THE SNARE STACK

As I have been very busy lately adding to my fortress of  percussion products, I think it is time to update my inventory of snare drums so I don't lose track.  Here is the current state of the Snare Stack:

1 - STEWART Blue Sparkle.  This was the first snare I attempted to restore (that post is HERE) and my mistakes were many.  I cleaned the rusty rims with steel wool which is highly frowned-upon and left them with a "brushed aluminum" look instead of the desired shiny chrome.  Then, before the days of Ebay, back when finding replacement parts was much more difficult and time-consuming, I replaced my broken throw assembly with a new Pearl model which is, alas, unforgivable.  So although this drum is operable and enjoys a sentimental attachment to me, it is not very valuable, nor is it my best work.  But back when I was young and eager and sat behind the original "Fortress," the 10-piece, double-bass, Dark Red Tama Imperialstar kit, this throwaway that I salvaged from somewhere was my back-up in case my primary snare broke during a concert.  Because I never liked the sound of my Tama snare, which was a 6-1/2" deep metal-shelled model, I absolutely loved the warm sound of this 5-inch wooden Stewart, cheap and flimsy though it was.

2 - DRUM MATE Red Pearl.  I bought this Japanese-made snare shell for parts to restore another but found it to be in such good condition, I restored it instead.  Beautiful finish, good-sounding drum.  See previous post HERE.

3 - IDEAL Orange Sparkle.  I love orange sparkle.  I actually owned an orange-sparkle MIJ kit for a brief time but have very little memory of it.  I really wish I could track down a whole kit to go with this snare. My post about this drum is HERE.

4 - SLINGERLAND Red Sparkle 10 x 14" Marching Snare.  HERE is some background on this drum and HERE is the post about its restoration.

5 - U.S. MERCURY Blue Sparkle.  Post is HERE.

6 - SLINGERLAND Aluminum Shell Snare.  Some background HERE, restoration HERE.

7 - REVELLE Blue Marble.  See post HERE.

8 - LUDWIG Green Vistalite Acrylic.  Mildly entertaining posts HERE and HERE and also HERE.

9 - PEARL Forum Series Jet Black.  Goes with the "Black Pearl" kit.  See post HERE.

10 - TEMPO Champagne Sparkle??  I never have come upon a suitable name for the color of this drum!  My post about it is HERE.

11 - SLINGERLAND Red Sparkle.  This drum required no work.  A vintage piece I got for a good price.  I don't believe I ever wrote a post about it.

12 - SLINGERLAND Blue Agate.  Goes with THIS KIT.

13 - MIJ White Glass Glitter.  Post is HERE.

14 - TEMPRO Blue Marine Pearl.  Post is HERE.

15 - JEWEL Red Sparkle.  Covered in THIS POST.

16 - MAGNUM Blue Sparkle.  Goes with THIS KIT.

17 - MIJ Silver Sparkle.  Future project.

18 - CB DRUMS Black 3 x 12" Mini-Snare.  Humorous story about this drum HERE.

19 - MADE IN JAPAN Blue Agate 3 x 10" Mini-Snare.  See THIS POST.

NOT APPEARING IN THE ABOVE PHOTOGRAPH:

20 - TAMA Swingstar Vintage Red.  This is the 5x14" snare that goes with my Tama kit...obviously.  It is currently on loan to a friend who is playing gigs with it, my Tama bass drum and my 14" floor tom.  Sure hope I get all those drums back soon.

21 - U.S. MERCURY White Marine Pearl.  Future project pictured at right.  This snare was part of a kit that I attempted to win on Ebay.  Unfortunately the pieces were split into separate auctions and while I successfully acquired the snare and a 12" tom, I lost the matching 20" bass drum.  So now I can only hope that whoever did win the bass drum will eventually put it up for sale, or perhaps find another one.