6 Different DW Snare Drum Shells - What's The Difference?

We compare 6 different high-end ‪@dwdrums‬ snare drums to discern the difference in sound.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Snare Hardware
02:20 - Exotic Maple VLT
05:24 - Maple / Purplecore
08:20 - Jazz Cherry / Gum
11:11 - HVLT Birch
14:09 - Maple / Mahogany
17:12 - Super Solid
20:59 - Drums and Cymbals
21:49 - Head 2 Head Comparison
Buy the drums here:
DW Collectors VLT Maple Snare Drum 14x6.5 Santos Rosewood
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DRX6...
DW Collectors Maple/Purple Core Snare Drum 14x6.5 Natural Super Curl
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DR56...
DW Jazz Series Cherry/Gum Snare Drum 14x6.5 Natural Lacquer
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DRR4...
DW Collectors Birch Snare Drum 14x7 Kurillian Birch w/Nickel Hardware
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DRB6...
DW Collectors Maple/Mahogany Snare Drum 14x7 Natural Super Curl
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DRM6...
DW Collectors Super Solid Maple Snare Drum Laser Blue Lacquer
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DRLC...
Drum kit used in this video:
DW Collectors Series Exotic Pure Maple SSC 5pc Drum Set Ivory Ebony
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/DWCO...
Cymbals:
Sabian HHX Complex Medium Ride Cymbal 23
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/1231...
Sabian Artisan Hi Hat Cymbals 15"
Available for purchase here: buydru.ms/A1502
Microphones used to capture the drums:
Bass Drum:
Audix D6 Dynamic Bass Drum Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Audix A133 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Snare Drum:
Audix i5 Dynamic Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Audix ADX51 Condenser Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Toms:
Earthworks DM20 Small-diaphragm Condenser Drum Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Overheads:
Earthworks SR25 Small-diaphragm Condenser Instrument Microphone - www.drumcenter...
Room Mics:
Earthworks QTC30 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone - www.drumcenter...
www.drumcenter...
Follow us on:
/ drumcenternh
/ drumcenternh
#dwdrums #snaredrum #dwexotic

[@CornerStoreDrums]

OHH I knew it was going to be a great weekend. DCP uploads?! Yes, please! 💯🥁

[@tomtwiss2391]

(1) Jazz Series Cherry/Gum (2) Maple/Purple Core (3) Super Solid

[@carlupthegrove262]

They all sound great but my first choice would be the Jazz Series Maple Gum......in second place would be the Maple purple core.... I love wood snare drums...

[@hugorezende199]

came for those snares, stayed for the floor tom

[@Drumsmurf]

Exactly! Bought a collectors VLT last week with a 14x14 floortom…..man, they are insanely good, never thought DW could sound so good!💪

[@stravis3269]

Is it true if you place a vibrator on the head it will be a micro beat. I dislike the reverb in most snares I like a solid sounding hit

[@marcspero3704]

The Collectors Birch Exotic - nice!!

[@richboshart1201]

The Super Solid seemed choked, just like I remembered it when I owned a Super Solid Edge. The rest sounded great. The birch had the most unique tone to my ears. Differences between the others were nuanced. Wood type doesn’t influence tone in ply drums as much as other variables so given the common hardware, it’s no surprise they sound similar. The purple core had that something special if I’m had to pick one.

[@Assimilator702]

I think what’s going on is those thicker edges accentuate the lows of the head and give a slightly reduced tail to the high frequencies. Kinda FAT sounding.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

That Cherry Gum Jazz snare drum! Wow!! Awesome at any tuning. Beefy, thunderous, amazing.

[@mathiasskjdt2198]

in my opinion you guys make the best comparison videos. no bs just a great showcase of what you offer and love the audio that shows the true sound of the drum or drums

[@drumcenternh]

that means a lot to us. thanks, Mathias.

[@jasonmckinney2705]

I know the badge says Jazz Series but that drum would sound great in any style of music. Maple/Mahogany is my favorite. Super Solid is a close second.

[@steverichdrummr]

Thanks guys. Thanks to Tony, great job!

[@Lumerdrums]

I really liked the super solid. Maybe after several years of playing 14x6.5, it's time for a 5.5 depth again :)

[@matthewpaluch777]

😎👍💓🇺🇸🥁🔊🎼 SuperSolid!!! Go SOLID or go home! Happy 50th Anniversary to the entire DW crew!

[@alkingborn4620]

I’m always in trouble when you test DW products simply because I don’t like any and this time it’s no exception. They all sound pretty good and very similar. To be honest on the market there are quite brands that Sound far better like N&C, Canopus Gretsch that I personally like the most. Sabian ride and hi hat sound beautiful

[@krysborek8724]

they are at least pretty LOL. I totally agree. There is something about DW snares... or rather not much at all. The solid wasn't bad.

[@heidiheidiho6412]

I thought I was the only one who felt pretty "meh" after this review. That being said, if someone gave me any of these as a gift, I'd proudly play the hell out of it. 😅

[@Monsterdrumma]

Their snares sound honky to me and I owned a collector’s series kit also and hated it! I tune great to be honest and I just could not find any sweet spot they were pure mush with no attack!

[@CFChristian]

@@Monsterdrumma Right? They all sound like they're complaining lol. "bwaaa-bwaaa"

[@Monsterdrumma]

@@CFChristian LOL pretty much!

[@mdrumt]

They all sound great, couldn't pick a favourite.

[@grahamroden8897]

They are all so pretty! I’d buy the Birch because I like the look of it best. Sound wise I really couldn’t say which one was best, they all sounded like top tier snare drums but the difference in sound was minimal to my ears.

[@dancalabrese3523]

The Cherry Gum and Maple Mahogany both tied for first place to me. The Maple Rosewood was a very close second. However, that bass drum stole the show.

[@dreamdrummer01]

Like if you also loved the floor tom!!! Loved it!!!🤘

[@tinterlande]

Yeah I was happy with the way that recorded! Sounds hilarious, in the right ways!

[@michaelmalodrums9674]

The maple mahogany and super sound models had just a bit more focus ! The birch was a little more controlled on the overtones . The rest sounded very similar to each other 👌🏼

[@C0zyDunt]

They all sounded pretty much the same apart from the Super solid, but that might be because it's 5.5". I'll have anyone of them.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

I'm also digging the smaller blue snare drum. So much beefy tone!

[@lbudt29]

Cherry, Birch, and solid blue high tune.

[@dreamdrummer01]

Maple Mahogany for me 👌

[@wyrlismike]

i can appreciate a touch of humor, not too much not too little

[@Gretsch0997]

I couldn’t get past the ringing on all of them. But I’d have to pic the blue one. Thanks for the video.

[@metzilla]

I'd love to hear a 7x14 super solid!

[@anklem]

All very deep DW snares (except the last one). They all look definitely good. But let’s be honest, high price range from DW off course, that’s why this channel test them for us 🙂

[@jakubjarabek2704]

Snare drums might shine, but floor tom killed 'em All 😀

[@randybisking3873]

I liked the Birch the best, Cherry second but they all sounded great!! ThanksDCP!!

[@stevebarnes9345]

I'm use birch shells and agree with you- but- don't they all simply sound like snare drums? Seeing all the woods is like the aroma in a new car showroom. Just triggers the senses.

[@billbunkers3700]

Thanks for doing this. It would have been great to have had a little "snares off" playing with each drum.

[@jonashellborg8320]

I liked the birth and maple/mahogany most in this set of snare drums. Also, I think we need a university degree for knowing DW kit names off the top of our heads. :-)

[@MrHipBop]

Super Solid and the Jazz!!

[@isaaclopez9629]

Snare super solid the sound is more versatile

[@bradplaysdrums]

The super solid is amazing

[@mickwade9499]

Pick the one that looks nicest to you. One of the best sounding kits I've ever owned was a Gretsch Blackhawk. Yeah, really.

[@Darrylizer1]

Yup, that was an undersung and great sounding kit. My friend Michelle had one and I liked it more than my USA Customs.

[@rogerpye1865]

Super solid is no1 for me. Great video.

[@drummingtildeath]

I own a custom DW that I bought off Jason Bonham. When I recorded in a studio, they knew what the tunings should be, but I was clueless and still am.

[@pheachshorbet916]

I don’t know why but DW drums do not tune up like any others. On the toms, it’s all about the bottom head. Keep it low (perhaps much lower than you’re used to) and evenly tuned. Don’t worry about intervals. As long as the bottom head is low and even, it’ll sound great.

[@U2WB]

I hear a lot of shell and not enough sizzle compared to so many other snares from DCP, such as Canopus, British Drum Company, Ludwig, and Sonor. I'm not a huge DW fan, as you can tell. LOVE your Canopus drums, though !

[@amirmpr]

This snare Blue super solaid is perfect

[@sumnerkinney2166]

Great job men! I am not a drummer but I do like hats. Is that hat available on your website?

[@MikeLumer]

🤣🤣🤣 Love you guys

[@AJd1996]

DW ffs series drums: too many options and all of them are beautiful

[@davidobert2284]

They all sound overpriced to me. Love the videos as always.

[@Darrylizer1]

I'd take any of them but my favorite is the Maple/Purplecore. My least favorite is the Super Solid. It sounded a bit choked compared to the others.

[@Forsaykin]

Birch man. Love the punch with very little drop off.

[@maynoldmoreno7888]

The first one was the best sounding of the rest.

[@ohmardiaz3582]

I love how you guys do these comparisons/reactions/tests to these drums but you're only doing lower and MEDIUM tuning there's no high tuning. You're basically calling medium tuning "higher tuning" when every drummer knows that there's 3 types of snared drums tuning.....MAYBE even 5

[@amirmpr]

Wow woooooooo DW

[@remander3873]

The Exotic Maple and Maple Purple Core sounded so hollow and ringy to me. Not my preference. I liked the rest, but the Super Solid really impressed me.

[@Juniscrazy]

You can control that a bit with tuning, interval between bottom and top head or drum head choice, I prefer it to have some so the sound can carry live then if I need to muffle it a bit I can but if it’s completely dry then you can add but that’s just my opinion

[@anthonyn1312]

I love maple snare drum! And why there's no reinforcement hoops on the maple snare?

[@amirmpr]

I need DW

[@frankspikes7858]

DW makes some nice drums. Great build quality, nice features, and the finishes... What kills me is the price tag on most of thier drums/products. Way overpriced!!! If someone gifted me a snare drum and I really like it it's going into my collection no doubt. And depending on the situation I'll use it accordingly. I did see and play a purple heart snare at guitar center a few years back. Great drum, just out of my price range.

[@LouProsperi]

Definitely liked the Super Solid best, but part of that could be that I prefer shallow snare drums. I do have a question: Is there a difference between "solid shell" and "single ply"? Adam mentioned something about a difference between the two when describing the Super Solid, but I'm not sure I get the distinction. Thanks for another great video!

[@steveskyrm8873]

Solid Shell is one solid piece of wood, hollowed out. Single Ply is one piece of wood steam-bent into a circle.

[@LouProsperi]

@@steveskyrm8873 That doesn't seem to align with companies like Noble & Cooley who sell "Solid Shell" drums that are constructed from a single piece of steam-bent wood. In fact the only company I know of that hollows out a solid piece of wood is Canopus with their Zelvoka snare drums.

[@dconsmack]

Solid shell is 1 ply of wood, with separate reinforcing rings - 3 pieces of wood. Single ply is the DW Super Solid; the reinforcing rings are machined into the same single piece of wood.

[@noahguttell1953]

What was the other mic on the snare, the condenser LDC. Thanks

[@tinterlande]

Audix A133, trying it out next to the i5. Really like the top end on it!

[@hyamsosnow3973]

Favorite: Super-Solid; least-favorite: Exotic Maple VLT. Would I buy any of them: Nope, DW just isn't my sound.

[@williampierce8347]

As a dw fan boy, the only snare that’s sounded good to me were the super solid and the maple mahogany.

[@user-qf8re4dn1j]

birch the best, end high sound is devastating

[@johnpeterson6946]

no difference. put on quality solid heads and tune it to your liking.

[@philliph2118]

Second one sounds equally bad also. Very ringy, sounds just like the first one. What’s up with this? Or is this the latest trend ?

[@tinterlande]

They are tuned wide open so you know what the character of the drum is. That “ring” is easily tamed.

[@cpu554]

Super solids weigh a ton.

[@bigearl791]

I've never meet a drum that cant be used

[@amirmpr]

Please send me DW

[@ryanforresterrenaissancesa4204]

The whole tone wood thing with guitars is BS. Pretty much the same thing here with drums. These really sound the same.

[@dconsmack]

I can absolutely tell a difference between every one. Listen to the overtones and the low end in the transient. If you concentrate on the snare wire sound they *will* sound similar because the wires are the same on all the drums.

[@KaiOwensDrums]

These drums sound similar since everything except wood is the same but generally each wood does sound quite a bit different due to the density. Drum shells interact with the sound vary directly in comparison to the wood on an electric guitar

[@philliph2118]

This first one sounds pretty bad in both tensions

[@pheachshorbet916]

These all sound the same. 🤷‍♂️

[@mrblackguy3173]

Oh so what?🙄

[@CFChristian]

Christ I can't stand DW.