smooth shell. As a result the other 5" is a fraction brighter. Still, we were torn between these two drums since the die-cast top hoop of the hammered shell drum gives cross sticks and rim shots a poppy sharpness with a lovely woody tone.

Both the 6½" drums were ringier than the 5" models. It took longer to achieve a satisfactory sound with the 6½" brass drum than with any of the others. You may need to tighten up both the resonant and batter heads to control the ring. Once again we liked the high pitched, tight cross stick sound of the diecast hoop.

The high profile means you have to adjust your stick angle slightly, but the extra clearance gives the sound more clarity. Compared with the 6½" brass model, the steel drum is boxier in the centre but even ringier and higher pitched at the edges and on rim shots, with less controlled and more open overtones.

Verdict
There's a dependably honest air about WorldMax products. They offer excellent quality on a budget. The Vintage Classic black nickel drums sound almost as good as Ludwig's Black Beauties, the hammered brass drum looks amazing and has a dark and fruity tone, and the steel shell snare, slightly less refined than the brass models, is a steal.

Craviotto Diamond Series Snare Drums
Written by: The MusicRadar Team

Johnny Craviotto’s award-winning solid wood snares were made famous by DW. Here he’s turned his attention to a pair of vintage-styled brass drums, which have been designed and produced in conjunction with Adrian Kirchler of AK drums in Italy. A limited number of drums are available in two sizes: 14"x5.5" and 14"x6.5".

Build
Apart from their depth, the two drums are identical. Everything is nickel on brass – the shells, the lugs and the hoops. The shell is 0.7mm gauge brass, making it the thinnest brass shell on the market, and probably the thinnest of any metal shell. Although there’s a central strengthening bead recalling vintage Ludwigs, Kirchler describes the shell as onepiece, formed by "a process of rolling and hand-hammering".

He also hand engraves each drum to include the name 'Craviotto USA' and serial number in one diamond panel, before shipping it off to the USA for Craviotto to assemble and finish off. The drums are fabulous lookers, with the Craviotto diamond motif cropping up everywhere.

The 10, two-point mounted tube lugs sit on diamond-shaped blocks, and even the snare butt-end plate is mounted on a solid, diamond-shaped plinth. Bearing edges are slightly rounded and formed in the old fashioned way that you see on 1920s/'30s Ludwig heavy brass shell snares.

The edge is bent over at 30 degrees then back in until it reconnects with the inner shell, forming a triangular cross section. This is then soldered so that it forms a solid triangular channel. This is obviously labour intensive, so adds to the cost. But the effect is to make the drum extremely strong, and to increase the edge sensitivity. The bottom edge also has a snare bed pressed into it, which is just less then 1/8" deep.

Hoops are 2.3-mm triple-flanged, nickel over brass again. Such a drum deserves only the best snare strainer, and this comes in the reassuring shape of the Trick GS007, specially labelled with the Craviotto logo. The 20 strand wires are high-carbon steel, specifically manufactured for Craviotto. Rounding off the package is a fake fur-lined soft carrying case.

Hands On
When hearing Argent/Kinks drummer Bob Henrit play the 5.5" drum live, it sounded perfect, just like a snare should. Cutting through while un-mic'ed with clarity, authority and a full tone. However, after playing it for a long period of time, the richness was nearly overwhelming. The snare is so ripe it's almost too much of a good thing. The sound is so thickly snarey, you occasionally – ironically – hanker after a thinner, clonkier tone on some tunes.

The 5.5" is ideal for powerful, funky rock or even metal. Chad Smith apparently nabbed the first of these drums ever made, and we can see how it would be a perfect drum for a player like him. You get oodles of snare response, however hard (or soft) you play. The extra thin brass shell imparts depth, warmth and musicality, while the superb bearing edges and crisp, perfectly aligned, properly bedded snares respond to their full potential.

The 6.5" is more of the same, yet more rowdy. The centre backbeat is correspondingly darker while rim shots can be pretty wild, yielding a great clonk and a healthy ring – there's even a hint of the steel pan about it. It's never a nasty clang, though, and is easily controllable with a deft bit of damping.

The fact the drums are so well constructed also means you get a wider tuning range. Even tuned right down, the drum still holds its tuning, giving a really thick and dirty blat. As you pass back up to mediumbright tension you get a glorious wet slap when you play backbeats and rim shots. Up high, you get the ultimate clarity without losing the snare response, and it never sounds thin.

Both drums are also super sensitive and, with that special vintage bearing edge, would surely be great for orchestral work, the edge sensitivity being everything you could hope for.

Verdict
If you've suffered over the years from innumerable snares that rarely delivered as much snare response as you hoped, these snares will blow you away. The problem, of course, is the price, which is beyond the reach of almost everybody. You're paying a massive amount more to get that little bit extra. Still, the drums are absolutely gorgeous in the flesh, and the tasteful engraving is the icing on the cake.