aaa..so if u wanna get a nice cross stick sound get a snare with die cast hoops...as triple flangged hoops wont produce the crack for cross sticks...

if you like high pitch but if u still wanna have the depth u can also get snares made of 4 ply maple size 13x6.5 and tune the top head tight but not too tight that it would choke the sound of your snare hehehehe...as the 13x6.5 is said to be a power piccolo snare hehehe

personally i think steel snares would be too ringy...coz i use to own a chad smith pearl snare which is made from steel...and its very ringy hehehe...but then again it depends on ur preferences as well..u can go on you tube and check out snare reviews or go to the nearest music store and try on them snares =)

and for piccolo snares..from my experience of recording the depth of 4 inches and below doesn't give u much body sound and the sustain of the spund does not last long...if you want something similar but with power you should get a 13x6.5 or at least a standard 14x5 or 14x5.5...

but if u have the money do get your self the pearl reference from bentley...20 ply sanre and with high pitch tuning not only it will give you the pop but also the articulation and projection!! awesome snare =)

how much is your budget anyways yea? perhaps i can help u look around for good bargains?

hey....
the main factors in pricing are
1) the quality of the material
2) the quality of the workmanship
3) the brand name

so anyway, if we just consider the big names, (making the the amount we pay for the brand about the same)
you have 2 main differences to consider.

Considering wood snares.
Generally if you get the medium priced snares, the quality is okay and a cheaper material is used.
The sound tends to be not so full bodied. (because of the nature of the wood, perhaps cheaper more porous woods are used)
A batch of low quality poplar (pearl) doesn't sound so good, but a high quality poplar (http://www.drumsolo.cc/snare_drums/snare_gallery/Poplar/poplar.htm) i'm told has a very nice sound. Haven't heard it, but in my emails with Greg (the guy who makes the drums on that site), we discussed the types of woods and all that.
He tells me that a lot of wood, with the right workmanship and a good wood quality, sounds great.

Generally a expensive snare has good solid lugs and strainer, less prone to breakage, more even bearing edge( making it easier to tune and producing a more well rounded sound).

There are many variables in a snare sound, with the most important being drum head and snare wire choice.
The TYPE of snare bed can also be a important consideration.

IMO, the pearl reference is overkill....and if you're not sure about what snare sound you like just yet, you can't go wrong with a standard 14x 5.5 or 14 x 6 (for more depth) medium high quality snare.

The reason for a 14 and not a 13 is....that you can use it for more different types of tunings, cranking it up for a nice "pop" or bringing it down for a deep sound.
If you have 2 snares, then a 14 and a 13 is a solid choice.

I'm not sure if its available here, but i think the DDrum Ash snare, is a very good choice.
Maybe the Tama Artwood series are also okay.

Yamaha birches are also nice.

IMO, maple is a little too dry.
=)

Moving out from condominium edi?

Don't get the Pearl Forum. IMO.

I bought it overpriced and kind of regretted now.

Just a reference, maybe I'll change the drum heads and re-tune it till perfect when I move it out my room to the music room.

buy a vision. change the hoops, mounting system. and walah. u get urself a mcx.

birch/basswood not good u say? well 97 tama's starclassic uses the same material leh. haha

i planned this before in the previous thread... but after calculating the budget, not worth it, bro...

better get an electric kit...

ohh... if u have a module, then it will be diff story... i dun have a module... that's why it costs alot...

trigger for the shells still okay... how about cymbals?

Do keep us updated

Rubber pads and homemade cable triggers?

in case u wan free mesh head.. i can throw mine.. used

I don't mind having it, for a... drum project (secret ) that I'm working on now.... But if fifi95 wants it he can go ahead and take it lah. But if he's gonna let me take it, I will.