ebay score

I've been wanting a Supraphonic snare for some time and I found one today in decent shape (very little surface rust and no pitting to speak of) for a great price. It's en-route and I can't wait to re-head and play it.

I'm not sure about the extra wide snares but I'll try it that way for a bit and change out for a 20 strand later if I don't like it.

congrats! That looks really, really nice and clean. I am not too familiar with the B/O Badges, but that sorta looks like the early sharp corners one.

You did score, congrats

you may actually have one of the brass shell models...seems like the correct badge...

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig_badges.html

I can't read the SN in the pics but I'll check it when it arrives.

From the link Carm posted, it looks like the 71-72 pointy badge w/ the silver edges/bottom area vs copper color edges/bottom area so it may not have a SN.

I thought Supras were all Chrome over Brass except for a period when they were Ludalloy, but I'm not sure which years were which.

I am certainly no Supra historian but I thought the majority were Ludalloy. If it is, I believe it will have a round sticker inside the shell stating so, at least mine does. At any rate, nice score, enjoy! I love mine.

One thing the seller posted in the description was that the sticker was missing from inside the shell. When I change heads I'll inspect it for a date stamp.

As long as it sounds like a Supra, I don't care what it's made of

WANT. I almost snagged one of these recently also. my friend just got a black magic he really likes.

Nice score, k7. While you're changing out the snares, stick a nice single-ply coated on it. If it's Ludalloy it ought to be plenty dry without the dot. Or even a 2-ply coated if you want to go all-Bonham.

Sometimes, it seems to me, guys put muffled heads on snares, thus losing a bunch of sensitivity, then they throw hi-count wires on it to make up . . . seems like chasing your tail.

Thanks, dtd. I usually play coated Ambassador on my snares which I'll likely use on this as well.

I've never used 40 strand snares before but I'll play it a bit with it and then swap in a 16 or 20 strand Pure Sound and compare.

Good get. Love my supra. I would definately replace the mondo snares on that thing, but, like you said, give 'em a try first.

k7mto - x is right.

After Aluminum (Ludalloy) supras were introduced in the early 60s, COB drums were rare. Would have a B mark inside near vent hole. Mostly early 70s.

If you can weigh the drum, that will tell the difference.

I have both and can give you the numbers.

It's a great snare either way - enjoy!

Thanks, I'll check it when it arrives. According to the UPS tracking the boxed weight is 11 lbs, but who knows how much is drum and how much is box/packing materials.

doesn't sound like the weight of brass...

1) Congrats on your Supra -- that's the same era and model that is a mainstay in my stable. An easy to find drum, maybe, but it's really special and it's not going anywhere as long as I'm alive! I'd love to see if yours has a date stamp inside and what the serial is. Mine is stamped Aug 3, 1970.

2) Some good info here and some speculation about the brass Supras that are out there. Mostly the COB drums were early models with crimped snare beds, small keystone badges and small dial or red-felt-baseball-bat mufflers. Around '69-'71 there were some brass shell drums made, but in the 5" depth they are very easy to spot because the Blue-Olive badges were cut short, no serial number panel was there. Those shells had their vent holes lower on the shell (like keystone badge 60s drums) so the B-O badge wouldn't fit on full-size. You can be sure that if a B-O 5x14 Supra has a full badge on it, it's not brass (this one is not brass). You can also tell because the brass ones don't pit, the chrome plating doesn't flake off like on the Ludaloy (can't tell if this one shows pitting because of the carpet reflections in the chrome).

3) Therefore, 99% of Supras from the 60s keystone era to the present are Ludaloy. Chrome-over-Aluminum.

Enjoy it, it's a great drum!

Nice drum; looks like it's in great shape. Congrats! I'd love of those things...

If I was made of $$ I'd have bid on this sexy bitch...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ludwig-Black-Beauty-70s-80s-5x14-super-sensitive-snare-/320576075119?pt=Vintgae_Drums_Percussion

Anyone else get excited when they see an update like this...

MESA, AZ, US 08/23/2010 5:13 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY

MESA, AZ, US 08/20/2010 12:45 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

Looks like I'll get to play it at rehearsal tonight

So ... did you get to play it? What do you think?

Great find! Id love an old snare, always seem to miss the bargains though!

I live in hope of finding an old slingerland or luddy at a car boot sale somewhere!

Yes, I brought it to rehearsal last night. It sounds really good right out of the box with the old head and wide snares. I'm going to put an Ambassador coated batter on and play it that way for a while. Later, I'll swap on a 20 strand Pure Sound snare and compare the difference.

Even the verticals complimented the "new sound"