Some of our favorite snare drums are, frequently, some of the most overlooked. Signature model snare drums are unique in that they are custom-tailored to a brand's artist's specifications. This often leads to an instrument that strays from a manufacturer's typical offerings but can be dismissed if the customer doesn't particularly identify with the said artist or their genre of music.
With this in mind, we wanted to highlight 10 of our favorite (in-stock) signature snare drums for your entertainment.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Mapex Black Panther Ralph Peterson Onyx Snare Drum
- Best for heavy metal: Tama Signature Series Snare Drum Lars Ulrich
- Best for unique and original sound: Tama Signature Series Snare Drum Kenny Aronoff
- Best for versatility and customization: Sonor Benny Greb Signature Snare Drum 2.0
- Best balanced signature snare: Sonor Jost Nickel Signature Beech Snare Drum
- Best for dynamic playing styles: Gretsch Keith Carlock Signature Series Snare Drum
- Best with unique, versatile sound: Gretsch Gergo Borlai Signature Series Snare Drum
- Best for an aggressive, versatile sound: Pearl Matt Halpern Signature Snare Drum
- Best for a full, dynamic sound: Pearl Brian Frasier Moore Signature Snare Drum
- Best for rock and metal music: British Drum Company Nicko McBrain Signature Snare Drum
1. Mapex Black Panther Ralph Peterson Onyx Snare Drum 14x8 Transparent Black Maple Burl
The deep all maple shell finished with black-plated lugs, and a black lacquered exotic outer veneer is an instrument straight out of the heart and mind of the late, great Ralph Peterson Jr. This instrument pays tribute to an artist with a deep connection to the history and traditions of the aggressive hard-bop jazz style. It can produce whispering ghost strokes and lightning-sharp rimshots courtesy of the specially finished black wooden hoops. The instrument's character matches its creator's character, deep in spirit and high in energy.
2. Tama Signature Series Snare Drum Lars Ulrich 14x6.5 Steel Shell
The Legendary Metallica Snare Drum Sound is here with the Tama Lars Ulrich Signature Series Snare Drum. It takes a mighty snare drum to stand up to Metallica's incredible sound pressure levels. The LU1465 is a diamond-plated monster made of a 3mm steel slab. And die-cast zinc hoops provide even more attack and low-end.
3. Tama Signature Series Snare Drum Kenny Aronoff 6.5x14
The 6.5x14 Tama Kenny Aronoff Signature Series Snare Drum is as unique and original sounding as Kenny himself. This beautifully engraved nickel over brass shell provides plenty of warm, round projection, and the Tama Brass Mighty Hoops allow for just the right amount of harmonic resonance. The Tama-KA1465 is complemented with black nickel-plated hardware.
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4. Sonor Benny Greb Signature Snare Drum 2.0 13x5.75 - Scandinavian Birch
Ten years after the highly successful collaboration with Benny Greb on his Signature Snare, the Benny Snare has not just been updated but skillfully updated by the man himself. The original 13" x 5.75" Beech snare with Scandinavian Birch outer veneer now comes with a Bubinga wood inlay, Vintage Series teardrop lugs, and the super smooth Dual Glide snare strainer. This new drum also features a pair of the new "Monorail" internal dampening systems. Out of the box, one of the systems comes outfitted with a felt dampener and the other a soft sheepskin dampener. The sound possibilities with this innovative muffling system make this snare the most versatile instrument on the market. The Monorail system also allows the dampeners to be interchanged-opening endless possibilities to customize the drums' sonic characteristics.
5. Sonor Jost Nickel Signature Beech Snare Drum 14x6.25 - Gloss Black w/Silver Stripe
Drummer, teacher, and author Jost Nickel explores all aspects of drumming. During his long career, Jost has developed a drumming style that is uniquely his. On stage, he shows it primarily by performing with the highly successful band Jan Delay & Disko No.1. Besides his live performances, Jost passes on his knowledge during his fully booked clinics and through his bestselling drum books. This extensive experience has been incorporated into the Jost Nickel Signature Snare Drum, which was created in close cooperation with Sonor. The shell of this 14" x 6.25" snare consists of 14 plies (9 mm) of the finest German beech wood. It's well-balanced in the mids and lows, offering a powerful attack. A particular highlight is a finish: The silver sparkle stripe gives the otherwise piano black lacquered drum a unique visual touch. The individual Jost Nickel Badge rounds off this Signature instrument.
6. Gretsch Keith Carlock 14x5.5 Signature Series Snare Drum
When you are fortunate enough to work with a drummer who has performed with such a wide range of artists such as Steely Dan, Toto, Wayne Krantz, James Taylor, Tal Wilkenfeld, John Mayer, Sting, Chris Botti, and many more…why wouldn't you want to develop a snare drum with him? His rhythmic expression behind the drum set is so musical and inspiring to many musicians across the globe. Gretsch Drums considers it an honor to proudly introduce the Keith Carlock Signature Snare Drum.
Keith's always been an admirer of brass shell snare drums but those with a more visually aged or tired look. Keith had an essential requirement for the drum: a wide range of sound applications to meet the varied demands of studio work. So that's where we started.
The drum's foundation is a 5.5x14" 2mm Vintage Patina brass shell. Capturing the "antique" look throughout the body, a unique aging compound was developed at the Gretsch factory in Ridgeland, South Carolina. To increase the dynamics and pitch range, Keith preferred the 20-strand snare wire vs. the 42-strand. And he opted for a standard Permatone drumhead rather than our Permatone Control Sound.
Additional features include 45-degree bearing edges, 4mm Die Cast hoops, and our classic Lightning throw-off. Each snare has an inside identification label specifying the year of production, and Keith signs each.
7. Gretsch Gergo Borlai Signature Series 14x4.25 Snare Drum
Drum Phenom Gergo Borlai and Gretsch teamed up to develop a unique addition to the USA metal snare collection. Together, they created what Gergo describes as a "sensitive, multifunctional, loud, and limitless" snare drum.
The key elements included a 14x4.25" 1.2mm brass shell, 45-degree bearing edges, 42-strand snare wires, and 4mm Die Cast hoops, making this instrument one of the more distinctive in the Gretsch snare drum assortment. The shell's surface is finished with a sandblasted texture for a unique look and tighter overall sound.
A Lightning throw-off, Gretsch Permatone Control Sound head by Remo USA, and an inside identification label specifies the year of production and is signed by Gergo Borlai and rounds off this one-of-a-kind snare drum.
8. Pearl Matt Halpern Signature Snare Drum - 14x6
To match his aggressive drumming, Pearl Artist Matt Halpern designed each element of his Signature Snare Drum to complement and contrast the complex nature of his playing. Subtle touches, like black powder coating and three shell vents, help temper the lively spirit of its 1.5mm Brass shell. MasterCast die cast hoops boost projection, but Evans Heavyweight Dry heads deliver a yielding attack. Its SR150 ClickLock strainer provides increased sensitivity, while visual touches like black/brass STL Swivel Tube Lugs and striking yellow gaskets inspire the ideal performance. The result is a snare drum that serves in various styles and situations with cutting and dry versatility and responds evenly to the heaviest hit.
9. Pearl Brian Frasier Moore 14x5.5 Signature Snare Drum
Built to master the broadest dynamic range possible for the ever-evolving time-keeper, Brian Frasier Moore designed his signature drum to capture studio nuance with live venue power. It features the robust and recording-friendly shell combination of North American Maple and premium imported Gumwood but in an extra-thick 12-ply configuration. The instrument is then topped off with Master cast Die-Cast Hoops and our CL bridge lug for added volume and attack. "Brian states a great snare drum provides power, tone, and versatility," Brian states. "I'm proud to say that we've accomplished these things with my Pearl Signature Snare. This is the snare for you if you're looking for that full sound."
10. British Drum Company Nicko McBrain Signature Snare Drum 14x6.5 - The Icarus
Designed to cut through the high volume of rock and metal powerfully, Icarus responds equally well to softer, quieter playing, allowing the tonal qualities of the oak to shine through in any musical situation. Icarus is a 14" x 6.5" 10-ply shell crafted from Black Oak and finished in a spectacular Black Fishtail Oak veneer, creating an exceptional appearance reminiscent of a hand-hammered shell - but made from oak! It has to be seen to be appreciated.
That wraps up our ten best signature snare drum list! We hope you found this enlightening. Be sure to check out our website at www.drumcenternh.com for an incredible selection of snare drums!