$100 ok for a decent acrolite?

Jax · 24th January 2008

I have an acrolite lined up that I could buy this weekend for $100. This will actually (even though I've been playing all my life) be my first time buying a used snare from a private party, not a store.

I have some general ideas of what to look for: put the drum on a flat surface and see if it wobbles, check the throwoff functionality, wires, etc. I don't care about pitting on the chrome and all that. I've seen a pic and it looks decent, but this will be a player's drum.

Anything else I might want check out?

biggator6 · 25th January 2008

If it's got fresh snare wires and/or heads - it'll save you some money making $100 a pretty darn good deal. I think I paid $60 for mine, but then put good snares on it and fresh heads - another $50 or so.

If it's in good shape, $100 is fair - not a steal, not a ripoff.. Throw a Remo Emperor-X on top, a hazy Ambassador on bottom - and some good Puresound snares on it - you'll hit it and think "oh yeah - that's what a snare drum is supposed to sound like"
"-)

chrisso · 25th January 2008

Being metal it's less likely to be warped, out of round.
Look for dents anywhere, especially in the bearing edge area where you want the heads to fit snugly.
In my experience, most used drums are in OK condition, so I wouldn't be too paranoid, while being sensible and making sure there aren't any obvious flaws.
I think $100 is OK.
The word is definitely out on Acrolites. I do see them go for $150 and above on Ebay.
The sub $100 ones are getting thinner on the ground.
I've heard the keystone (60's) models are marginably the best, but that's arguable.

sethmeister · 5th March 2008

I've seen them around for 70 bucks recently but 100 bucks is still a fair price.

jbsg02 · 14th March 2008

I paid 60 something for my acrolite, I got it off of ebay. great investment

Nutmeg II. · 18th March 2008

That is one of the few points were living in america does help a lot!
In europe the used Ludwig, Gretsch, Rogers, Slingerland, ... snares and drumsets cost way more!

You can easily pay 400$ on a ok Acrolite.

CrazyBeast · 18th March 2008

I have been amazed at how versatile and great the old acrolite I picked up recently is! They are definitely a sleeper..

jbsg02 · 18th March 2008

a local music store had one priced for 325, insane

24th January 2008	#1
Jax Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,763 Thread Starter	$100 ok for a decent acrolite? I have an acrolite lined up that I could buy this weekend for $100. This will actually (even though I've been playing all my life) be my first time buying a used snare from a private party, not a store. I have some general ideas of what to look for: put the drum on a flat surface and see if it wobbles, check the throwoff functionality, wires, etc. I don't care about pitting on the chrome and all that. I've seen a pic and it looks decent, but this will be a player's drum. Anything else I might want check out?

25th January 2008	#3
chrisso Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 15,355	Being metal it's less likely to be warped, out of round. Look for dents anywhere, especially in the bearing edge area where you want the heads to fit snugly. In my experience, most used drums are in OK condition, so I wouldn't be too paranoid, while being sensible and making sure there aren't any obvious flaws. I think $100 is OK. The word is definitely out on Acrolites. I do see them go for $150 and above on Ebay. The sub $100 ones are getting thinner on the ground. I've heard the keystone (60's) models are marginably the best, but that's arguable. __________________ Chris Whitten

18th March 2008	#6
Nutmeg II. Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: GEARmany Posts: 985	That is one of the few points were living in america does help a lot! In europe the used Ludwig, Gretsch, Rogers, Slingerland, ... snares and drumsets cost way more! You can easily pay 400$ on a ok Acrolite. __________________ "Any recording engineer who uses a tube U47 is obviously not a professional" Stephan Temmer 1979

18th March 2008	#7
CrazyBeast Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 452	I have been amazed at how versatile and great the old acrolite I picked up recently is! They are definitely a sleeper.. __________________ http://www.crazybeast.com http://www.myspace.com/crazybeaststudio

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25th January 2008	#2
biggator6 Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,787	If it's got fresh snare wires and/or heads - it'll save you some money making $100 a pretty darn good deal. I think I paid $60 for mine, but then put good snares on it and fresh heads - another $50 or so. If it's in good shape, $100 is fair - not a steal, not a ripoff.. Throw a Remo Emperor-X on top, a hazy Ambassador on bottom - and some good Puresound snares on it - you'll hit it and think "oh yeah - that's what a snare drum is supposed to sound like" "-)

5th March 2008	#4
sethmeister Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 259	I've seen them around for 70 bucks recently but 100 bucks is still a fair price.

14th March 2008	#5
jbsg02 Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 411	I paid 60 something for my acrolite, I got it off of ebay. great investment

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