Snare drums because they are the very heart of the kit.

Wayne

They are both part of the same instrument so I would say they are equally important.

That is an interesting question. It may be a gross generalization but I bet the type of music has a lot to do with it. I would think the jazz folks might lean a little more toward cymbals while the pop-rock-country (backbeat genres for lack of a better term) might have more preference for snares.

I think I lean more towards snares, however, if I were to play a small group jazz combo gig, I would spend some serious time figuring out which cymbals I would use and bemoan the fact that I probably don't have what I want.

both cant play without either

Even though I'm a rocker, I value my cymbals more.

My cymbals work well together in the several sub-genres of rock and blues that I play and have elicited many nice comments from listeners and others who have had a chance to play them. It took a long time to get it just right: When I think about acquiring another cymbal (rarely brand new), it's with the condition that it will be auditioned with its potential mates. A cymbal that is exquisite on its own won't make the cut if it doesn't sound good with what I already have.

I suppose I'm a cymbal snob. I can approximate "my" sound on different drums, but I'm out of my comfort zone on different cymbals. I can deal with that at a jam, but I'd prefer to bring my own for a real gig. At the very least, I'd want the 14" New Beat hats that I've been using since 1977. They have a very creamy and giving feel under the sticks that I've found to be rare in other hats (even New Beats) that I've played.

What are the weights of your NBs? I can relate about those - mine are hollow logo (78-81). I had been underappreciating them for the last couple years - then played a gig and decided to use them as the old stand-by....and (re)discovered why they simply can not be "beat".

Sorry, but I don't know. Of my three sets of NBs, the cymbals of my A pair are definitely lighter than those of the other two, most noticeably the top cymbal.

The A pair came with my first set in 1977. I acquired them two months after it was purchased, so it's likely that they are from 1976 and quite possibly earlier. There are no inked logos, just the top and bottom designations which have long since faded.

B pair has hollow logos and I acquired them last October. They are heavier than the A pair, but not as heavy as the C pair, which I acquired in 2008 and are from around 2002 (!) if I recall correctly.

All three pairs sound great, but there's just something extra about my main set: In addition to the lighter weights, I'm sure that 37+ years of patina has something to do with their mojo.

I guess I would have to say my cymbals. I have been hauling my 602 flat ride around for 25 years and when I gig without it it is just not the same. Through all that has been bought and sold I always held on to that one precious ride.Only time will tell how I feel about my Dynasonic a quarter century from now.

My opinion is hands down snare drums. Its taken me years to find one that actually sounds like it was built for me personally. Not so lucky with cymbals, but i have no complaints.