When I first started using my First Act drum kit in 2006, I got frustrated quickly with the 12” snare that came with the kit. It just wasn’t quite loud enough to cut through and be heard. I brought in my standard-sized 14” Ludwig Vistalite snare to replace it -- after all, a 14” snare moves 36% more air than a 12” snare when hit at the same intensity. But I quickly found that while the Ludwig was louder, the little 12” First Act was higher-pitched and snappier -- again because of the smaller head. For a while I used both snares on the kit, switching to the First Act when I needed that brighter sound for a dynamic or textural change. But again, the difference in volume between one snare and another was a problem.

A piccolo snare usually uses standard 14” drum heads, but makes some changes to the shell to give the drum a higher resonant pitch. Some common techniques include using metal for the shell body instead of wood or acrylic; and reducing the height of the drum from the standard 5 or 6 inches. As I began my search for a piccolo snare, I generally found that they tended to run a bit more than a standard snare of the same overall quality, usually in the range of a couple hundred dollars. I decided to wait a bit and save up my rubles until I had extra money for what was essentially an accessory instrument.

One morning, though, as I checked my usual online haunts, Musician’s Friend was clearing out a low-priced Pulse piccolo snare (MSRP about $60) for just $29. Even though I know Pulse was a budget and student brand not known for making the highest-quality instruments, it wasn’t as if I’d spent top dollar on my First Act kit in the first place. Besides, $29 was about 1/8 the price I’d seen on more respected brands.

The Pulse snare is 3.5” high, with a medium gauge steel shell. The bearing edges are smooth and free of any burrs or sharp edges that might damage the heads. The resonant pitch of the snare is about a fifth above my Ludwig, and I might be able to tune it up about another third above that. It uses a standard 14” head, so I’ll be able to use my perennial favorite Remo Ambassadors and match the response I’m used to. In the meantime, the stock Pulse head isn’t so bad. The natural sound has a resounding “ring” to it, but a Remo Studio Ring helps keep that under control.

In most circumstances, I probably won’t use both snares set up at once like I had done with the smaller First Act snare -- I like to keep a small footprint onstage. But it will be nice to be able to switch out the Ludwig and the Pulse snares for studio recordings, or use the Pulse as a stand-alone snare drum for percussion effects.

All told, I could easily have spent a lot more money on a piccolo snare, and I’d probably notice quite a difference if I played one of the higher-dollar models. But for less than thirty bucks, I’ve got a perfectly usable snare drum. It’s hard to find a snare stand for less than that.

By the way, I wound up giving my First Act 12” snare to my friend Ernest Bach, a master percussionist who’s always looking for a unique sound. For him, the 12” snare works perfectly in a small practice room, or as an extra snare “just in case.”