DW Snare Drum, Black, 6.5x14 (DDSD6514BNCR)

As all the other 5-star reviews say, this is a super snare, especially for the $300 pricetag.I tweaked it only a touch, out-of-the-box, with a Drum Dial to match the tensions, they were 2# or so off. I'm not sure it sounds any better. It is in the Low-tuning range from the box.Pretty sure tightening will reduce ring, but I like the ring...The center dot on the batter head makes for the least amount of ring, moving almost to the edge of the ring allows more, off-the-ring is even more, and so on, until you reach the rim...SO MANY sounds available. SO MUCH fun to play.My bandmates actually noticed the improvement in my sound. A drummer friend in the audience who had seen the drum in a recent post of mine on Facebook gave it the thumbs up as well, Thanks John!The other side of this review is of my initial reaction to the drum, comparing to my '95 Gretsch Catalina Jazz 14x5.5 snare, that has always given me trouble, and led me to replace heads, batter rim, and throw-off. I put a new Ambassador on the Gretsch and tuned it the best I could, while waiting for the DW to arrive.When it arrived, I was shocked at how heavy it is!Mounted on my heavy Pearl Uni-tilt stand, It could be a shoulder dislocat-er! :)I wanted to RETURN IT on that alone!I'm 66 yrs old, and have been trying to lighten up my gear, this isn't helping...It is also MUCH LOUDER than my other snare.My band is a quieter-type of classic country and 60s pop band. The DW is probably more suitable to hard rock, funk, metal even!When I compared the tones of the 2 snares, I thought to myself, the DW is only 10% better. But upon playing with it over a few days, I grew to love the extra ring of the DW.The various tones across the head, the great sound with brushes, the incredible rim shot, even on light hits, and the improved snare wire response. I have used wood snares for a long time, and am actually blown away by the sound of a metal snare again.After one gig, I made the firm decision to keep it. I like the newly designed throw-off, it is a thing of beauty. As another reviewer said, "it is fun to play"! It was reading his review that made me buy this drum.Fun is an essential part of music, and a great instrument is fun, and worth the cost.You will LOVE this drum, if nuance, color, and is important to you. A variety of useful tones can be coaxed out of, easily. If all you want is a loud, dry POP, then it may not be your drum. But as I have done since this initial review, a Remo Muffle Ring will remove the ring completely, but you’ll lose some of the variations in tone.The price is great of this drum is great.As a side note; BEWARE if you are thinking of trying it and returning it if you don't like it, like I was. Be aware that this drum is not a "FREE", no quibble return.YOU will pay shipping back to Sam Ash, and they will penalize you for stickmarks, and for the original shipping!So count on $80-100 for the chance to try it out.If you can try one out locally, do that, just to be sure.Still, I am glad I decided to keep it.Did I mention, it's Beautiful?See the pic? Notice the price tag is still hanging off it? That’s because I'm naming it Minnie Pearl. I hope DW won’t mind.

Just beautiful. This thing tunes up quickly and has a beautiful body to it. I like to keep the batter head tight for a crisp rim shot and this ha does it superb. The added depth has a ton of body and really rounds out the ‘crack’ without it sounding too dry or piccolo-y. Dude, for $300 it is a masterpiece of a snare. The throw off is buuuuuutter.

A well planned and finely crafted snare, beingdeep it produces a solid sound with great tone.Over the years , surprising myself I leaned towardbrushes with riffs on the cymbals. It seemed to me I do more to blend with the musicians with myhands, let my feel deal with tempo with the soundbeing more smooth in the grove. For a bossa novaStill favor the right stick down on the head with the left accenting. Love the snare.If I could one addition to the snare,!miss the damp-er knob which would mute the after ring.The jelly like damper pads don’t cut it.Thanks Southwest jim

I give this drum like 40 stars. Trust me when I say that I am CRITICAL, to the point of being kind of an a-hole when something doesn’t sound right, or someone isn’t playing well. I use this drum in clubs & private venues, & play in a church every Sunday. This drum has yet to meet a room that it doesn’t LOVE.This drum is so well constructed (the throw off is a thing of beauty). It sounds like a cross between a 6.5 x 14 Black Beauty & a Supraphonic.I use an Evans tone ring on it, & the stock Remo Head it came with. Even though I use Evans heads on the toms & kick, I would likely never change for fear of losing what I have. - Sean

Six sets of all the best so called jazz heads out there. The good looking drum will not go to the jazz world sound. The ring is over bearing and the buzz is out of control. P/S six sets of drum heads later. Cost as much as the drum LOL. No matter your opinion on Jazz snares this beauty is not it. Damn. NOTE, do not tune your snare with a roll of tape or moon gels in your hand,if you must then send the drum back!! I used nothing. The drum should NOT need any help. ( should not ) If you need tape , rags , towels or moon gels or an old shoe taped to your mew drum head send it back. I am happy for the guys that like the drum. Take the moon gels off. I mean it!!!! :))

I was on the fence whether to buy this or Ludwig Black Beauty.Very happy with my choice.

DW , while having a reputation as a premier brand, will be reluctant and shirk ownership of bad items that get through quality control. This is the second product product from DW that I have had serious functionality issues with. The first as a hi hat stand that came with broken parts. Thesecond was this snare. The weld seam and bearing edge were poorly constructed/fabricated resulting in a non flat bearing edge to extreme. such that the head does not sit level on the bearing edge. How it got through quality control is a mystery. Then , when shown photos of the the issue, DW did not respond with costumer first service and ownership, rather, they played the delay game by referring it to other departments in their corporate fulfillment structure and opted to deny immediate resolution of a clearly defective product . They simply could have replaced what was demonstrably and an obviously a flawed unit.Beware of DW commitment to costumers. Very disappointing for what is marketed as a high end product. If the example i was delivered was manufactured well, it would be a decent drum. The unit I received was lesser in quality than snare drums I paid less for.

Bought this for our rehearsal studio drum kit to add some versatility...our drummer likes it as much as his main kit snare and although its primary duty will be for rock you can tune this snare for just about any genre you wanted. It is loud and has a really nice tone that compliments our mixes. I don't think you can beat it for the money either.