does this look like a Supraphonic to you?

AdamJay · 25th June 2006

store just has it listed as "ludwig snare"

Bounce · 25th June 2006

I could be wrong but that looks like a chromed acrolite or yes, a 400 series. The supraphonic had a different strainer mechanism (both sides). Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that is correct from memory.

RoundBadge · 25th June 2006

Yes..that is a standard 400
the supersenitive had the crazy overwrought strainer deal that always broke..
...great old drum, but amazing how these old drums that were like 125 bucks are now going for 400 plusstike

AdamJay · 25th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

Yes..that is a standard 400
the supersenitive had the crazy overwrought strainer deal that always broke..
...great old drum, but amazing how these old drums that were like 125 bucks are now going for 400 plusstike

well that particular one is $150, with case and stand.
i think i am gonna move on it.

absrec · 25th June 2006

Yes. That is an LM-400 (Supraphonic). I looks to be in good condition, too. Not much pitting. I just bought one for $125 round trip off of e-bay. Mine is a '69 "olive-badge" model.

When you get it, take everything off of it and go over the whole thing with the finest steel wool you can find at Home Depot and then put a dab of oil in the lugs. It'll play, look and sound great for years to come.

against88 · 25th June 2006

that's a really nice looking supra.

...but i wouldn't say these will "look" great for years to come. they are aluminum shells and the chrome finish doesn't stick to it very well. that's why most supras are very pitted or flaking. this one looks pretty clean though. i say go for it!

those are my favorite lugs!

-w

vandi · 25th June 2006

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe all pre-serial (blue oval transition badge) and most if not all pre-serial keystone badge supras are chrome over brass "COB" shells. The COB supras are the ones which command top dollar. Once keystone badge supras started showing up with serial numbers Ludwig had begun using alloy shells for their supras. If it has 10 lugs and a p83 strainer it's definitely a supra. In this case probably late 60's to early 70's due to the badge. All acrolites had 8 lugs and a p83 strainer.

hope this helps.

cheers,
vandi

AdamJay · 26th June 2006

thanks guys.

i'm gonna call the store tomorrow and see if they'll sell me just the snare.
i don't need the case and stand.
so who knows, might be able to finagle it for $120-$130.

absrec · 26th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandi

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe all pre-serial (blue oval transition badge) and most if not all pre-serial keystone badge supras are chrome over brass "COB" shells. The COB supras are the ones which command top dollar. Once keystone badge supras started showing up with serial numbers Ludwig had begun using alloy shells for their supras.

This is false. Ludwig made the "Crome over Brass" snare one year and one year only. That year was 1959. It was referred to as a "transitional badge". This badge looks slightly different from the keystone badge. There are not a whole lot of them. And yes, they fetch $800 to as much as $1200 on ebay when they show up. I only know this stuff because a friend of mine has one. I've recorded it a bunch and it definitely has an edge to it. Lot's of midrange! Cuts like a mo-fo!

absrec · 26th June 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by against88

...but i wouldn't say these will "look" great for years to come. they are aluminum shells and the chrome finish doesn't stick to it very well. that's why most supras are very pitted or flaking.

It will if you takes care of it! Clean it up like I told you. It'll literally shine up like a mirror!

vandi · 26th June 2006

I've had both transition badge and pre-serial # keystone badge supraphonics and supersensitives that were all COB. I also know several "collectors" as well which have both.

go figure.....

absrec · 1st July 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandi

I've had both transition badge and pre-serial # keystone badge supraphonics and supersensitives that were all COB. I also know several "collectors" as well which have both.

go figure.....

Well, I'm by no means the authority on Ludwig snares. I have a friend that has a beautiful '59 COB transitional badge supraphonic and he seems to have researched it quite a bit. I'm just going on what he told me as he seemed very sure of his knowledge.

AdamJay · 1st July 2006

Ludwig definitely has some anomalies out there as to what characteristics we think certain drums from certain years should have.

For instance i have a keystone/serial badged '68 Standard snare in the original Blue Astro wrap. The serial # is in sync with the dating of the toms as well.

Its the only Std. snare i've seen with a keystone badge, perhaps '68 was the only year these were produced with keystone badges. Maybe there's a few others out there, i haven't seen any though. If i am not mistaken that was the last year for the keystone badge ('69 began the B/O's) and also the first year for the Std.'s
So its a wierd transition snare, i guess.

either way, that snare sounds ****ing great!

AdamJay · 1st July 2006

oh and by the way, i did buy that Supraphonic.
It arrived yesterday.

Should clean up just fine but man when i opened that case - the smell was horrendous.
Has anyone else ever bought used drums online that just smelled bad once you got the box open ? I think the odor may be more from the hardcase than the snare though.

When i changed the batter head on my '66 Rogers Luxor, the stale air that escaped from inside the drum nearly suffocated me. Nothing like a big fat wiff of 40 year old air.

25th June 2006	#1
AdamJay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,825 Thread Starter	does this look like a Supraphonic to you? store just has it listed as "ludwig snare" __________________

25th June 2006	#2
Bounce Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Caleefornya Posts: 837	I could be wrong but that looks like a chromed acrolite or yes, a 400 series. The supraphonic had a different strainer mechanism (both sides). Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that is correct from memory. __________________ McKay Garner Production-Mixing-Composition San Francisco-Los Angeles-Anywhere http://www.mckaygarner.com

25th June 2006	#5
absrec Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,138	Yes. That is an LM-400 (Supraphonic). I looks to be in good condition, too. Not much pitting. I just bought one for $125 round trip off of e-bay. Mine is a '69 "olive-badge" model. When you get it, take everything off of it and go over the whole thing with the finest steel wool you can find at Home Depot and then put a dab of oil in the lugs. It'll play, look and sound great for years to come. __________________ If you don't spank it, you can't crank it!

26th June 2006	#11
vandi Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Denton, TX Posts: 126	interesting.... I've had both transition badge and pre-serial # keystone badge supraphonics and supersensitives that were all COB. I also know several "collectors" as well which have both. go figure.....

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25th June 2006	#3
RoundBadge Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 8,754	Yes..that is a standard 400 the supersenitive had the crazy overwrought strainer deal that always broke.. ...great old drum, but amazing how these old drums that were like 125 bucks are now going for 400 plusstike

25th June 2006	#6
against88 Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: philadelphia! Posts: 400	that's a really nice looking supra. ...but i wouldn't say these will "look" great for years to come. they are aluminum shells and the chrome finish doesn't stick to it very well. that's why most supras are very pitted or flaking. this one looks pretty clean though. i say go for it! those are my favorite lugs! -w

1st July 2006	#13
AdamJay Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,825 Thread Starter	Ludwig definitely has some anomalies out there as to what characteristics we think certain drums from certain years should have. For instance i have a keystone/serial badged '68 Standard snare in the original Blue Astro wrap. The serial # is in sync with the dating of the toms as well. Its the only Std. snare i've seen with a keystone badge, perhaps '68 was the only year these were produced with keystone badges. Maybe there's a few others out there, i haven't seen any though. If i am not mistaken that was the last year for the keystone badge ('69 began the B/O's) and also the first year for the Std.'s So its a wierd transition snare, i guess. either way, that snare sounds ****ing great!