SAKAE TRILOGY 14 X 5.5 SNARE DRUM VINTAGE CLUB OYSTER
Sakae is the Japanesse drum builder who up until 2013 exclusively produced Yamaha's high end drums. In 2013 Yamaha and Sakae parted company and Sakae decided to go it alone making drums under their own name. The Trilogy was the first series Sakae brought to market and this is a different beast to anything that could have possibly been predicted.
The Trilogy is based on the thin shell formats from the great USA drum builders back in the 60's. The 3 ply shell is a Maple/Poplar/Maple sporting 60 degree bearing edges and 6 ply reinforcement rings on the Snare Drums. Excluding the Rerings, these shells are some of the thinest out there (around 3mm)
Another retro feature that really adds to the tone is the inner grey/silver paint (similar to the Gretsch Silver Sealer) this isn't a new approach from Sakae, inner painted shells was a big part of the Yamaha Recording Custom, another legendary drum kit realised by the Sakae factory.
Like kits from the 60's the Trilogy is currently offered in a range of stunning wrap finishes, the 'light weight' lugs are beautifully designed and extremely well chromed.
Sonically this Snare is everything you would imagine, it is one of the closest experiences you could have to playing a true vintage 60's drum, the tone is dark, the sound is round and controlled, it can give you that 70's rock vibe or that 60's R'n'B dry feel. They also feel great to play, I personally think it has a lot to do with the bearing edges and I think that is also why lots of drummers love the vibe of the older 60/70's era snares.