Ok... so we get a room full of us and we'll start to talk, and then disagree, and start to fume and fuss. I'm having an imaginary conversation about the topic above. "What was the first modern snare drum?"

On the one hand, shouldn't Leedy get credit for their solid shells or for the 2 screw lug? But shouldn't Ludwig get credit for the best early strainer? What about Duplex and their separate tension design? What about Gretsch and their early laminated shells?

In this imaginary conversation, I really want to focus on 1929 and the birth of the first modern lug. Leedy designer Cecil Strupe had built the 2 and 4 screw lugs and each was, what I like to call, a "semi self aligning lug". To combat the problems with cross threading, Strupe designed lug nuts- the threaded metal tubes which would now be able to move a little inside the lug casing. These tubes received the Leedy drum rods.

But by 1930, Leedy Sales Manager George Way had designed the system used in the X lug. A small brass colored spring was placed between the lug nuts or tubes. The spring held the lug nuts but also allowed them greater freedom to swivel.

From that point forward, drum companies began using springs, C clips or rubber inserts. These methods allowed tuning without cross threading and standardization for the industry.

So my vote for the first modern snare drum was the initial series Broadway from Leedy Manufacturing.

What do you think?

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