Dunnett 5x13 stainless
steel snare drum
~ or
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how to
most-effectively ruin your bank account with a drum addiction
i got this
drum from a friend of mine to test out, since i want a dunnett drum, but don't
really know *what* i want. that's the problem with custom drums; too many
choices. :)
the drum in
question is a 5x13 stainless steel snare, with 8 tube lugs and triple-flanged
hoops. it also has a nickel drumworks throw-off. the drum came to me with an
aquarian texture coated batter head, classic clear snare side head, and
24-strand puresound percussion
snares. i may as well have set up the drum myself, because that's *exactly* what
i'd use. :)
this drum is
absolutely gorgeous. i was expecting the type of stainless steel shell that has
visible lathing marks,
which i really like, but this was a very pleasant surprise. the shell is plated
in dunnett's "mirror finish." it shines like a jewel. another very nice touch is
how dunnett etches his name into the shell; nothing huge and gaudy, just his
last name in script. very clean; very classic. and the tube lugs looked perfect
with the shell.
the throw-off
is every bit the quality i'd expect from nickel drumworks. it feels very solid
in its action. the only thing i didn't like about it (and this is purely an
asthetic thing) is that the bulk of the throw-off on this drum is made of clear
acrylic. although it was neat to see a nearly transparent snare throw-off (i've
never seen one before), i think that a chrome one would look much better on this
drum. but to each his own. the throw-off worked perfectly.
okay, let's
get to what's really important - the SOUND. i could write an entire article on
just the sound characteristics of this baby. being that it is a steel shell, the
only sound characteristic i was expecting was "bright." and while it is a
bright sounding drum, it has much more. this drum is a virtual well of
tone. i used it for 3 hours in a rehearsal, and no matter how i tuned it, it
always had something to offer. i started off by cranking it plywood-tight, and
although it gave me all the pitch of a 13" drum, it had more body and
sensitivity than any drum i have ever played in this size. snare response
was very clear and present from the rim all the way to the center, and the drum
has a rimshot that will tear your head off.
one thing i
really like about this drum is that the bearing edges are really edges;
lathed to a sharp edge. they aren't rolled over like most metal drums. i am
positive that this real edge contributed a great deal to the drum's sensitivity
and snap. ronn dunnett markets this feature in an ad with the title, "refuse to
bend over". :-)
i began
lowering the batter head tension in small increments, to see how much i could
get away with, and this is where i truly became amazed. this drum has an
incredible tuning range! everywhere from plywood-tight to gravel-loose,
the drum always had something good to offer. so did the throw-off; it has great
adjustability. everything from drum corps tight to journey-ballad loose. when
backed down to a medium tension, the drum has a great "bark." this tone was
present throughout its tuning range, but most predominant when tuning was at
"fatback" level. and before you ask, yes, this 13-inch drum is quite
capable of a fat backbeat. the "bark" (you could call it a "honk,") gave the
drum a great, individual sound that truly makes this drum unique. last but not
least, rim clicks were clear and sweet on this snare... another thing that i
don't see too much of in 13" snare drums. and did i mention that this sucker's
LOUD? at any tuning, it had no problem being heard over two 4x12 guitar cabs and
the bass cabinet from hell.
a drum like
this has to cost a fortune, right? well, the website lists all the options that
can be added to a dunnett drum. anything from different shells (copper,
titanium, solid & ply woods, fiberglass) to plating to engraving to
different hoops. the cost for this drum, as per the dunnett website:
$385.00. a GREAT price for what you're getting.
i am now a
*thorough* believer in ronn dunnett's craftsmanship and attention to detail. if
this beauty is any indication, there is a guy in canada who builds drums that
every drummer should know about.
nick amoroso
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