Brad Wilk, in the initial episode of Lauten Audio's 'Snare' series, showcases his affection for three esteemed vintage snare drums.
In the world of rock music, the drums often serve as the heartbeat of a song. For Brad Wilk, the drummer behind Rage Against the Machine and Black Sabbath, his choice of snare drums has played a significant role in shaping the sound of these iconic bands.
One of Wilk's favourites is the Pearl Free Floating Brass snare drum, a piece of equipment he notably reminisced about in a recent TikTok episode [1]. This brass snare drum, purchased on the instruction of producer Garth 'GGGarth' Richardson, is likely part of the kit he used during his work with Rage Against the Machine, as he used a 14"x6.5" Pearl Free Floating Brass snare drum for the recording of the band's debut album [4].
During his time with Rage Against the Machine, Wilk also extensively employed drums from Gretsch USA Custom Drumkits. While the exact snare models for the albums are not detailed, this Gretsch setup is closely associated with his sound in that period [4].
For Black Sabbath’s album "13" (2013), Wilk is known to have used similar brass snare drums and possibly custom or vintage snares, consonant with his established preference for brass snares [1].
Another notable snare drum in Wilk's arsenal is the Ludwig Black Beauty. The 6.5"-deep model of this snare drum is known for its beefy, yet still bright performance. Wilk used a 14"x6.5" Ludwig Black Beauty snare drum for the recording of Black Sabbath's final studio album, 13 [4].
Interestingly, the Tama Bell Brass snare drum, which Wilk used for the recording of Rage Against the Machine's second album, Evil Empire, is not made of brass as its name suggests, but of bronze. The shells of this snare drum were machined down from 12mm thickness to 3mm [2].
The Tama Bell Brass snare drum was rented from the Drum Doctor (Ross Garfield) [3]. Lauten Audio's Snare mic, a microphone designed specifically for use on snare drums, was likely used to capture the sound of these drums during recording sessions. This microphone features a huge 28dB off-axis rejection, focusing on capturing more detail in the snare drum while rejecting other parts of the kit [5].
The Pearl Free Floating range is designed around the concept of not having any hardware mounted to the shell, allowing for interchangeable shells by simply removing the hoops [6]. This feature is particularly useful for drummers like Wilk who like to experiment with different sounds.
In summary, Brad Wilk favours brass snare drums, with the Pearl Free Floating Brass snare drum and Ross's Pearl Free Floating Brass snare drum being his most notable favourites. He has also used a Gretsch USA Custom drumkit during his Rage Against the Machine era. The direct linkage of particular snare drums to specific albums is not fully detailed, but these are the confirmed favourite models and associated equipment from his most documented setups [1][4].
References: 1. TikTok Episode 2. Search Results 3. Search Results 4. Search Results 5. Lauten Audio Product Information 6. Pearl Product Information
Brad Wilk's choice of snare drums, such as the Pearl Free Floating Brass, has significantly contributed to the signature sounds of both Rage Against the Machine and Black Sabbath. During live performances and studio sessions, he often plays indulging music with these brass snare drums, delivering a unique rhythm that resonates as the heartbeat of the tunes.
