When it comes to iconic snare drums, Ludwig is the brand that immediately comes to mind. Ludwig snares like the Supraphonic, introduced in 1958, and Black Beauty, introduced in 1920, are still among the most desirable snares to play or record within the studio.
While both snare drums are held in high regard by drummers, they possess distinct differences that make each unique and special in their own way.
In this article, I'll share my personal experience using both snares on different occasions. I'd bought the former myself and was gifted the latter by an elder brother quite a while ago.
I've used both for both live sets with my band and our studio sessions. So you can say that I have plenty of experience with both the Supraphonic and the Black Beauty.
Supraphonic
Black Beauty
Supraphonic
Shell
Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 - the aluminum shell looks and feels absolutely spot on!
Ludwig’s Supraphonic snare features a seamless, beaded aluminum shell that delivers a bright, crisp note, with a quick decay. The 1.7mm aluminum shell makes the snare highly responsive to input, allowing for a wide range of dynamic expressions.
The snare has a classic look, with a chrome-plated shell and tube lugs that give it a timeless appeal. It’s exactly the image most people think of when they think of a snare drum. And it's also the image that I used to dream of, prompting me to eventually get it. Being a huge Bonham fan also helped push me in the Supraphonic's direction!
Sound
The Supraphonic's legendary sound has made it a mainstay of their snare catalog for well over 50 years, and for good reason. What drummers (including me) absolutely love about the Supraphonic is its lightning-fast response and hypersensitivity. It fit right in the sound of my Ludwig Classic Maple kit.
Its wide tuning range is another praiseworthy feature. If you experiment with muting enough, this snare can fit in almost any genre of music.
Ludwig’s Supraphonic carries with it quite the accolade. The Supraphonic is in fact the most recorded snare drum in the history of music! Specifically speaking, that would be the Supraphonic LM400 model.
The LM400 is widely considered to be the “gold standard” of snare drums. It is in fact the snare drum that all other manufacturers try to replicate at some point but, with little success honestly.
Strainer
Ludwig's Supraphonic snare features their legendary P85 strainer which is known for its smooth operation and reliable performance.
Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 comes with Ludwig's legendary P85 strainer.
Playability
My old Supraphonic (LM402)
After first getting my Supraphonic, I continued using the stock head for quite a long time. It's not unexpected from a snare costing this much, but it was indeed a breath of fresh air coming from cheaper snares that all pretty much come with sub-par stock heads.
The Supraphonic offers an unmatched rebound. The kind of bounce on offer definitely puts a smile on my face every time I start playing it.
The Supraphonic is an ideal tool for those who play fast-paced music styles like jazz and funk, and its bright tone and sensitivity have made it a favorite of drummers like Steve Gadd and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Famously John Bonham would use the Supraphonic LM402 on most if not all of Led Zeppelin’s recordings and live performances. The LM402 has a distinct crack sound that can be recognized by listeners everywhere.
Black Beauty
Shell
Brass shell of the Black Beauty.
The appropriately named Ludwig Black Beauty used to feature a rather ornate brass shell in the early days of its production. It’s since been simplified but maintains an elegant appearance worthy of its name.
Black Beauty snare shells are made from 1.2mm brass and then wrapped in dark nickel plating. Hence the name, “Black Beauty”.
You will notice some variety in the finish as some shells have smooth dark nickel plating and others look dimpled. The dimpling is from a hand-hammering process used when finishing the shell.
Sound
The Black Beauty produces a deeper, more resonant sound with a drawn-out sustain that sort of floats in the air, filling those empty spaces. Black Beauty’s sonic qualities make it an ideal choice for drummers that play slower music stylings like ballads and power ballads.
For a monster-sized sound and a fat-cutting tone, you cannot go wrong with a Ludwig Black Beauty snare. The difference in shell material (aluminum for the Supraphonic and brass for the Black Beauty) does contribute considerably in their tonal differences, just like what you'd expect.
Strainer
The Black Beauty snare drum also features Ludwig's P85 strainer, which ensures smooth and reliable snare wire engagement.
The Black Beauty also comes with Ludwig's P85 strainer.
Playability
The Black Beauty snare drums are responsive and sensitive, with excellent projection and a warm, full-bodied tone that makes it an ideal choice for studio and live performances alike. The response isn't as cut-throat-quick as with the Supraphonic, but I found it's still fairly good.
I actually prefer using this over the Supraphonic in the studio, most of the time. You can call it a personal preference, but its extra warmth and oomph in the tone just feels something special, and makes this snare a special one for me.
You can enjoy a similarly wide range of tuning with this snare as well, although, again, extremely low tunings would require you to play with dampening.
It is no exaggeration to say that Black Beauty can do it all. From rock, pop, country, funk, metal, whatever you play the Black beauty can be tuned in to fit into any genre.
Which Snare Should You Pick?
When comparing the Supraphonic and Black Beauty, you must keep in mind, both drums have distinct advantages depending on the musical style to which they are applied.
Whichever drum you choose will ultimately come down to personal preference or if you are chasing a specific tonal quality to fit a song.
As a drummer, you should always be considering what they can do or what they can use in order to make their performance sound the best it can. At the end of the day, the snare is both an instrument and a tool that allows you to get the job done. Choosing the right snare or “tool” can make all the difference in the world.
If you're a drummer who plays in a band that requires a fast and responsive snare drum then the Supraphonic is a great choice for you. If you’re a drummer who plays a lot of slower music and needs to fill some of that open air with some sweet resonant sound, then Black Beauty should be the choice for you.
My favorite snare is the “super Ludwig” I picked one up back in 2019 and fell in love with it! So now it’s my go to snare drum.
Not trying to be a smartass here. I’ve always understood that hammered snares are mechanically done during production and not “hand hammered” as some cymbals are. It’d be great to know if that is so or I’m misinformed.
Johnny B