As drummers, we can never own too many snare drums, right? Well, we’ve got another fantastic snare to suggest that recently hit the market. Ash Soan is one of the top studio musicians in the world at the moment, and he’s been playing this snare drum for several years.
Gretsch finally made a move to mass-produce it and allow us to experience what Ash has been using for a while. We’re going to take a closer look at the Ash Soan Signature snare drum. It has unique sizes with a unique shell type, so we’re going to discuss which drummers this snare will be good for.
The Ash Soan Signature snare is a top-quality snare drum from Gretsch. It makes use of some of Gretsch’s highest-quality design features, making it a viable option for professionals and snare drum collectors.
It’s made of purpleheart wood, which is an uncommon wood that you don’t often see being used for drums. It gives a highly unique tone that makes this snare stand out from many others.
The diameter of the snare is 12”, which is smaller than most snare drums, making this one suitable as a side snare as well. It has a depth of 7”, making up for the smaller diameter. You can still get plenty of low-end, thanks to the deep shell.
The tonal quality you get from this snare is incredible. It has a full-bodied tone that sings out wonderfully every time you hit it. The 9-ply purpleheart shell gives a unique tone that makes this snare stand out from many others. It’s quite versatile, having sounds that tend to work well with every style.
Since the snare has a 12-inch diameter, it’s better suited for high tunings. That’s where the tight crack of it shines through. However, the 7-inch depth adds a lot of character to that sound, and it sounds quite beefy, even when tuned high.
The snare is also quite responsive to dynamic playing. The lightest touches will bring out the full tone of the shell.
Gretsch have pulled out their big guns with the construction of this snare. It’s fitted with die-cast hoops, which are the heavier, more superior options to use for hoops on drums. They do a fantastic job in adding crack to the snare while keeping tuning more consistent. They also make the snare a lot heavier than if it were to have standard triple-flange hoops.
The shells have 45-degree bearing edges, further contributing to the even tones across the drum. The combination between these and the die-cast hoops is what bumps the quality up for this particular snare.
A Gretsch Lightning throw-off is used on the side. This throw-off is quite smooth, allowing you to easily switch between on and off snares.
As Ash Soan is one of the top recording drummers in the industry, you can bet that this snare works wonders in recording settings. However, it sounds amazing wherever you play it. Whether you’re playing in an insulated room or an outdoor arena, this snare will sound fantastic.
The rimshots are one of the nicest sounds that it produces. They slice through mixes, bringing that purpleheart sound quality to the forefront.
If you’re not used to playing 12-inch snare drums, this snare may feel a bit weird when put in the main snare position. You’ll get used to it after a while, though. You’ll also realize how much extra legroom you’re gifted with.
Using it as a side snare also adds incredible depth to your setup, so we suggest doing that if you don’t want to use it as a main snare drum.
Purpleheart is an expensive wood to make drums with, so don’t expect this snare to come with a cheap price tag. Since it’s a top-of-the-range snare drum, you’re going to be paying a bit under $1000 for it.
If you’ve never bought pristine snare drums before, that may be a bit steep. However, the cost clearly reflects the quality. So, we’d say that the price-to-value ratio of this drum is relatively decent. It’s not amazing, but it’s not bad either. You’ll find that this is typically always the case with signature drums and cymbals.
The Ash Soan Signature snare drum thrives in studio recording environments. Ash Soan has mentioned himself that he’s used this snare to record drum parts for Cory Wong, Jeff Lauber, and Ariel Posen.
If you’re looking for a high-pitched snare with a beautiful sustaining tone, this is what you’re going to want to record with. It also has a great crack when muffling is done. The qualities of the purpleheart tend to reflect well through microphone mixes.
The small and explosive nature of this snare also makes it great for use at gigs. Popping snare drums tend to work excellently on stages as their sounds cut through mixes very easily.
The die-cast hoops also add to that dynamic, especially with regard to the rimshot sound. We highly recommend using this snare for gigs, even if it’s just as an auxiliary snare option in your setup.
At the end of the day, getting the Ash Soan Signature won’t be a small purchase. It’s an expensive snare drum, so you need to be sure that it has qualities that you’ll love. We love the sounds it produces, but the best thing to do is listen to demos and see if you love them yourself.
A small suggestion would be to watch drummers other than Ash Soan play the snare, as Ash Soan could make the worst snare drum in the world sound amazing with his playing.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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