My collection of almost 50 snares is rather modest by some standards, probably only a few would qualify as vintage. But I do have a few rare, seldom-seen pieces, and my de Mowbray Spacer snare is no exception. I spotted the shell-less snare in a drum shop in London while vacationing there in 2000. The guys at the shop knew nothing about the drum, which didn't strike me as odd until I returned home and then learned that de Mowbray's studio was in London!

Drummer, designer, and manufacturer Marcus de Mowbray is best known for introducing Tour Timps in 1991, which soon became one of the world's best selling timpani. In the mid-'90s, he started making Spacer snares - loosely based on the counter-hoop of the Tour Timp - and eventually began making entire Spacer kits. de Mowbray also created some radical designs for portability including a DrumCar, and a Busker Kit which is a square-headed, fold-down kit that travels like a suitcase on wheels.

The snare itself is 5x14, the counter-hoops appear to be cast aluminum and are held apart by brass 'spacers', yet the weight is fairly modest. It's a loud drum, as might be expected for having no shell, yet the heads resonate well and the drum is far from dry. The counter-hoop is about 1/8" thick where it contacts the head, with a rounded bearing edge, resulting in a surprisingly sensitive sound and feel for a wide-open drum. Although I keep clear heads on it for display purposes, this snare really rocks with a coated 2-ply like the Evans SuperTough.

Shortly after I bought the snare, I exchanged a few emails with Marcus and he explained that only about 30 of them had been made, mine being among the last at #27. Judging by his web site, nothing new has come out of his studio since the late '90s, making this snare as rare as it is unusual.