Arbiter Snare Drum Snare Strainer (Throw-Off) – NOS! Rare!

Arbiter Snare Drum Snare Strainer (Throw-Off) – NOS! Rare!

You never know what treasures you’ll find when you clean out your studio. Check this out: an Arbiter Snare Drum Snare Strainer (Throw-Off)! And it is New Old Stock! Never been used!

This was once the stock snare throw-off for the famous Arbiter Autotune Snare Drum. The Arbiter Autotune was one of the most innovative snare drums ever made, rare enough when they came on the scene in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Alas, Ivor Arbiter’s brilliant single-screw tuning system was a little too hip for the likes of disco and big hair. (If you’ve managed to squirrel one away, count yourself lucky indeed!)

This NOS snare strainer, as you can see, is not only in impeccable shape, but it’s built like a tank! Ah, British steel and chrome, nothing like it! Heavy. Solid. No-nonsense engage-and-release mechanism with an impressive tension range. None of your total-crap-Pacific-Rim construction here.

While this may have been built for the Arbiter, keen eyes will note a similarity of design with various other high-end makes of the day. (If you’re gonna copy, copy the best, right?) This strainer work with just about any snare drum 5" deep or more, regardless of make or shell material. Mounting screw holes are 38mm on center.

And if you’re an Arbiter collector – good luck finding another one of these anywhere!