Archetype Snares snares are arguably the loudest, most sensitive, and tonal wood snares that you will ever hear. Every Archetype Series Snare comes with a laundry list of high-end features that all work together to make what we believe is the best-sounding, best-looking, and most versatile snare on the market.

Walnut is Hendrix's most popular wood choice. It is beautiful and sounds even better. It is 30% softer than maple, giving it a warm tone, low fundamental note, and lots of body. This makes for an exceptional deep and punchy rock snare or you can tune it up for a cutting full bodied jazz or fusion snare.

The foundation for the drum is the 14" wide by 6" deep by 1/4" thick (6.35mm) solid stave shell. The 6" depth allows the drum to tune well in the low, mid, and high register. 6" deep snares have become very popular over the past several years for those reasons. The thin shell wall allows the drum to be open and resonant with a very large tuning range, and because the shell is solid stave, the sensitivity, responsiveness, projection, and tone are all as good as it gets.

Every Archetype snare is equipped with S-Hoops on top and bottom. S-Hoops bring the best aspects of flanged hoops and die-cast hoops together. They are rolled steel, like flanged hoops, so they are naturally resonant and allow the drum to remain very open and full bodied. They are also rigid like a die-cast hoop, so they generate loud cracking rim shots and cross sticks, but don't weigh down and choke the drum like a die-cast hoop would. Many major brands are trying to mimic the S-Hoop with their own versions, and for good reason, but the S-Hoop still remains the best.

The small, single-point HD lug is machined from solid aluminum, as opposed to being cast from steel as most lugs are. The solid aluminum body allows vibrations to pass through the lugs very easily, resulting in an overall more resonant drum. They are also very lightweight, so the shell is not weighed down allowing the drum to resonate more freely. And they only require one small hole to be drilled into the shell for mounting. Also, each lug is plated with decorative chrome that looks great and adds strength and protection to the aluminum body. The threaded insert also floats in the lug body allowing it to be adjusted toward or away from the shell while remaining parallel to the shell body. This ensures perfect tension rod alignment regardless of head seating.

Each Archetype Snare drum has the timeless vintage 30-degree round-over bearing edge. The 30-degree inner cut gives the drum attack and crack, while the small round-over counter cut gives the drum a warm tone while allowing the drum to remain very open and resonant.

Archetype snares are available in two types of finishes, mirror gloss and satin.