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I am in the market for a Black Beauty-type snare in either a 13 or 14 x 6 or 61/2.

Can anyone provide any reviews of the following drums?

Ahead Black Chrome on Brass
Pork Pie Big Black
World Max Black Hawg

Any significant differences in sound? Anyone currently own/use these?

Thanks for any and all input.

PS-I recently played the Pork Pie at a local GC and while it seems like a decent work horse, I was not that impressed.

Oh hell, just go get a Joyful Noise TKO or Studio Brass and be done with it. If that's too rich, try the George Way Heavy Brass.

Joe Nocella wrote:Can anyone provide any reviews of the following drums?

Ahead Black Chrome on Brass
Pork Pie Big Black
World Max Black Hawg

Any significant differences in sound? Anyone currently own/use these?

IMO All of those are junk. Check out major brands drums Yamaha makes some awesome brass snares, the Pearl Sensitone's are awesome, Ludwig of course, etc

For the price of the Ahead snare for instance, you can pretty much pick up any high end (non signature) brass snare. Or less.

http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend ... sku=445346 $350-400

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-Sensi ... 1395728.gc $335

Have you checked out the Ludwig Black Magic line?

I have the 6.5 X 14 and I like it allot.

It tends to sound best tuned medium to fairly tight and with the top head about a forth above the snare side.

I use an Evans Power Center Reverse Dot batter and an Evans Hazy 300 Snare Side on the resonant with Puresound Blaster Series 20 strand snares.

That in combo with the diecast heads it comes with make it a solid rock / pop / funk snare.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/msg/2274763207.html

$100

Acros are not brass... Nice snares though.

Thanks for the replies fellas.

YamahaPlayer....you made a good point. I'd like to check out the Yamaha brass snares. I don't like the Noveau lugs though. I may be able to find an older one on Ebay or Craigslist though.

Definitely if you are looking for used.


The Acro's are RAD snares. I have 4 of them and use 1 a LOT. Not brass, but probably one of the best buys on the market.

Shopping snares is really fun!
Waiting for my first Supra arriving next month...
I predict will gonna spend quality time together!

I own a 5.5" by 14" pearl black on brass sensitone II, for the price I'd say its a tremendous value.
I've used it for funk, dnb, and jazz, tuned higher. You can get a nice swampy sound when tuned lower, no muffling, pleasant overtones. I did have to steel wool some rust out on the throw off handle, but it has not returned (can you blame me, i lived in florida!).
So I'd imagine you would get more depth and body from the 6.5"

It isn't a black beauty but it sure sounds nice, great projection.

I like the fact it has 10 rods, it tunes up very fast, and stays in tune pretty well, has nifty washers.

Hope that helps....