Each tom-tom had only one drumhead, which gave the drums a dry sound that was ideal for the close-miked environment of the recording studio. However, it was Barrett's snare drum which was perhaps the biggest part of his signature sound. For much of the Wailer's early career, Barrett, like the other band members were often relying on either studio supplied or rented gear, so the kits he played on varied though he came to favor Ludwig drums, and his snare was the popular "Supraphonic" model, which is made of "ludalloy", an aluminium alloy. The metal construction of the drum, in combination with the extremely high head tension that Barrett preferred, produced a loud, cutting "crack" sound that was a very prominent element of the Wailers' recordings. Barrett almost always left the snare wires of the drum disengaged, making the drum sound very similar to a timbale. Later in the late '70s Barrett was also known to use Yamaha drums when they began to be the favored brand circulating amongst many musicians.