DW Drum Workshop Collector's Series 14" x 6,5" Black Nickel Over Brass

A Brass Snare Drum in the Collector's Range

This DW Collector's Black Nickel Over Brass joins a range designed to cover a broad palette of sonic needs. It relies on a classic recipe: a thin brass shell, here dressed in black nickel finishing that gives it a sober yet distinctive visual identity. Its position is that of a versatile snare drum, capable of delivering a characteristic metallic color without being limited to a single musical genre.

Rather than seeking an unusual sound, this version draws on the familiar brass timbre found in studio recordings. DW hardware complements this approach with several adjustment options, allowing you to adapt the instrument's response to your touch and playing context.

Who is this snare drum for?

This acoustic snare drum is particularly suited to intermediate and advanced drummers looking for an expressive central voice in their kit. Experienced musicians will also find it an alternative to a wooden snare drum, especially when they want more brightness and a sharper attack. It works equally well as a main instrument or as a complementary color in a studio collection.

Its character can serve rock, pop, funk or more nuanced arrangements. For powerful grooves, it delivers a clear presence; in a more restrained playing style, its thin shell allows you to explore lighter strokes. The choice of heads, snare wire tension and tuning remain decisive in shaping the result toward an open, dry or more controlled sound.

Settings Designed Around Your Playing

The 1 mm rolled brass shell forms the heart of this configuration. It is paired with 3 mm True Hoops, which contribute to head stability and the instrument's behavior under the stick. The 14-inch diameter by 6.5-inch depth provides a familiar foundation for exploring different tunings and balances between attack and body.

The MAG throw-off engages or disengages the snare wires, while the 5P five-position counterpart provides several tension settings. This allows you to adjust the snare wire response to suit each song. TruePitch 50 tension rods complete the package for fine-tuning. Customizing the hardware color through the DW Custom Shop depends on the available options, without imposing a single presentation.

The Sound

The brass gives this snare drum clear brightness and an incisive attack, with a distinctly pronounced metallic character. Unlike an approach centered on woody warmth, it emphasizes a luminous presence and a strong ability to cut through the full instrumental mix. This is an appealing character when the snare drum needs to remain articulate among guitars, keyboards and cymbals.

The 6.5-inch depth provides body behind the impact without overshadowing the metal's brightness. Tuned higher, it can emphasize clarity and tension; in a lower register, it leaves more room for the weight of each stroke. Resonance time and the quantity of overtones will also depend on the chosen heads and muffling: a foundation to shape rather than a fixed sound.

Technical specifications

Category	metal	Depth	6.5 "
Material	brass	Color	Black
Design	1 mm	Finishing	Glossy
Diameter	14 "	Hardware	Chromed

Type	acoustic snare drum	Snare throw-off	MAG
Brand	DW	Hoops	True Hoops
Series	Collector's Series	Hoop thickness	3 mm
Model	Black Nickel Over Brass	Snare butt plate	5P five-position
Shell material	rolled brass	Tension rods	TruePitch 50
Shell thickness	1 mm	Hardware customization	colors available among the options offered by the DW Custom Shop