Black Panther is not one snare sound in a choice of colours. Mapex uses the name for a varied family of drums, with different shell materials, dimensions, hoops and design ideas. That variety is the appeal, but names such as Nucleus, Hydro and Persuader do not tell you everything you need to know.
This guide brings together the named Black Panther snare models in Into Music's catalogue, including Design Lab and signature options. It is a guide to our selection, not a claim to cover every historical Black Panther ever made. Follow each product link for current availability and supplied specifications.
Choose the role before the model
Start with whether you need a main snare, a contrasting second drum or a compact auxiliary voice. Then compare diameter, depth and construction. Shell material is useful for building a shortlist, but heads, tuning, wires, hoops and your playing all contribute to the result.
A model name is not a genre restriction. Test quieter notes, backbeats and your usual techniques before deciding what works for your music.
Maple Black Panther snares
Razor: 14 x 5-inch maple
The Razor is a maple drum, despite the older wording in its URL. Its specification lists a six-ply, 6mm shell, triple-flanged hoops and staggered offset locking lugs. The shallower format is worth comparing directly with Venom rather than assuming depth alone determines the sound.
Venom: 14 x 5.5-inch maple
The Venom uses an eight-ply, 6.85mm maple shell, triple-flanged hoops and double-ended locking lugs. Its Arctic White finish distinguishes it visually; the shell and hardware differences give you the more useful comparison with Razor.
Heritage: 14 x 6-inch maple
The Heritage combines a five-ply maple shell with a White Strata lacquer finish. Include it if you want to compare another 14-inch maple configuration, without treating all maple drums as equivalent.
Solidus: 14 x 7-inch maple
The Solidus has an eleven-ply, 11mm maple shell and Sonic Saver hoops. Its deeper format and thicker shell make it a distinct design within this group. Check stand height and playing position as well as the sound.
Hydro: 13 x 7-inch maple
The Hydro combines a narrower diameter with a deep shell. The listing specifies six-ply, 5.1mm maple with 4mm walnut reinforcement rings and Sonic Saver hoops. It offers a different physical format from the 14-inch options, not simply a smaller version of Solidus.
Switchblade: 14 x 5.5-inch maple
The Switchblade adds another maple option in a familiar 14 x 5.5-inch format. Compare it with Venom on its own merits. Matching material and dimensions do not establish identical construction; ask us to confirm any detailed specification you need before ordering.
Walnut, mahogany and hybrid shells
Goblin: 12 x 5.5-inch walnut
The Goblin uses a six-ply, 5.1mm walnut shell with Sonic Saver hoops. Its 12-inch diameter makes it worth investigating for a compact main or additional voice, depending on your playing and positioning.
Scorpion: 14 x 5.5-inch mahogany
The Scorpion has an eight-ply, 8.9mm mahogany shell, Sonic Saver hoops and a Red Sand Strata wrap. It is a useful alternative to audition alongside the maple designs at a comparable size.
Pegasus: 14 x 5.5-inch maple/walnut
The Pegasus features a seven-ply, 6.15mm hybrid maple/walnut shell, Sonic Saver hoops and a Natural Maple Burl transparent gloss finish.
Nucleus: 14 x 5.5-inch maple/walnut/maple
The Nucleus uses an eight-ply, 8.1mm hybrid shell with Sonic Saver hoops and staggered offset locking lugs. Compare it with Pegasus to explore different constructions within a similar material family and size.
Shadow: 14 x 6.5-inch birch/walnut
The Shadow combines birch and walnut in a seven-ply shell with Sonic Saver hoops. It gives you another hybrid construction and a deeper 14-inch format to consider.
Nemesis: 14 x 5.5-inch walnut/padauk
The Nemesis introduces walnut/padauk construction. Include it when comparing hybrid shells, but do not assume every hybrid follows the same recipe or sounds alike. Check the exact model details if shell thickness or hardware is central to your decision.
Metal-shell Black Panther snares
Wasp: 10 x 5.5-inch steel auxiliary snare
The Wasp is the smallest-diameter named model featured here. It has a 1mm seamed steel shell and Sonic Saver hoops. Consider it for a compact auxiliary role, checking placement and stand compatibility.
Cyrus: 14 x 6-inch steel
The Cyrus uses a 1mm seamed steel shell, Sonic Saver hoops and in-line locking lugs. It is a useful steel reference when comparing the 14-inch wood-shell choices.
Metallion: 14 x 5.5-inch brass
The Metallion has a 1.2mm seamed brass shell, Sonic Saver hoops and staggered offset locking lugs. Listen to its attack and sustained sound rather than choosing brass from a tonal stereotype alone.
Persuader: 14 x 6.5-inch hammered brass
The Persuader combines a 1.2mm hammered brass shell with Sonic Saver hoops. Its construction and dimensions differ from Metallion, so any listening difference should not be attributed to hammering alone.
Atomizer: 14 x 6.5-inch aluminium
The Atomizer uses a 2mm aluminium shell and Sonic Saver hoops. Compare it with the other metal models at similar playing intensity, noting the balance of the initial hit and the sound that follows.
Predator: 14 x 6-inch copper
The Predator adds a 1.2mm copper shell to the selection, with Sonic Saver hoops and a brushed gloss finish. It provides a different metal construction to audition alongside Cyrus, Metallion and Atomizer.
Design Lab models
Equinox: 14 x 5-inch maple
The Design Lab Equinox combines a six-ply, 6mm maple shell with four-ply, 4mm maple reinforcement rings and single-flanged hoops. These details distinguish it from Razor even though both have a 14 x 5-inch format.
Cherry Bomb: two sizes to compare
The Design Lab Cherry Bomb appears in 13 x 5.5-inch and 14 x 6-inch versions. Both listings describe an eight-ply, 8mm cherry shell. Choose between them by comparing the playing surface, setup height and response, not just the shared name.
Artist signature models
Warbird: Chris Adler
The Warbird is a 12 x 5.5-inch Chris Adler signature model with a six-ply walnut/maple shell and staggered locking lugs. Compare it with Goblin if a 12-inch drum interests you: their similar dimensions do not mean they share the same shell design.
Machine: Craig Blundell
The Machine is a 14 x 5.5-inch Craig Blundell signature drum. Its specification lists a six-ply walnut/maple hybrid shell, Sonic Saver hoops and Puresound Equaliser 16-strand wires.
Maximus: Jeff Hamilton
The Maximus is a 14 x 6.5-inch Jeff Hamilton signature model. The listed design includes a Remo Fibreskyn Diplomat head and a Trick multi-step throw-off, useful details to explore when comparing its response and wire settings.
Versatus: Russ Miller
The 14 x 4.58-inch Versatus is a Russ Miller signature model with a seven-ply, 8.55mm maple/mahogany shell and a top maple reinforcement ring.
We also have a separate deeper-format Versatus listing and an ex-display listing. Please contact us to confirm the exact depth and construction of those drums before ordering, as their current titles and descriptive specifications differ. Do not assume specifications from the 4.58-inch version apply to another version.
Older, limited-edition and pre-owned Black Panthers
The catalogue also includes individual older or pre-owned records such as Deep Forest, a 13-inch piccolo, maple/ash-burl examples and other unnamed Black Panther snares. These are not additional standard configurations of the models above. Condition and availability are specific to each individual drum.
For an older instrument, confirm its model, shell material, dimensions and any replaced parts. A Black Panther badge alone does not establish its specification, and an old listing does not guarantee current availability.
How to narrow down the range
- Choose the role and diameter. Decide whether you want a compact additional voice or a main snare.
- Compare a few constructions. Pick wood, hybrid or metal examples that interest you rather than assuming one material is always superior.
- Check practical fit. Depth affects your setup space; confirm your stand can position the drum comfortably.
- Listen across dynamics. Test quieter notes, full backbeats and your usual playing techniques.
- Allow for setup differences. Heads, tuning, wires and damping matter when comparing demonstrations.
Our recommendation is to shortlist three or four drums with a clear reason for including each. You do not need to hear every model to make a good choice, but you do need to know what you want the new snare to do.
Explore Black Panther with Into Music
Follow the model links above to compare listings and order online across the UK. If you are choosing a snare for a Saturn kit, our Mapex Saturn guide provides more context. There is no compulsory pairing: choose the drum that supports your music.
Call 01507 526517 for help narrowing the options, or visit our Horncastle showroom in Lincolnshire. Contact us before travelling to confirm demonstration availability for particular models. UK next day delivery available.