Benny Greb’s signature snare drum from Sonor has been one of the best-selling signature snares in the world for around a decade. It has an unmistakable finish that stands out on a stage, and the sound it produces matches the aesthetic perfectly.
All good things have to come to an end, though, and the first version of that snare has been discontinued by Sonor. However, a new and far better version was recently introduced. It also has a brass version, giving you two choices when it comes to sound.
In this review, we’re going to be looking at Benny Greb’s new signature snare. Is it better than the first one? Let’s find out.
The Benny Greb Signature 2.0 snare has a size of 13” x 5.75”. Those dimensions are quite unconventional, but they make the snare have incredibly unique tones to make it stand out significantly.
The wooden version of the snare has a beech shell, while the metal version has a brass shell. Both versions are highly versatile, with the brass shell having a lot more bite to it.
The snare has 2.3mm triple flanged hoops, which are very high in quality. It also has an internal muffling mechanism called the Twin MonoRail system.
You get a quick-release snare detachment mechanism that allows you to change heads quickly. Lastly, the Teardrop lugs give the snare an overall vintage aesthetic.
All these features make the Benny Greb snare one of the best snares available on the market.
The beech version of the snare drum has very deep and rich tones. We were very impressed with how versatile it is as well. Even though the snare is slightly smaller than most, it fits perfectly into any style of music.
The brass version has a lot more attack, thanks to its metal shell. It’s livelier, making it a better option for harder styles of music or for live performances.
This is one of Sonor’s best snare drums, and you can feel that top-tier quality when you play it. The beautiful tones mixed with its legendary construction quality are what make it so good.
The hardware features surrounding the Benny Greb are another aspect of what makes it such an amazing snare. Firstly, Donor’s 2.3mm Power Hoops have an excellent pop to them. They tend to brighten up the snare a fair bit.
The most notable construction feature of the snare is the Twin MonoRail dampening system. You get two dampening arms inside the snare. One has a standard cymbal felt to dampen the snare quite a bit. The other has sheep wool to dampen it more lightly.
The other notable feature is the Dual Glide snare mechanism. It makes turning the snares on and off incredibly easy and quiet. It also allows you to maintain your snare wire settings while changing the bottom head. This is an underrated feature, as readjusting your snare wires while swapping out a bottom head can get very frustrating.
Both the beech and brass versions of the Benny Greb 2.0 snare sound amazing no matter what environment you put them in. The sound quality and construction quality come together to make these snares feel amazing in your hands.
The two dampeners inside the snare allow you to change how it sounds on the fly, which is very valuable for gigs where different snare tones are needed.
The snare also maintains its tonal quality for very long, thanks to the immaculate construction of the shell.
Up to this point, you’d notice that this is one of the best snare drums available on the market. So, why doesn’t everyone use it? The high price tag is the answer to that question.
Unfortunately, snare drums of this quality come at a high cost. This one snare drum costs more than most intermediate shell packs, making it unattainable for many drummers.
Many pro snare drums cost just under $1000, whereas the Benny Greb snare costs about $200 over that. It’s not an affordable snare by any means. However, we think the price is highly justified by its sheer quality.
The snare drum is so versatile that you won’t need to have any other snare drums to use. Instead of buying multiple snare drums for different settings, you could use this one snare drum for everything.
If you’re wanting a versatile snare drum to record different types of music in the studio, we suggest getting the beech version of the Benny Greb snare. You can tune it to fit most styles, making it an amazing studio option.
The brass version is excellent as well, but it’s better suited for heavier styles. It has more punchiness, making it stand out in heavy mixes.
Both snares record very well through microphones.
The brass version of the snare could be more ideal for many live gig scenarios, especially if you need volume. However, both versions are excellent live gig options as well.
Just watch any live performances that Benny Greb has ever done. He mostly uses his signature snare drum, and it sounds amazing.
Apart from the high price tag, the Benny Greb 2.0 signature snare drum is one of the most attractive snare drum options out there. It looks, feels, and sounds amazing. It’s so versatile, and the two shell options cater to many different drummers.
If you want one snare drum that will cover everything, we highly suggest looking into buying this snare. You’ll just need to save up a bit.
If you find the snare drum to be too expensive, there are plenty of other affordable options out there!
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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