Tama LGM137-STA Sound Lab Snare

I had actually been meaning to buy this snare for a couple of years because of all the gushing testimonials online, but I had a bunch of items to cross of my bucket list first...

Upon finally getting it, I instantly regretted not having bought it earlier! It is THAT good... The amount of punch at a medium tuning is impressive indeed, and shooting the rim rewards you with a brutal crack that will send bass players diving for cover.

But loud, cracking backbeats is certainly not the only thing this snare can do. You might expect that a thick-shelled, small diameter snare like this would be a one-trick pony, but owing to the 7" depth and the flawless build quality, it will respond with conviction at any tuning. Getting a huge, low-tuned ballad tone is easy with one moongel on the edge and it remains impressively sensitive even at low tunings.

This has quickly become my new go to snare, not least because, as a short guy, a 13" drum fits more comfortably between my knees. Fit and finish is as good as I have ever seen, and even though I have never loved die-cast hoops in the past, they are just perfect on this snare.

Recommended!!