I'm sure that there are several members here, other than myself, that will disagree with that statement. If they are so "unpopular" as you state, then why do they go for so much $$ when they do sell? Hmmmm

look at very recent ebay completed auctions then, It seems I'm not the only one thinking this? But you are all knowing!x-mas3Excited

Now that this thread has be resurrected, I just thought I'd jump in and ask for clarification. I've been and looked at what is said to be "Levant grain" imitation leather:

[img]http://www.speedwayprinters.com/assets/images/Levant_898.gif[/img]

So is this the grain type you mean? And you are saying that this is what was used on Fender Amps?

In contrast the grain on this snare

does look much smaller and finer. So have I got it right?

Perhaps there is a confusion here between "supply and demand" setting price where it only takes a few buyers more than sellers to create demand, as opposed to "unpopular" which means not many people (as in only 1 out of 100) would want to be a buyer or have such a set in their collection.

Think about eBay getting 1,000 pairs of eyeballs for an auction of a black panther drum and you can both be right. Ten keen bidders after a drum can certainly push up the price. But that doesn't mean it is "popular" when only 1% of people want one in their collection.

Just sayin' Bowing

First off I like Bp I'm a huge Mitchell fan but he used them for a super short period, but the simple fact is these are about as collectible as Butcher block ludwigs are! and with that said I've passed many times on BP kits, but I've been thinking of getting a kit just because they go so cheap and are so easy to re wrap. and also the last two Bp kits on ebay did not sale!

That looks like levant grain to me. Levant grain vinyl was used on vinyl tops from thier conception till the 70's. It is identical to what Fender covers thier amps out of. I have been in the auto upholstery business since I was born. I am 3rd generation in the business. The closest grain to the Black Panther finish is called Corinthian Grain. Ford came out with this grain in the late 60's, and quit using it in the late 80's. GM resurected this grain in the last decade, but GM's isnt quite as close to the BP finish as the old ford corinthian grain vinyl. You can call it imitation leather if you want. back in the old days 50's & 60's they called it letherette. Now days some call it faux leather. Vinyl has come a long way. We have vinyl that looks and feels excatly like leather and there is ultra leather, a vinyl that is even softer than leather and retails for over $100 a yard.

By the way, Kustom used to cover their amps and speakers out of rolled and pleated (otherwise known as tuck n roll) Zodiac vinyl. A product made by naugahyde. This is a glitter vinyl that comes in various colors. I made Lucky a snare bag out of green Zodiac a while back. They are still making the original vinyl that Kustom used back in the day....

Naugahyde is simply a brand name that set the standard in the vinyl industry years ago. A lot of people refer to any vinyl as naugahyde, even if its made by another company. LIke when we were kids and said, "Im going to go get a Coke" even if we were actually gonna get a Dr Pepper.

Ok heres a comparison to the Black Panther finish compared to some 1980 ford corinthian vinyl. The one with the ludwig badge is BP the other is Corinthian. What do Y'all think?

and what a cool snare bag it is!!!

Thanks Poppy. Great information and examples. I remember those tuck and roll Kustoms from my youth!