Top lug
For more than a century, the fundamental design of the snare drum has remained virtually unchanged. Lugs were permanently fixed to the shell, tension points were predetermined, and the number of tension rods was decided once and for all during manufacturing.
TopLug challenges every one of those conventions.
Imagined by Thomas, aka “Le Duke,” then developed, patented and trademarked by ASBA, this exclusive technology completely rethinks the way a snare drum is built and how its drumheads are tensioned.
At the heart of the system is an independent structural ring that replaces traditional lugs. Tension rods are no longer locked into fixed positions. Instead, they attach freely to this central ring and can be moved, added or removed in just moments.
The result is unlike anything else.
You don’t just choose your tuning—you decide how tension is distributed across each drumhead.
More tension rods deliver a tighter, more focused and more powerful sound.
Fewer tension rods allow the shell to breathe, opening up its harmonics and revealing its full character.
Every configuration creates a distinct sonic personality.
And because the shell no longer needs to be drilled to accommodate numerous lugs, its structural integrity is largely preserved. It resonates more freely, responds more naturally, and fully expresses the acoustic qualities of the wood or metal from which it is crafted.
TopLug doesn’t simply offer more tuning possibilities.
It offers an almost limitless level of creative freedom.
A patented and trademarked technology.
A French innovation.
Proof that it is still possible to reinvent an instrument many believed had already reached the limits of its evolution.
TopLug doesn’t seek to improve the snare drum. It redefines what a snare drum can become.
Price : 1218 €
Technical specifications
- dimensions
- 14” X 8”
- shell
- 3-ply: European Sycamore Maple / Basswood / European Sycamore Maple
- chamfer
- 45° bearing edges with beech reinforcement rings for precise response and outstanding tuning stability.
- drum parts
- Chrome hardware with exclusive ASBA design, featuring stainless steel fasteners and internal felt isolation for enhanced reliability and improved vibration control
- hoops
- Smooth 5 mm die-cast hoops, ensuring rigidity, precision and optimal tension distribution.
- finishes
- Hand-stained and hand-polished finishes with a vintage satin lacquer. A wide range of custom finishes available on request, including high-gloss lacquers and metal flake.
- badge
- ASBA solid brass badge, made in France
- stamp
- Each shell is stamped with the date of its final assembly and hand-signed, guaranteeing its authenticity.
- Interior finish
- Shell interiors treated with beeswax from the Beaujolais region, sourced from a beekeeper in Poule-les-Écharmeaux (Haut-Beaujolais)
- quality control
- Each shell is inspected using a precision granite surface plate, ensuring perfectly flat bearing edges and optimal head seating
- Drumheads
- Evans® US.
Finishes
- Chocolate
- Honey Amber
- Caviar
- Blueberry
- Burgundy
- Renaissance
- Dark Brown