DW Design Series Snare
Working drummers looking for a reliable snare and hobbyist upgrading their equipment are two groups buying the DW Design Series snare. The sound is classic and strong. The crisp, black nickel over brass appearance doesn’t hurt either.
The Design Series snare drum is a well-built, full-featured snare played by touring and studio professionals. It holds its own in the crowded mid-price snare range. What, if anything, sets the DW Design Series snare apart? Well, here are the facts for you to consider, with our opinion at the end.
The snare is offered in two snare sizes that are popular because they’re versatile.
- 5.5”x 14” with plenty of snap and pop and a broad dynamic range
- 6.5”x 14” boasting impressive power with commanding tones
What’s the DW Design Series made of? Here are its key features:
- Rolled 1mm all-brass shell with reinforced bead
- MAG throw-off
- DW’s trusty True-Pitch tuning
- DW Reverse Dot batter head made by Remo
The design and materials are certainly respectable, if not the finest you’ve ever laid eyes on. So, what about the DW Design Series snare pros and cons?
Likes
What stands out about this drum is that everything DW put into it has years of proven performance – MAG, True-Pitch and Remo. These pieces of the whole create sound quality and consistency you can count on live or in the studio.
We’ll mention the competitive price again. At less than $300 for either size, you’ll get an everyday, better-than-average snare drum with durability and reliability to depend on for years to come.
The Design Series snare is very suitable for all genres. Luke Holland (The Word Alive, The Heavy Eyes) plays metal core with it, and it’s just as amenable to jazz, country, rock and more.
The polished black nickel finish against brilliant chrome hardware is beautiful. Pictures don’t do it justice.
Dislikes
Just two sizes. Popular sizes, sure, but its clear DW isn’t making the same broad investment in this series that is on display in the PDP by DW Concept Series snares.
Tuning the reso (bottom/resonant head) can be a little quirky until you figure it out. It must be pretty doggone tight to get full sound out of the snare wire. Some drummers, especially those more familiar with wood snares, are concerned they might overtighten it, so they stop short.
They don’t get it tight, and it plays loose.
If you’re looking for the latest drum technology, like that found in the Yamaha Recording Custom snare, it’s not here. However, equipment with a proven track record is here in abundance.
Overall – 4 Stars
Many drummers say this snare sounds better and boasts superior quality than what might be expected for the price. That’s praiseworthy. If your budget is in the $300 range, you will maximize your value with the DW Design Series snare drum.
Just in case you haven’t heard of Luke Holland….
Hi Folks, I have the DW Design series 14 X 6.5 snare. What batter head do you recopmmend. I am having dificulty picking the right one?? I have used the Evans HD Dry batter head (came with that when I purchased the drum USED). I replacd the batter head with the same – and now I can’t achieve the same sound on the drum. I tried a UV1 and a UV2 but I didn’t like the sound. Much appreciate your advice.
Aldo M.