Im starting to look for a marching snare to buy but cant really decide on what. I love Yamaha snares in the fact that I'm just used to them in my marching band. and in my middle school years I've used pearls and they seem to tweak my interest a bit. After thinking i think Yamaha's sound the best for outside marching band.( Just because I think Yamaha sound a lot more powerful than the pearls) so i think pearls sound insane for indoor drum-line or some sorts. What's your intake on the idea?

Bottom line: Personal snares just need to fit YOUR desires, needs, and expectations. You aren't using it in an ensemble, all that matters is how YOU want it to sound, and how YOU want it to look.

I have a 13" SFZ. It sounds good, plays well, requires little maintenance, and takes up little space in my basement. Accordingly, it fits what I need it to do perfectly.

What sound are you looking for? What size are you looking for? Hell, what COLOR are you looking for?

When it comes to personal snares, Pearl and Yamaha make quality product that every local music shop carries (or can easily order) parts for. Dynasty and Premier get a little trickier. So in this sense, all you need to do is figure out which drum you want and look for a deal.

I have had a Pearl snare since I was in middle school. We play Yamahas at MSU, they are really good drums as well. However, if I was going to buy a drum to practice on I would definately get a Premier. They are engineered really well and have an awesome sound quality that you can't get from a Pearl or Yamaha. When it comes to Dynasty.....I wouldn't waste you money on something that will just break.

If you are looking for a personal snare, a 13" would probably be the most convienient. Since you are using it on an individual basis, there really is no need to spend the extra money on a 14" snare. A 13" is nice and light, and would take up less space, obviously.

As far as brands go, all the major marching percussion companies (Pearl, Yamaha, and Dynasty) should meet your needs. I myself have a 13" Pearl FFX and am really happy with it; it has a sturdy build, and was a little cheaper than the other brands' snares. However, you really can't go wrong with a sFZ or a Dynasty snare, both are good companies and wouldn't be so popular if they weren't.

I would not recommend Premier.

I am looking into a new drum and after doing my research i decided to go with the Yamaha MTS series(14"). i really like their sound and the overall design and quality of Yamaha is unmatched.

Really? So the design and quality of a Pearl drum is less than that of a Yamaha? Please oh great and mighty engineer man explain to us the differences and what makes Yamaha better.

If it's a personal use drum, I wouldn't bother with the MTS unit. 6 years ago my current program got new Yamaha drums with the MTS units on them. Two years later I took them off. We didn't use them enough to warrant the extra weight. There also wasn't a noticeable enough difference in sound to make it worth it.



Sorry... spelling error was driving me nuts - units, not unites

i'm not the o great engineer but it is my personal oppinion. i PERSONALLY like the yamahas. im not saying pearls are bad but I like yamahas more. and for a personal drum the mts is cool but a waste of money. agreed

That's odd. I have a Dynasty snare and tenors and I've never had a single problem with either one of them.

If you're buying a drum for personal use and will have it set up at home most of the time then any of the companies discussed here will serve you well.

I'd say Pearl!
Think about it.. They are only a drum making company, they don't make ATVs or brass/woodwind instruments, they only focus on drums/percussion. That's how I see it.
So I would get a Pearl drum.