Arbiter Review: 14" x 5" Maple AT Snare Drum

History: Former full time professional drummer with road and recording time. Background in dance and lounge, country, rock and lots of Holiday Inn time. Currently involved with big band and swing along with light combo work and occasional play and musical peformances. Nw more for fun and not for profit.

Purchase: The Arbiter AT snare drum was listed on Ebay. I have been interested in the Arbiter system since I had first read about it. The simplicity of tuning and the ease of changing heads was very attractive. I paid less than $130.00 dollars from a dealer that was clearing out old stock that hadn't moved. The unit was a demo that sat in a drum shop for a long time an attracted little attention.

What I Like About This Arbiter 14" x 5" Maple AT Snare Drum: I was pleasantly surprised when the snare drum arrived. It was near mint condition with very light stick marks and very clean. Having a single lug per head to tune the drum couldn't be simpler. A simple adjustment to the snare alignment was all that was needed. This drum is amazing! Extremely sensitive and articulate at quiet levels yet can drive at loud volumes without chocking. the snare cuts and records well with minimal processing and the ease of adjustment is extremely welcome in a recording setting where time is money

What I Do NOT Like About The Arbiter 14" x 5" Maple AT Snare Drum: The tuning is limited in the sense that i don't think I would attempt a piccolo tight. I think the hardware would take it but the tension needed would be extreme. Because of the design, head seating is critical in order to get a balanced tuning. I use Remo heads and have not had any problems. Also the torque required to tighten the head is quite high. The key that comes with the drum helps to minimize this. A standard key would be very hard to use to get to medium tension

Arbiter 14" x 5" Maple AT Snare Drum Quality Rating: Arbiter has done a first rate job in following through with a design concept and taking it to market. All aspects of the drum that I have seen have been excellent from the shell, the snare beds, and the hardware. Very nice chrome and finish. A very unique design which is aesthetically pleasing and visually clean. It just looks nice!

Review Summary: A great drum in certain formats that may not fit everyone's taste or needs. But for those whose tastes fit the drum, a fine instrument that will offer a unique appearance and a quality sound. Out of all of the snare drums that I own, This is in the top 10.

Rating of this Arbiter product: 5

This Arbiter 14" x 5" Maple AT Snare Drum Drums Percussion Review Submitted By: ddrummer

Review Date: 2006-03-13