Ludwig Black Beauty, Pearl Senistone Elite and Risen Drums Brass Snare Comparison

[@elijahbyers5960]

Pearl sensitone by far.. I was already planning on getting a pearl sensitone and this made it not even a question..

[@jabronasaurus]

To my ears, the BB covered all of the tuning ranges the best. There were ranges that the Pearl and the Risen stuck out a little more, but Slightly. The Pearl is easily the best "bang for the buck" coming in at Half the price. But you do sacrifice versatility at the lower range and some Harsher overtones at the higher range. Just my .02

[@darrenfisher9545]

That Black Beauty sounds amazing

[@michaelsawczak5339]

Honestly, Pearl all the way. Which is surprising.

[@TheMike23md]

The Pearl sounds the best on here. No question.

[@spreadcom7506]

The only real difference I can hear between the Ludwig & Pearl is the tuning. The Ludwig is tuned higher throughout. Compare Low 00:16 vs 1:30, Mid 4:46 vs 5:53, High 7:58 vs 9:03. Also is worth noting is while the Ludwig has a seamless shell, the Pearl has a 25% thicker shell. Both are very nice snare drums. It would be interesting to hear the tuned to the same pitch.

[@RafikMankariosDrumStudio]

It's the same snare period! I too was in love with the Black Beauty until I heard the Sensitone. Do this same playing comparison without revealing the brand. The answers will surprise you!

[@SinisterSkip]

I don't know how to describe it, but the Black Beauty has a great 'standard' sound in all the tuning ranges you've used. This should sound great in the studio. Exactly what I'm looking for. It's sound all purpose. Just the right amount of everything. What heads were used?

[@ChrisBrideauMedia]

Black Beauty always wins but that Sensitone is a very close second. If you didn't have anything to compare it to you'd be very hard pressed to tell the difference. Risen is a nice drum but it's like a squire strat of the bunch to me. It's lacking when compared to the other 2.

[@ThevonMusic]

Thank you for this comparison. That kick drum sounds nice too, any info on the kick?

[@mrmisfit635]

Great comparison video! 1. Black Beauty 2. SensiTone 3. Risen

[@Eurodrummer666]

They all sound very nice.

[@christopherdunn317]

1:00 2:29 4:08 low 5:18 6:21 7:23 mid 8:24 9:16 10:17 high

[@vladimirlopez7840]

That kick is heavenly

[@andrewlau2939]

The Sensitone Elite here is 1.5mm in thickness-- probably explains why it sounds "meatier" compared to the other two. Those controlled overtones would make mixing it easier on live performances. But that high-pitched pop on the BB and the RD makes the drum sound very natural when recording.

[@thewutitizband]

good demo Danny.I'm cranked thru my system w/HP on and your still kinda low in volume.Just got the Ludwig Black Magic and its just about as killer as my vintage 1982 Gretsch COB [ a very hard sound to top ] .The Pearl drum in your video sounds nice too,but again I need to hear you louder.

[@arthurazoubel5344]

Awesome. Ludwig's my favorite by far. How did you mic the snares? I can see an SM57 on top, but was that all? Did you use another one for the bottom side, or any overhead? It sound pretty good!

[@MrYann33]

Cool comparison....thanks for posting this.I don't know how to explain it but the Black Beauty' tone, attack and "lush from the snares" has "that" mojo of a full bodied sound...Pearl not bad indeed but I don't like the stiff feel of these..Risen didn't know but almost has that 'fat' tone..I did some "Black Beauty sound tests" that you guys may find informative (not miked)..By the way good playing.

[@esmecobs3787]

I get a Pearl Custom and I love it he sound

[@ludwigdrummer101]

You should do a tuning video, love the sound of all the snare, but like most black beauty... Sings.

[@MeTuLHeD]

Sensitone hands down at the lower tunings. At the high tuning, the BB came into it's own...I'd call it a draw with the Sensitone having a drier pop and the BB having a more open sounding crack to it.

[@MyDyerMaker]

I'm probably biased, but I like the Ludwig best.

[@thebayoudiaries8389]

Ludwig fan for life

[@roybeckerman9253]

My 5 x14 Pearl Aluminium Sensitone on high tuning, comes very close to my Supra. A fraction of the price too.

[@rhythmista7707]

I got one word for you. B- stock 👍😁

[@anotherDnightmare]

Well, my Ferrone fits right in that wee gap between the BB and the Sensitone. I’ll stick with that. But nice vid.

[@U2WB]

To my ears (and as microphone captured it) the Ludwig wins hands down. I agree the Pearl is an excellent bargain, but it doesn't sound nearly as good. The other drum is a distant third.

[@austing.8870]

The Pearl and BB are almost indistinguishable save for the BB sounds a bit drier and more controlled. The Risen has a great timbre to it, but it isn't sensitive and lacks the playability of the other two.

[@lt.frankdrebin3317]

Exactly. No no need to spend the big bucks for the Black Beauty, when you can get the same sound from the Pearl Sensitone.

[@billytrance6893]

Ludwig BB in for the win!!!!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Black Beauty, if price isn’t an issue.

[@bradanderson1442]

I enjoyed aspects of all three... The Risen was cool but too pricey imo ,and it is no Black Beauty.. The Pearl sounded just awesome .. I think Sensitone wins overall. The price is way more doable and sounds great.

[@rol0511]

Any of you guys have any experience with a Ludwig Black Beauty 14x5 brass on brass?

[@Andreas-yt9wv]

Ludwig, pearl

[@JWCFB]

Pearl sounded best at mid and high tuning. Ludwig best at low.

[@crosssecurity1990]

Best comment and most accurate so far. The pearl wins at high tuning but I would buy the BB for the medium tuning and lower were far superior to the Pearl.

[@justice576]

Why can't I find the Pearl snare drum for sale online? I only see other Pearl brass snares. The only one that looks like this one is made of aluminium. Can someone help me hunt the Pearl down???

[@77fonzo77]

What bass drum are you using? Sounds really nice

[@dannypena88music]

1970 22"x14" Ludwig

[@StiGy]

Very helpful indeed

[@grueurgrue2108]

I don't like the Risen drum very much, but the Pearl came pretty close.

[@ricardoapodaca8375]

The pearl sound best

[@weeschwee]

How do you tune the bottom heads? Also, when you adjust the tuning of the drum do you also adjust the bottom head or just the top head? How tight do you have the snare strand. Thanks!

[@dannypena88music]

I typically like a tighter bottom head on snares. I don't change the tuning on the bottom once I've got it where i want it. I just tune the top head either lower or higher for the sound I'm looking for. The snares tightness depends on the song. but I typically like a fuller snare sound. Not too tight where it chokes the snare but not too loose where you lose some of the body.

[@roybeckerman9253]

I wish these demonstrations concentrated more on snare ON demonstrations, than with the snare OFF. ON is what is used the most.

[@dannypena88music]

Thanks for the feedback. I know some folks like to hear what the shell itself sounds like. What characteristics it has. Like if it’s dark or pingy or if sings out or has a quick decay. But I feel you. Thanks for watching.

[@roybeckerman7843]

@@dannypena88music I’ve only ever bought snare drums on their sound wth the snares ON…never on how they sound with the snares OFF. I don’t think anyone does.. Very good demonstration, by the way.. Any chance of doing a similar comparison, with bronze snares..

[@dannypena88music]

@@roybeckerman7843 I’d refer you to this video. And many other snare demo videos that do the exact same thing. To each his own. Like I’ve said before. MANY PEOPLE like to hear the tonality of the shell and it’s characteristics. The only way to do that is with snare wires OFF. kzbin.info/www/bejne/morCo5qKadqGotU

[@dannypena88music]

@@roybeckerman7843 I don’t have any bronze snares unfortunately. I may try and do one with copper though!

[@sparknado]

Did you use any muffling? What head is on each drum?

[@dannypena88music]

No muffling. The Ludwig had a Remo Black Suede. The Pearl had a powerstroke on it. The Risen had a controlled sound X.

[@sparknado]

danny pena Considered taking off the rubber gaskets that are under the BB's lugs? Opens up the snare just a tiny bit more.

[@Paurro]

+danny ‘POCKET’ pena --> What Remo Black Suede did you use? The Ambassador? And which snare-side did you use on the Ludwig? It sounds great!

[@dannypena88music]

+oLdEbRoNx Productions Emperor and it was the stock snare side head I believe.

[@HGRRecordsWilcox]

@@dannypena88music Powerstroke 77 or 3? I'm guessing the PS3, 10mil (dot?) as it sounds just a bit livelier than the Emperor 15mil on the BB?

[@lt.frankdrebin3317]

Pearl Sensitone

[@VeryScaryBiscuits]

The other two are quality drums, but they don't have the punch and tonality of the Beaut

[@dannypena88music]

While I will agree about the tonality of the drums, I will say that in my opinion the best buy of the bunch is the pearl. It has a better build quality than the ludwig, It feels way more solid, has a better throw off, better hoops and better snare wires. But the best part is that it is a fraction of the price. $700 for black beauty. $350 for pearl.

[@VeryScaryBiscuits]

danny pena Black Beauty is my favorite snare, but I agree. I play a Pearl snare at church and the quality is great

[@hugohdzbalderas6357]

Ludwig

[@andyman2462]

They all sound amazing but there's something about the black beauty. You can have all the ingredients but you can't bake the ludwigs cake.

[@robinhoodwasasocialist.1401]

Risen has the most even, pleasant sounding ring to me but the Ludwig has a nicer "crack" to it imo. I think the pearl is the weakest.

[@jmdrummer7]

I'm a Ludwig guy but in this case you would get more for your money if you went w/ the Pearl.

[@lunamediamx9845]

LUDWIG

[@pawelmorrison]

Take the rubber gaskets of the black beauty, its choking a lot of the sound

[@jonahmartinez6374]

Does it really? Hmm, I'll have to try that.

[@pawelmorrison]

theres a video somewhere on youtube where a guy demonstrates a micked up shell with and without them. The one with the gaskets taken off sounds way more resonant :)

[@HadEnough745]

Jonah Martinez I tried removing the gaskets from my 6.5 black beauty. I didn't hear a difference. I put them back on. I felt it was a lot of extra work for no reason.

[@JBmusicart]

How much muffling do you have going on here?

[@rhythmista7707]

Ludwig and Pearl are both nice. The Risen had too many annoying overtones in all tuning ranges.

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

the pearl sounds dead, compared. where's the tone, the body, the ring? sounds like it's been muffled somehow. a hard no for me. the other two sound very good, thanks

[@roybeckerman9253]

Ludwig, just over the Pearl....but it’s 4 times the price.

[@cantstopmike311]

I have the 14X5 sensitone elite if anyone wants to trade me their 14X6.5 🙂

[@U2WB]

To my ears the Ludwig outclasses the other two by a mile.

[@esroberto1]

Yes, please waste whole minutes playing with the snares turned off, because that matters exactly NOT AT ALL. 🙄

[@dannypena88music]

Actually some people like to hear the tone of the drum without the snares to hear exactly what kind of qualities the shell possesses. Also, it was my first comparison video I ever did so I wasn’t exactly at expert level experience.

[@timcline161]

Risen drums? Just another replicator trying to copy-cat Ludwig BB worth ignoring. Do we need another over blown, inflated DW type drum maker? I don't think so. Not wasting my money on wannabes. I've 5" BB & 70's Acro & 30yr old Pearl free-floating. Love these 3. Any company that can create something new, adding to collective musical advancement deserves supporting. But copyists that at their best can only imitate the results of previous generations ideas, R&D, don't.

[@christopherdunn317]

1:00 2:29 4:08 low 5:18 6:21 7:23 mid 8:24 9:16 10:17 high

[@superglidemustang]

Thank You

[@christopherdunn317]

1:00 2:29 4:08 low 5:18 6:21 7:23 mid 8:24 9:16 10:17 high