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A Brady snare is an object of beauty.

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Block construction

Brady has been making tongue and groove block shells since 1999. They are twice as thick as the ply shells and correspondingly heavier. The sounds are consequently drier with fewer overtones, shorter decay and thicker tone. Brady suggests the jarrah block snare shows these characteristics most clearly. It has a short and clean note, great for the studio.

Like the jarrah ply it is warm, versatile and sensitive.

We found the sheoak drum the hardest sounding in the collection with a slight lack of warmth compared with the jarrah. It's loud, bright and aggressive with punishing rimshots.

The final drum is made from the latest addition to Brady's range, Tasmanian blackwood. This is something of a departure for Brady as it is lighter and softer compared to the previous exceptionally dense woods. The lighter wood results in a more mellow and warm character, which sounds closer to vintage American snare drums.

Visually the drums are dazzling. The Tasmanian blackwood in natural satin is actually a mid-brown colour with a relatively straight grain. The jarrah block, also in satin, is similar but with a reddish, mahogany-like tinge. Finally, the sheoak block has a recognisably oak-like grain. In the gloss finish it has a dramatic orange flame pattern, making it rather more varied than the other two.

Brady snare is an object of beauty that you will cherish for decades. Choosing the most suitable wood for your particular needs is tricky. What's certain is that the ply drums are lighter and have more resonance. Beyond that we'd recommend you be guided by Brady's own assessments of each wood. Alternatively pick the one you like the look of best and you'll probably do fine.