I’m comparing two snare drums that are basically identical apart from the material of the shell. The drums are 1977ish Pearl Jupiter 5x14” Brass and 1977ish Pearl Deluxe 5x14” Steel!
Seems like I'm in the minority in preferring the steel snare! Don't get me wrong, those rimshots on the brass absolutely SING! But I feel like the higher pitched overtones of the steel snare would carry the sound in a mix with loud midrangey rock guitars. Steel seems to have a more focused fundamental too, much tighter sound than the brass when you hit it in the centre. Awesome demo as usual!
this is how you can tell that the rust in peace remix has programmed drums which has a brass snare sound more so than the original mix sounding so tight like if steel instead
Love this video. The brass sounds magically good. I bet it pops out in a mix great. Steel snares are underrated but I would probably be grabbing that brass 9 times out of 10 if those were the only chooses
I can totally get with the brass, but the steel sounds warmer, more controlled, and has way more of a “crack” sound. It’s much more my taste. Especially at the 4:00 mark vs. the 4:30 mark. I have to say though, there’s nothing like that solid “pop” sound from those brass and aluminum shells when they’re tuned just right
On its own I liked the brass one better (more "full" sound), but in a band context, and depending on music style, I might prefer the steel. Interesting comparison! Although I do not play drums, I still find this interesting (it's about rock music).
Great demo! If I had to chose - it would be solely on the fact that I already have a ton of stell snares - including Pearls from this same era/same #of lugs, etc. I would have to prefer the brass - as it will not rust and the sound it .....well - ya gotta love that brass ring! Great snares! Hard to find people with bad experiences with Pearl 70s snare drums. 60s...easy 80s....easy But 70s Pearl snares.....A1!
I like them both, and I know why most people tend to prefer brass, but I prefer steel. Not sure why, but my faves tend to be steel or aluminum. My own snares are aluminum Ludwig Acrolite, a chrome-over-wood Slingerland, and a steel Pearl piccolo. I haven't played drums in months though...
I have an early 80s Pearl steel snare 14 x 6 1/2 , it is a beast ! I had a brass Pearl piccolo I got rid of , a one trick pony that I got tired of very quickly . My go to snare is a late 70s Ludwig Supra , again a 14 x 61/2 but such a versatile drum ! I have a couple of Sonor steel shells that are nice n bright, a Slingerland badged North Lakes wood shell 14 x 5 but if I ever need a break from the Supra in the studio , I have an 8 lug Gretsch Catalina birch shell snare that is just magic .
Steel often gets a bad rep, being the cheapest to manufactur but I think it sounds wonderful. Its all down to the quality of the snare build I guess. I much prefer the steel in this video but brass also makes a wonderful shell, as does aluminium.
The brass has more tone/body with better snare response. It also sings a little longer which I really like. For recording, I would choose the brass. The steel has a shorter sustain but still lends itself to good snare response. It would be better suited for live performance. So keep them both.😊
Similar sound if you ask me. Brass is just like steel, ringy and loud, but brass has a dark, less clear sound and has a warmth that steel doesn't. I personally prefer good old steel! 😎
Very interesting video, similar to your tone wood experiments for guitars, and I for one would very much enjoy more videos like this. What would be cool is if you could tune the heads to the same tension (with a drum dial or similar) instead of pitch, which would decouple the tuning from the inherent tonality of the shell.
To my ears, brass (and bronze) shells give off overtones which seem to drop in pitch as they decay (probably due to the mix of overtones decaying unevenly), which is a very uncommon sound. Steel shell overtones seem to stay much more even, while aluminum shell overtones tend to actually slide up in pitch a bit, although so many aluminum snares are very dry with little sustain so it's not often as obvious.
That should largely be a function of tuning. To me brass and aluminium both have a strong midrange fundamental, although aluminium is a bit dryer and higher in pitch. Steel rings higher, and has a clear ring when tuned high, but tuned medium or low, Steel projects high harmonics or sounds pretty dry depending on the particulars of setup and playing.
@@jkf9167 Absolutely, the mix of overtones will depend on the tuned fundamental pitch, not to mention whether all the lugs are tuned evenly, the number of lugs, etc, etc. But I've found that no matter what initial tuning or harmonic mixture is present in that first transient, it always evolves in the way I describe, most obviously to my ears for brass. I first noticed this when I realized that I could pick out the difference between my Black Beauty and Super Sensitive in my own recordings very clearly at various tunings, and that later on I heard the same thing in various shell material comparison videos I found on RU-vid as well.
Johan, To me the steel sounds more fresh in the highs but the brass sounds more dry and has more lows. I like both but because of the dryness I would prefer the brass one. Great video. Thanks.
I like the brass a lot, however I ended up with the steel model featured in the video in a package deal. It sounds really good, and the price was right.
From a studio perpective , i´d pick the brass, for its warmer tones would translate very well to th microphones. When it comes to the stage, i think i´d go with the steel. It just sounds more "agressive" to my ear. Don´t get me wrong, both sound killer! Great video!
The brass is richer in overtones, as the steel are more dry and controlled. Both are nice, I would use the steel for a tight rock sound, and the brass on more funky stuff.
Hi, Johan! I think, brass was more nice. Maybe it's not the objective, but we can try to make the graphical review and to see, what is the main factor! I think, brass is better because the orchestral instruments are still made from brass. Steel itself has a strong structure, but I am making blades from steel, and I wanted to construct a "steel tuner", but I couldn't. Let's go forward - maybe we will find the secret? See you in tomorrow! Have a great evening!😉 Zigfrid
Skip Stomp me too, I'm playing a Pearl Steel Sensitone & I prefer the slightly deeper tone & fatter Crack steel provides. I want all that ringing & wild overtones that steel seems to give me. Never cared for wood snares either. Guess we like what we like...
I preferred the brass. More “open” sounding. Would be interesting to hear the batter and resonant head tuned to the same pitch for this, or Go for minimal overtones.
dear Johan, you use many loud amps through your videos. what do you use on a day to day basis, when you don't feel like cranking up an old marshall? do you have a low volume set up? or do you always play as loud as you please? (BTW nice to see you diversify with drums, always an interesting take)
Thanks! :-) The Master volume on my Superlead with the DF100VH mod works great so I’m still usually playing big rig. I’m often playing a 4010 combo at hone though. Cheers
Any help me with this ? My wife got me a Crush HH Steel Sn. for a b-day present (14×7), I know nothing of this brand tho it'sa decent sounding drum I still prefer my Pearl Sensitone Steel (14×6.5). I also found a Peace HH steel snare at GC at just over $100. All I know is Steven Adler plays Peace drums & for that price it seemed worth it. Any info on both brands be much appreciated
There’s a lot of talk online about how ANY 2 drums of the same Dimensions & Heads(&to an extent the Wires) can be made to sound exactly the same & that the drum’s materials are of no concern… would you agree? It’d be great if you investigated this fully! 🙏
At first I wasn't expecting to hear a difference but I was wrong. I think the brass has a fuller sound but the steel is not without its charm either. 👍
Steel sounds more focused, narrower frequency range and overtones, brass is more cutting and open. Personally, buy both. And also, ss vs brass applies to guitar hardware too. Sorry I love SS frets in the longevity department, but they give a very shrill tone.
cool demo, to me they sound very very close, the brass may have a slightly wider tonal range with some drum techniques, but still very close. Thanks for sharing and stay safe, Johan
idk I heard quite a difference, especially where Johan hit the rim... I think if you try some different ... (idk I'm not into drums so don't know all the pieces :D) but I think if you try different combinations, you can make really different yet awesome sounding snares from the 2 materials!
I just bought a brass one of these and it is definitely my favourite followed by a suprapgobic and a Rogers dianasobic reassure. Its only a matter of time until hipsters (whom pay way too much for their acrolites) discover these and drive up the prices. They think alluminim ages as they are always bragging about their 60's acro like it has some special mojo
I think my ear is partial to steel snares. Only metal snare I’ve used, but would love a brass or aluminum some day. I dig steel for funk, check my channel for my Funky Drummer short. Its a Mapex 13x3.5 steel piccolo!
They sound identical, the only difference is the pitch. They should be played in real life to really understand their tones. Anyway I generally prefer the steel.
