I had a bunch of friends rave about these snare drums for a while. I really didn't know what I was missing until I finally got to play one. And boy was I sold. It's a simple design, 1.5mm steel shells.They come in a bunch of depth and head size options. For some reason these things just sound amazing. Over the past few years I've gotten to know Jim Beier, He is just one of the kindest, most generous humans I've met.
The top snare is a 4"x 15" model. I know it looks like a piccolo snare. But, it has so much body, warmth and crack you would never guess a drum this shallow is generating that sound. It is one of my favorites.
The bottom snare is a "One-Off" drum that Jim built for a close friend. I ended up trading for this drum. And I'm happy I did. It's a 6.5" x 14" with black nickel hardware and die cast hoops. It has a unique yet familiar sound to it. It's a heavy drum which makes me want to hit it hard. But, it really sounds great when you finesse it a little bit. All the best tones and characteristics come shining through.
Go check out all the Beier Snares and pick one out.