Keith Carlock is one of the hardest-working drummers in the industry, playing drums for various artists over the years. His playing is incredibly distinctive, making him a favorite drummer of many.
If you’re looking for a similar sound to what Keith Carlock has, look no further than his signature snare drum. He developed it with Gretsch, and it has the trademark Keith Carlock tones.
In this review, we’ll look at how the Gretsch Keith Carlock snare drum works for average drummers like you and us. It’s incredibly powerful and versatile, but let’s dive into the exact specifics.
The Keith Carlock signature snare drum has a 2mm brass shell. It has extended cut with plenty of body, thanks to its metal casing.
It has 45-degree bearing edges, along with 4mm die-cast hoops on both sides. The 20-strand snare wires are unique addition compared to most other snare drums with more wires.
The snare has Gretsch’s iconic Lightning throw off and butt plate, and the inside has a label with Keith Carlock’s signature on it.
Lastly, the snare comes included with a Permatone batter head. Permatone heads are Gretsch’s personal drumheads that come with many of their high-end drums.
The Gretsch Keith Carlock snare drum has incredibly good sound quality. It’s the type of snare where you hit it and love the sound no matter what environment you play it in.
Most of the tone comes from the 2mm brass shell. Brass snare drums have powerful cutting tones but also demonstrate plenty of body. That tone is further boosted here by the die-cast hoops.
The premium hoops add a bit of aggressiveness to the drum, sharpening the attack even more. This leads to amazing rim shot sounds, which is ideal for a snare drum.
It’s very musically responsive as well. While most metal snare drums sound best when played hard, this snare reacts very well to light touches.
All those qualities make it very versatile. Keith Carlock is a monster drummer who can play a wide variety of musical styles, and this snare drum is suitable for all of them.
Whether you’re playing jazz, rock, or pop, the Keith Carlock signature snare drum will do the trick.
The main construction features of the Keith Carlock signature snare are the brass shell, die-cast hoops, unique snare wires, and Lightning throw off.
The brass shell is noticeably heavier than most wooden shells. If you’re not used to playing metal snare drums, this may take some getting used to. The die-cast hoops add to that weight even more.
Die-cast hoops are premium hoops, and they’re mostly reserved for high-end drums from different brands. So, we love it that Gretsch has included them on this snare drum.
The 20-strand wires allow the snare drum’s tone to come out nicely, and the included Permatone drumhead is one of the best stock drumheads you’ll find on a drum. While Remo and Evans heads are usually the go-to options, you may find that you don’t need them when you first buy this snare drum.
The Lightning throw off is incredibly smooth, and it makes it easy to switch the snares on and off whenever you need to.
Finally, the snare shell is made with 45-degree bearing edges that further improve the tone and responsiveness you get when playing.
The performance strengths of the Keith Carlock snare are versatility and responsiveness. It’s amazing to have a snare drum that can cover every gig you play. It makes things a lot easier when it comes to moving gear around, as you just need this one snare.
The responsiveness of the snare is incredible. It makes it sound and feel very musical as it reacts to the slightest of touches.
You can play soft ballads with light ghost notes here and there. You can also play loud rock tunes and get plenty of punch from it.
It’s an excellent performance snare. Most metal snare drums are, and the Keith Carlock snare just follows on that trend.
The snare costs just under $1000, which is quite expensive for a snare drum. Most professional snare drums cost anywhere from $500 to $1000, meaning this snare sits at the edge of that range.
We’d say the price is well worth what you get, though. Something to consider is that most signature snare drums are very expensive, with many even costing over $1000.
So, when it comes to high-end signature snares, the Keith Carlock one is reasonably priced. The value you get for the money is amazing.
With that being said, we wouldn’t recommend such an expensive snare drum to a beginner drummer. There are much more affordable options available.
The snare is a great studio option, thanks to its versatility. Keith Carlock uses it to record albums very often, meaning you can too. Its tone transfers quite well through microphones, making it stand out in a mix.
The brass shell makes this snare an excellent live gig option. Its boosted volume and extensive cut push it through a mix very smoothly. It’s a very energetic snare drum, making it perfect for stages.
If you can afford it, we highly recommend you consider getting the Keith Carlock signature snare drum. On top of its amazing tones, the Vintage Patina brass shell also looks amazing, and it fits aesthetically with most drum kit finishes.
If you’re a new drummer or someone with a low budget, there are plenty of other snares available that cost under $400. We’d suggest looking at those to begin with.
Gretsch have some amazing snare drums over the years, and this one is a definite highlight!
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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