I would think it all depends on what demand there is for that particular item. I've never seen a badge with this name but there are so many different ones. I think it was a good price. Again depending on how many people want and or need the item will reflect its price. Looks to be a very nice drum.

Nikkan is Pre-Yamaha I believe. And that is about right for most of these snares. 20 plus shipping is a good price for this one. BDP and a thin 3 ply shell with rerings. Most bring from 20-50 plus shipping, but to me, personally, I don't usually pay but about 30, depending on the wrap and the overall condition. You will see far more of them sit on ebay for a long time, the seller asking far too much. I see them all the time, seller starting bids at 99.00....and they wonder why they don't sell, thinking just because it's a "vintage drum" it will bring Ludwig money....not many of them sell at those prices though. You may see one every now and then sell for 100 bucks, however not many at all. And when sells for that, all of a sudden a rash of them show up with stupid prices on them.

And unless you have experience with these cheaply made snare drums,especially the wood ones,some folks expect far to much from them and end up quickly putting it back on ebay to get thier money back.Thats why the crazy prices,its because they over paid.These MIJ snare drums imo are the weak link of the kit.The toms and bass drum are great when you take time to tweak em,but then again,its all about what sound you,re looking forSoap Box

I agree, for the most part, with you statement. However, if you know the ones to look for, the type of re-rings, the type of wood shells, some of the 3 ply are much better than others, typically the older ones are far superior to the mid 70s up. Also, the number of lugs is a major factor. Most 6 luggers will not get anywhere close to a good sound.

Now on to the 9 ply...again, there are many different ply counts as Star and Pearl were searching for a happy medium around 68-72. Again, lug count is crucial, unlike with Slingerland and Ludwig wood snares. I have, for instance, a few different woodies, 3 ply, 5 ply, 9 ply....all 8 luggers, and all properly tweaked. All of them sound good, and two sound great!

Again, far too many people don't know what they are looking at, what it takes to make them more than just playable, but very playable drums.

I know I paid too much for my snare ($75, I know I know), but it is a perfect match for my kit and thankfully, it looks and sounds great, even though it's a 6 lug. Very crisp and loud. I'm still looking for a floor tom, though, and still trying to get the correct T-rods for the Bass drum and 8x14 tom so that I can finally put the kit together. I guess good things come to those who wait...

sometimes i think people are trying to downplay the sound of these drums, to keep resale values low.

Sure, the fact it's a 6 lug snare hurts value.

But just because it's thin, and luan, doesn't mean it will sound bad.

The proper heads and tuning will make any drum sound great. The value on these drums is, and will, continue to rise, as people find they really do sound good, and while once considered "cheap", are still far superior to today's "cheap" drums.

You are correct. They must remain affordable. Many of us use them for student donor kits. I am, by far, not a rich man (in fact, I am unemployed and about to run out of benefits) and in order for me to continue my endeavor to get decent drums in the hands of those that need them most, they MUST remain inexpensive/affordable. Once they become overpriced, kids will suffer as there will no longer be a viable way for us, the community that does the majority of charity work designed to get these drums in those hands, to continue to do it in an affordable manner.

You see, it is not greed on my part, at least. It is a true desire to get them in the hands of very good students that have no other means to continue their education. I am one person against many greedy sellers, and am also one of a handful that has taken the time to learn how to rebuild these drums into very good quality snares. All of my wood snares sound as good as any American drums, and I am only one person that knows these techniques. Those of us that take the time to do it have no desire to pass it on until it is time. I don't want everyone to know my tricks because then the drums will be in the hands of more people with more money than I and then the prices will sky rocket. So, if it keeps them affordable, I will continue to do my part in keeping them down. Kids need drums to play, and far too many cannot afford anything more than free. I/we do this for them.

Sorry if this gets under anyones' skin, but I/we have no other way to do what we do, and those that deserve our help have no one else to look to.

When you are dealing with with wraps are that are hard to come by, you sometimes have to give more than you want. Some of these wraps are super rare when you start looking for a snare. Fantasia Pearl, Lava Pearl, those snares are impossible to find and when one does hit the market, it will go for big money, for MIJ.