Quick-Release on-off snare lever
Triple-flanged hoops
4 mini tube-style lugs
Ebony LP drum head
Mounts on either a 3/8'' to 1/2'' rod
List price-$170
Have you ever done a percussion gig where you wish you had a freaking tiny timbale that doubles as a snare? The folks at Latin Percussion have heard your cries and answered them! They already have a long standing history with innovation in the percussion and drum community. Their best selling Black Beauty cowbell is the most recorded cowbell in history. (cue "Don't Fear The Reaper" and Christopher Walken joke) They basically took on of their already popular mini timbales and added a small snare throwoff connected to a braid of snare wire approximately 5'' long that is pushed against the underside of the ebony heads. Its a pretty smart idea in my opinion and allows for a ton of really neat texture possibilities. So lets see how this joker sounds.
At first glance, it looks like a mini timbale with a thin ebony head. Upon further examination(which means at least hitting it with a stick) you notice a fairly dry snare sound. Disclaimer: this snare is not meant to replace your main axe of choice. This is meant as an alternative sound soursce on your kit or percussion rig. At lower tunings with the snares in the off position, the timbale tone was pronounced. It could easily be incorporated on any drummers kit as a unique sound for a super long Neil Peart-style roll. I did however notice that at tensions north of medium, the drum quickly began to choke. I don't blame this on LP but on the size of the drum. Theres a reason why the legendary timbaleros relied on drums normally ranging in the 13" to 15" range. The larger sizes are very versatile. Also, when playing most timbale patterns, your aiming more for edge and rimshot strokes so the small 8" diameter makes the target area very small. And you aren't gonna be able to be able to get the traditional cascara sound on this little guy. Even with the low profile tube-style lugs, it would take some seriously skilled and well aimed strokes to hit what little of the shell is exposed. BUT, this drum does offer some great tones that could easily fit in most percussion settings. So in my opinion, when left purely as a timbale, keep the tension low to mid. OK, on to the snare sound.
When i first played it with the snares engaged, the sound reminded me of when ive played the snareside of my snare drum goofing around. Super articulate and very dry. My personal preference for snare wire tension is mid loose because i do a LOT of ghost notes. I feel that an overly tightened set of snares completely chokes the natural sound of a snare. And if I had to compare the only ON snare setting this drum offers, the snares would be mid-tight. Because of its size and the relatively thin head that comes with it, this is best suited for a softer touch. I would also like to mention that the fairly lightweight throw-off mechanism can be locked in either an on or off position. With a simple turn of the wrist, you can go from 808 to timbale or visa-versa. Finesse is the best way of fully enjoying what this snare has to offer. In other words, heavy-hitters would have a hard time not choking this drum out. The dead-center hits sounded pretty flat so i'd focus more on off-center and edge strokes.
I wouldn't suggest this snare for styles outside of Hip-hop, Gospel, Fusion, Drum & Bass, and Jazz. Oh, and an unplugged gig like at a coffee shop or a small room. If you do decide to use one of these on your kit in a normal amplified situation, try and get a mic on it or else it would get lost in the mix. The provided head does hold up but I could see it needing to be replaced after a few months of steady usage. Its thinner than average thickness would pit up something fierce over time. BUT, I would be cautious when changing the head. The thickness of the head they provided was closer to a snare-side head than a batter so im sure that the snare sensitivity would greatly decrease with say, a two-ply head. The sensitivity was definitely a factor when LP decided on the thin head they used. So if you decided to change out the head, i'd stick with a one-ply head. And since a clear head would make the snares visible, a coated or ebony head would be more visually pleasing.
I mean, its not often that you see an 8" snare these days. Even in the Keller companies out there, most would be hesitant to make one. With its neutral steel shell and low profile tube-style lugs, its at home with pretty much any setup. LP has made a very interesting percussion instrument that im glad i got to try out. I could easily see myself finding places to incorporate it into one of my lower volume/unplugged setups.
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