It’s safe to say that there’s no shortage of snare drums competing for attention, but RT Custom Drums has taken a rather different approach. Based in Bridgend, South Wales, the company has been making custom drums since 2010, with a clear interest in finishes and designs that refuse to blend into the background.
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The two snares sent to Drummer’s Review demonstrate that approach straight away. Both have tonnes of visual character, although, they take very different routes in terms of sound and feel.
The first is a 12” x 7” birch snare with a pink and white split shell, custom splatter finish and powder coated hardware. It also features a powder coated Indy strainer, Evans heads and PureSound wires. The finish has a distinctly early 2000s pop punk feel, and it really is difficult to miss…It’s the sort of drum that will get attention before a single note has been played.
This snare has a fairly specific sweet spot. Tuned high, it produces a sharp, immediate attack, with plenty of crack and a surprising amount of projection for a 12″ drum. There is a tight, cutting quality that would sit comfortably in alternative and pop punk music. Lower the tuning and, sadly, much of that character disappears and becomes immediately flatter. This is a drum that seems happiest when it is cranked up.
The second snare is a 13” x 7” vented steel model, and it has a noticeably different personality. Its steel shell, venting and die cast hoops give it a harder, more aggressive response. The attack is pronounced and direct, while the extra inch of diameter brings more body to the sound. Compared with the birch snare, it feels bigger and nastier, with a character that should appeal to players looking for something that cuts through.
Both drums are priced at £450. With RT Custom Drums, part of the appeal is clearly the opportunity to own something that looks unlike a standard catalogue snare. The company produces custom finishes, powder coated hardware and individual designs, and has also explored more unusual ideas in the past. Some designs are made as one offs, so a drum spotted on the company’s website or Instagram may not be available for long.
There is plenty to like about the individuality on display here. Both snares look distinctive, feel like conversation starters and offer a strong visual identity. However, the honest reservation is that, in this case, the sounds do not quite match the impact of the finishes. The birch model has a clear preference for high tuning, while the steel snare brings a more forceful voice.
For drummers drawn to the look of early 2000s pop punk and emo, RT Custom Drums offers something refreshingly different. These are not designed to disappear into the kit. They are made to be noticed, and there is certainly no shortage of personality.
