Sorry to disappoint the fans of X Japan and Loudness, this is all about the vintage heavy 10 lug steel shell snare drums made in Japan. These snares are often overlooked in the MIJ drum world because of all of the great wrapped wood snares overshadowing them, but these drums have their place as well, especially if you rock!
All three of these snares share the same dimensions of 5” x 14”, they have steel shells, and have ten lugs.
The Hoshino Professional is possibly the newest of the bunch made in the late 70’s to 1983. It comes in at 8lbs. 1.6 oz, it features a three-line steel shell, solid two-point strainer, the Hoshino 04 snare lugs (fashioned after the Rogers Beavertail), a standard butt plate, a standard tone control, and triple flange hoops.
This style Hoshino snare drum could be found with stencil badges as well. Maya had this model snare with its badge mimicking Hoshino’s.
This badge was used by Hoshino from the late 70’s until they shut down in 83. Note that “JAPAN” in the far right corner is barely legible due to its small size.
Next is the Pearl Deluxe (4414). Made around 1980, this snare comes in at 7 lbs. 15.6oz. making it the lightest of the bunch. It features a two line steel shell, the Gladstone strainer, an adjustable butt plate (simple version), a tone control, the C-053 lugs (nicknamed Casket or Coffin lugs), and triple flange hoops.
Note that this model was made for the Pearl brand would not be found with a stencil kit.
This version Pearl badge was used from approximately 75 until 81
The last of the bunch is the earliest, possibly made around 1964 by Star. It comes in at whopping 8lbs. 15.5oz. making it the heaviest of the bunch. This rare 3 line steel shell heavily resembles Slingerland brass snares of the 60’s and 70’s. It features the 940 Super Strainer, 941 Fast Tension Snare Bracket (butt plate), a 939 One Touch Tone Control, the 923 Sonor styled lugs, and the early Stick-Saver hoops, which Star used from their start in 61 through 64.
Star’s 941 Fast Tension Snare Bracket was most often paired with the 940 Super Strainer.
The One Touch Tone Control was used beyond Star’s end in 74, Tama kept it through the 70’s.
This particular drum arrived to me unbadged, but this is the proper Star badge for this period snare drum, or it could have easily been a stencil badged drum as well.
If I were to join a Japanese heavy Metal band which one would I use? I would go with the Hoshino Professional. Overall the drums are very equal sonically, but Hoshino’s two-point strainer is the one I trust the most. Pearl’s Gladstone strainer works well, but the end of the throw mechanism is fragile, I have seen many broken ones, and heavy hitting a Star drum with this type strainer can cause it to disengage or make the handle unscrew.
Which one is my favorite? I’m going Star all the way, I LOVE Stick-Saver hoops and it’s nice to have an adjustable butt plate, not to mention the Sonor styled lugs just look cool. Just use a hair tie on the strainer handle to keep it in place.
You can’t go wrong with any of these drums, they all have their thing and they all can rock!