PDP by DW Concept Series Snare Drum Review

PDP by DW Concept Series Snare

Professional sound that’s easy on the wallet!

The DW Concept Series snares are built in a range of sizes that deliver professional sound at an affordable price. It speaks volumes that many of today’s rising-star drummers play Concept Series snares from PDP’s Drum Workshop division – Cobus Potgieter, Jaz Sawyer and Jordan Nuanez, to name a few.

The PDP by DW Concept Series snares are produced in:

Metal: Black nickel over 1mm rolled steel with chrome hardware in 5.5×14”, 6×10”, 6×12” 6.5×13” and 6.5×14”
Birch: Cherry to Black fade with chrome hardware and Natural to Charcoal fade with chrome hardware, both 10-ply birch in 5.5×14” only with the fade from top to bottom
Maple: Pearescent Black with black hardware, Pearescent White with chrome hardware, Red to Black Sparkle Fade with chrome hardware, Silver to Black Sparkle Fade with chrome hardware, Transparent Cherry with chrome hardware and Transparent Walnut with chrome hardware – all 10-ply maple in 5.5×14” only
Black Wax: All-maple, black with hand-applied wax sealer and chrome hardware in 5.5×13”, 5.5×14”, 6×10, 6.5×14” and 7×13”

This PDP by DW Concept Series snare drum review gives you the information needed to decide if this should be your next snare. Let’s look at the DW Concept Series snare pros and cons and a snare drum rating you can use to compare with other models you’re considering.

Likes

These drums are very good looking, but that’s secondary to sound, which is well above average. The PDP Concept Series drums from DW are built by professionals with decades of experience playing drums and crafting snares to precise specifications. Concept Series snares deliver bright, dynamic attack with excellent snare response. Most drummers settle on a medium-high tuning range.

Contributing to the quality and diversity of sound textures are the components used, all top of the line: Remo heads, True-Pitch tension rods, the highly rated DW MAG throw-offs, 20-strand snare wires and PDP’s unique dual-turret lugs. True-Pitch and MAG are also used on DW’s premium line, the custom-made Collector’s Series. The strainer projects at a 90-degree angle making it easy to use.

The resulting sound is beautifully suited to playing all genres live and for studio work too, largely due to the tuning range possible.

While there is nothing cheap about the PDP Concept Series drum line, it delivers quality sound at an affordable price. That is the very definition of value.

Dislikes

Starting with sound, the depth of tonality isn’t quite as beefy as you might expect in the fatter sizes, but it can be optimized with the snare strainer loosened allowing the resonant head some breathing room.

DW’s Concept Series snares are built with a good-but-not-great butt-plate for the nylon snare strap rather than the brand’s premium 3P butt-plate used on DW’s top models.

The black wax finish is more a dark gray in matte finish, a step down in aesthetics relative to the other finishes. It should be noted, though, that the maple grain is nice to see, and the matte finish really sets off the chrome hardware.

Overall – 4 Stars

We gave the DW Performance Series snares 4 stars too but for slightly different reasons. The Concept Series drums cost less, so are a better value. The sound of these drums might be slightly inferior to the Performance Series, but you’ll need to have a very attuned ear to notice a qualitative difference. Cobus Potgieter recently switched from the Performance Series to the Concept Series, certainly in part for paid promotional purposes, but to skeptics he says, “Just check out the Concept Series. It is amazing…the kind of value you’re getting for this kind of money.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfVeFNZP4Z0

Bottom line, the decision in front of you is to choose the slightly better quality and sound of the Performance Series or the equipment Potgieter plays while keeping more money in your pocket.