WorldMax BLACK DAWG 5x14 Snare REVIEW - LONG
Mark Polis
After reading in John Aldridge's "Not So Modern Drummer's" last edition
about the Nashville Snare Drum Olympics and the fact that the WorldMax
"Black Dawg" snare drum came in so high for two consecutive years on the
blind and subjective rating scales (our own George 'DrumGuru' Lawrence
served as one of the judges), I decided to get one. 3rd place overall at
the 2000 & 1st in it's class at the 2001 Snare Drum Olympics.
These snare drums are Taiwanese replicas of the unengraved Ludwig
tube-lugged Black Beauties from a company called WorldMax. The Black Dawg
is a 5x14, the Black Hawg is a 6.5x14 and there's a 4x14 also - the Black
Pup. Black anodized nickel plated 1.2mm brass shell with center bead and
rolled bearing edge, single flanged chromed hoops with chromed hoop collars
(clips), chromed brass tube lugs (10 of 'em), vented, simple P-85 type
generic strainer and butt piece.
If you get them through our own Mike Radcliffe (a.k.a., -MIKE-), he selects
it all for you, lubes the strainer and tube lug threads, replaces the
tension rods with shorter ones so that they don't "bottom out" inside the
tube lugs at higher tensioning, and tweaks it up for you.
After some e-mauils back and forth with Mike, I bought one through him for
$279 with shipping. I had it in two days. Not a fingerprint on its
gorgeous reflective black anodized surface. I received it in my office and
my staff was ooh-ing and aah-ing at it as I lifted it out of the box.
(Damn, this day job interferes with my drumming fanaticism).
When I got home, I tried it out and immediately hated the stock WorldMax
heads which I swapped out for an Evans coated Genera G1 batter and a clear
300 mil Evans Genera snare side head. (The WorldMax batter felt like
someone's vinyl swimming pool cover.) Off also came the Taiwanese snare
wires, on went the 20-strand Puresound wires. Then I pealed off the cheapo
WorldMax badge which is glued (!) onto the shell beneath the vent and got
the glue gop off with Goof Off. It tuned up REAL easily, by the way.
That being done, try out was a delight. Candy to the eye, manna from heaven
to the ear. This sucker sounds as good as my 5x14 COB Supraphonic or 5x14
Gretsch 8-lug (Vinnie style) COB snare drum, no kidding. Sensitive, crisp,
responsive everywhere, perfect sustain with that pleasing brass macho
underbelly to its sound. It almost growls. Rim shots are fabulous, same for
cross stick/rim clicks, and no choking even on centered hits.
Those of you who think Pearl had something with their Steve Ferrone and
Sensitone snare drums better have a look at THESE. Their look and sound
KILLS those, and they cost LESS.
Can they compete with Dunnett Ti's or pre-serial number keystone badge
Ludwig COB's? Not quite. But seriously, dollar for dollar, these drums are
terrific. I can't yet say how they hold up over time.
Thank you, Mike Radcliffe - you're an ace. Long live RMMP.
--
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o-----´ç Mark Polis ç b.d...@suscom.net çª-----o
--
Mark Polis
I *meant* to say "...as good as my 5x14 (Ludalloy) Supraphonic...", and NOT
"...as good as my 5x14 COB Supraphonic...".
"Mark Polis" <b.d...@suscom.net> wrote in message
news:u78l3gb...@corp.supernews.com...
~~~SKIP~~~
ecnerwaL egroeG
bought one is that I already have two similar brass drums, one being a
4 x 14 1920's Ludwig 6 lug COB that Mike and I compared the Black Dawg
to. Very close.
"Mark Polis" <b.d...@suscom.net> wrote in message news:<u78l3gb...@corp.supernews.com>...
-MIKE-
> bought one is that I already have two similar brass drums, one being a
> 4 x 14 1920's Ludwig 6 lug COB that Mike and I compared the Black Dawg
> to. Very close.
>
Yes, I remember that. Strikingly similar.
-MIKE-
--
http://mikedrums.com
mi...@mikedrums.com or hit 'reply'
-MIKE-
> heads which I swapped out for an Evans coated Genera G1 batter and a clear
> 300 mil Evans Genera snare side head. (The WorldMax batter felt like
> someone's vinyl swimming pool cover.)
This just goes to show what different tastes people have. :-) I
really thought you might like those heads. I love to play the Dawg
and Hawg with the stock heads. I think they sound great. No, the
coating isn't quite up to par with an Aquarian Satin Finish, but I
think they are actually very sensitive.
> Off also came the Taiwanese snare wires, on went the 20-strand Puresound
> wires. Then I pealed off the cheapo WorldMax badge which is glued (!)
> onto the shell beneath the vent and got the glue gop off with Goof Off.
This should be of encouragement to you guys who are on the fence
about these drums, because you don't want your buddies seeing this
weird "World Max" logo on your "Black Beauty." :-) The labels
come right off. Heck, I'll even pre-remove them for you. :-)
Thanks for the honest review, Mark. No, it doesn't come with high
end heads or Puresounds, but it's an incredible sounding and looking
drum for under 3 bills.
tony kujawa
> Sensitone snare drums better have a look at THESE.
Now you're really making me regret not seeing Rob's sooner. I may just have
to off my Ferrone (which I love) for one of these.
Tony
Soulbelly
can you give me some general similarities/differences between this drum and a
ludwig black beauty? i own one of those, and wouldn't mind getting rid of it
in favor of the pup/dawg/hawg.
peace,
nick
http://www.cdbaby.com/soulbelly
http://www.trueline.com/endorse/amoroso.html
"...herds of wild felt hogs roaming the countryside" - muffinhead
-----
O O O O
O O O
O O O
O yes, they'll O know we are Christians
O O O by the fish on our cars.
O O O
O O O O
-MIKE-
>
> can you give me some general similarities/differences between this drum
> and a ludwig black beauty? i own one of those, and wouldn't mind getting
> rid of it in favor of the pup/dawg/hawg.
>
I've never done an A/B test, so I can't speak first hand about the
sonic differences. But both have brass shells and brass lugs. The
BB shell is seamless, while the BD shell is welded. The Dawg has
brass hoops and clips, while the Beauty has regular triple flanged
hoops (from website).
All I know about the sound is the looks I get from engineers and
producers, when they hear it for the first time. :-)
JaKe
JaKe
BlueM0ZARK
Simple - Because DDSD doesn't recognize 13" snares as a *real* snare.
-MIKE-
>
> JaKe
>
They didn't make the Dawg series in 4 or 6.5 until the Dawgs did so
well. My guess is the more they get bugged about it, the sooner
they will make them. I bug Walt, every time I go to World Max USA.