Rupp's Gear Review!

The sound of any high end Gretsch Snare drum can be appreciated and recognized by most drummers. The metal shells are crisp and versatile, the wood shells are warm, unique and the new Limited Edition Engraved Black Copper snare just might be the most versatile metal snare to have in your arsenal. I spent some time testing the 6.5x14 Black Copper snare here in the shop and it did not disappoint! While the black copper snare has been featured in the gretsch catalog in the past, this particular model was brought back in a limited run with a laser engraved round badge, die cast Hoops, 42 strand wires and lightning throw off.     

I started my test with a very low tuning and was pleasantly surprised that it still had plenty of attack, definition and a full, warm body. Even in the lower low tuning it didn't lose any articulation and the snare buzz and wash never got out of control. After taking the tuning up a notch I discovered that the medium tuning range is where this drum really shines. The drum has a full body with some very pleasing, musical metallic overtones. This really is where the copper shell likes to show its true colors. Very crisp attack, tons of volume and a booming rimshot. After experimenting in the medium range for a while, I cranked the drum up further to find out how it sounds in a higher register. At this high tuning this drum trades some of those low metallic overtones for a crisper sound and becomes an articulation master with lots of volume. The high tuning range would be very well suited for faster players and louder situations where you need a snare that really cuts through the mix. In any tuning the Black Copper snare remained sensitive all the way out to the very edge and was easy to control dynamically. 

The copper shell itself is powder coated which effectively dries the drum up a bit in comparison to a raw or lacquered copper shell, but that isn’t a bad thing in this case. The dryness might actually be my favorite part of this drum, with another favorite being the elegant laser engraved badge that cuts through the powder coating to reveal the raw copper material underneath. Just beautiful! The Die cast hoops on this drum are brass, which are softer than steel and have more give when doing rimshots. They absorb some of the shock you would usually endure from a steel hoop so the drum also feels great to play. 

Most high end copper drums are in the $700+ price range which is a bit steep for most of the “player” drum community. However, this drum is a bit more reasonable sitting right at $600 for the 6.5x14. It’s definitely a great value if you’re looking for a nice copper shell but don't want to spend almost $800.

The only thing that may throw some people off about this new black copper snare would be the overall volume of this drum. It is very loud and if you play in quieter situations it may not be for you, but if you need a main snare that can get through any gig or situation this is really a winner in my book. If you have questions about this drum please feel free to contact us over the phone, email, or social media! 

- Taylor Drose

Vintage Specialist