Here we have something a little bit extra special. We ordered this drum a while ago asking N&C for the exact colour, shell, size and hoop specifications used by none other than Phil Collins. Phil has been a long time user of N&C snare drums and he can be seen often with either an Ivory or Piano Black Piccolo to match up with his Gretsch drum kit. Phil’s son Nic has carried on the family tradition also using a variety of N&C Solid Shell snares.

ABOUT THE SOLID SHELL MAPLE

Striking a perfect combination of elegance and resonance, The N&C SS Classic snare drum is a tried and true go-to for artists everywhere. As Noble & Cooley’s first product in the professional drum arena, the SS Classic solidified their reputation as the leading manufacturer and original maker of The World’s Best Drums. These snare drums were the first steam-bent, solid shell drums of the modern era. They have been used on countless recordings since their introduction in the early 1980s and continue to be the instruments of choice by professional players today.  

1/4" solid Maple is hand-picked for grain consistency and run through a steam bending process dating back to the Civil War. N&C's single ply shells vibrate more freely than the multi-ply shells commonly used, giving the SS classic its warmth and legendary bite. 

N&C's snare system is the combination of the snares, the throw-off, and the snare beds, all their snares come with Noble & Cooley patented cam action snare wires designed to allow tight tensioning without choking the bottom. These vibrate beautifully at medium and loose tensions, and can be tuned up or down as needed. The N&C brass throw-off is smooth and simple, allowing the snare wires to be engaged or disengaged easily.

Nodal Point technology is Noble & Cooley’s very own patent. By placing the lug post at the nodal point of the shell’s natural wavelength, N&C drums ensure that the intrinsic tone-creating vibration is unaffected by the mass of the lug. Instead of all drumhead sound, the shell itself adds to the ultimate tone of the drum.

The bearing edge is the point of contact between the shell and the drumhead. The accuracy of this bearing edge determines the drums tone and tunability. SS Classic Snare Drum edges are lathed to create maximum resonance and projection. True to 1/10,000th of an inch, these artfully customized drums have hand cut bearing edges that are checked twice on a machinist's grade granite flat, ensuring consistent pitch.

Since 1983 the SS Classic in maple is still the industry standard for its versatility.  Solid maple is a resonant wood with rich, warm tones and great sustain.

• 14 x 3.875 SS Classic Maple Piccolo Snare Drum

• 1/4" Solid Maple Shell

• Finished in Ivory Lacquer

• Chrome Diecast Hoops fitted as standard

• SS Classic Gold Badge

• Nodal Point Brass Lugs

• N&C Brass Throw Off

• N&C Cam Action Lever Snare Wire

• Hand Made and Custom Built by N&C in America

More About N&C.

We are very proud here at Drumazon to be exclusively representing Noble & Cooley Drums in the UK. This is a brand that we have all been life long fans of and it is an absolute privilege to be stocking these drums.

Noble and Cooley started in 1854 and are now being ran by the 6th and 7th generations of the Cooley Family.  By the mid 1980's N&C were in the beginning stages of leading what would become the 'Custom Drum Movement', offering new pioneering approaches to drum design and finishing. Products started to come thick and fast such as the Solid Shell Kits & Snares (SS Series) , the Star series drums which probably were the worlds first short depth toms and the Horizon series offered up the original hybrid shell, all ideas way ahead of their time that are now imitated by many other brands. All these drums offered more innovations such as nodal point mounting, precise bearing edge design, symmetrical venting and furniture grade finishing.

If you haven't come across N&C drum sets, you probably have seen, played or heard one of their Snare Drums. Many professional drummers and recording studios have at least 1 or 2 N&C snares in their inventory. N&C offer some of the worlds finest Solid Shell, Ply Shell and Alloy Shells available, they also made a very famous snare in collaboration with Zildjian in the early 90's now in high demand on the vintage market.

The company is still located in Granville, Massachusetts, all their drums are hand made, hand finished and are built to last. Whether you buy a Kit or a Snare, Noble and Cooley drums will deliver pure joy! The way they play, the way they sound, the way they look, even the way N&C pack them, they are very special. These are drums from the worlds best drum makers that will hand down to future generations and continue what already is a great American Story.