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Value of a Vox snare

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I might be a little upside-down on this one; bought it at a thrift store in pretty decrepit condition. It's the only Vox, and the only chrome-over-steel Trixon-made snare I've ever seen in person. I have two wooden Trixon snares, and this Vox shares lug casings and such, but this snare throwoff and butt are new to me, as the Trixon's I have use a parallel strainer. I know Vox was only made for ~1.5 years around '67-68. The pluses: Shell cleaned up pretty nice; everything seems to work; rarity; the like-new lug-casing gaskets*; seem to be the original hoops; bottom lugs/inserts all original. Now the downsides: Not certain, but it looks like the remains of a tone-control still attached to one of the grommets- the rest is missing; the top tension rods and inserts have been converted to standard 12-24/square-head (and that might actually be an improvement as far as playability goes); I cast all new plastic gaskets* to replace the cracked up and ruined originals (so they're not original, but look and function great). I also got an original Trixon 42 strand set of snare wires in the deal, but it's seriously TOAST. I'm working on a good way to mount a new 42 strand wire set. I can't find any comparables on the bay or the like, so: What say you? Anyone hazard a guess on value? And yes, it may be available. Thanks

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Posted on 11 years ago
#1
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Okay, so I don't remember what I was smoking last night, (but I hope I can get some more), 'cause obviously, the top hoop is a replacement. But the bottom is original, Anyway, plenty of views, but no one wants to throw out a number (or an opinion, questions, whatever???)

Posted on 11 years ago
#2
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$175.00 or so

Posted on 11 years ago
#3
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I think those strainers came along with Buddy Rich. He probably wasn't too fond of the parallel rig. They did do a custom snare for him, so that was probably the sum of it, putting on a standard type throw but in Trixon's extravagant style, so the throw and butt are a bit above the pale.

They showed up on both Vox and Trixon badged drums. There should be a muffler in that grommet. I would try to find one , if you want full value on the drum and probably get rid of the Ludwig hoop and square rods too.

as is; yes 175.00 but with the correct hoop, rods and muffler it would be pretty much the Buddy Rich model 1/440S, which there are pictures of him playing in Trixon promotional stuff. Can't say I've ever seen a picture of him at a verified Vox snare but there are pictures of him playing a Vox kit.

Is it as warm in the country as it is in the city or visa versa or who cares.

re; the wires. I do a pretty good job of rebuilding those, if you want some done. They come out a little snappier than the originals. They are 26 strand wires, not 42. I 'm not sure you will get 42 strand wires ,through the gate, anyway or why you would need .them? The drum originally came with Ambassador heads, circa 1967, so I don't know if the batter was still 2 ply by then or not( Remo now makes a version of the original Ambassador 2 ply).

Posted on 11 years ago
#4
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Actually, Buddy played/used standard Trixon snare drums during his extremely BRIEF association/endorsement with Trixon.. and .. this was prior to Trixon becoming VOX for the US market. The drums are the same regardless of badging though. The snare drum you have here is indeed the 1/440S Metal Concert Buddy Rich, and in 1967 it's actual name was the "Buddy Rich Trixon Metal Snare Drum". Did Buddy play this drum? YES!... he actually liked it and played it LIVE for longer than one might think he would have. While with Trixon/Vox in 1967, Buddy preferred their wood model 1/440 Standard in WMP, and played that one more than the metal version.. but .. I do have pics in my collection of "ALL things Buddy!" showing him playing the Metal Concert Buddy Rich in 1967, and in this case prior to his playing/using the 1/440 Standard wood shell in WMP.

I'll attach a few pics of my 1967 Trixon badged.. ( exactly as BR played ) .. 1/440 S Metal Concert Buddy Rich model with the Standard throw.. ( showing the proper Trixon wires and attachment system which is most often MIA ) .. which is how this drum was built/supplied by Trixon. My drum is OEM and near MINT in condition. It actually plays and sound NICE! This drum currently resides in my Buddy Rich snare drum collection covering the years between 1950 and 1982. Enjoy!

Tommyp

Posted on 11 years ago
#5
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Much thanks for all the great info. I would've replied sooner, but I was looking for the original wires to take a picture, but I can't seem to find them... Anyway, I had never bothered to count the strands I guess, and just kind of assumed with the extra width that they were 42 strand; I stand corrected (until I find mine and confirm the count on them.) As much as I'd love to put everything right on this drum, I'm afraid the cost of sourcing 8 lugs/inserts, the correct rim, and having the wires rebuilt (and try to find the clips to hold them on) would cost more than the resulting increase in value. You have to really LOVE something to spend more than its worth on its restoration (as I've learned from old car resto's.)

One thing I note is that it looks like the Trixon sticker is in a different panel then the Vox sticker... weird. I have new respect for this drum, however, after learning Buddy played one (at least for a bit) and liked it. I have not yet got mine playable (snare wires).

Posted on 11 years ago
#6
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Mookie!

Regarding placement of the Trixon/VOX sticker: No, not weird at all! Trixon placed the Trixon sticker/badge in three different locations on this drum that I have personally seen. I don't think it was done all that uniformaly. Placement I have seen is the panel that your VOX sticker resides in... dead front where mine is... and get this, REAR! The rear placement I always thought was very weird... yet there it was! Bottom line comment: Three different locations for the sticker/badge. BTW... I also have a 1967 Trixon 1/440 Standard wood shell Buddy Rich in WMP in my collection of BR snare drums. Guess where the Trixon badge is? Dead center panel, just like the drum I showed here. Also... regarding the wires/count:

The wires on both my BR snares are OEM. I supplied a close up so you can count 'em! Those are the correct wires as supplied by Trixon.

Tommyp

Posted on 11 years ago
#7
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I've been unable to find my wires and possibly threw them out! I have, however gone thru my Trixon parts horde (very modest) and found I have plenty of inserts in stock, but only one spare tension rod. So now I'd need a top hoop, 7 Trods and a wire assembly with clips (or go with something easily available and some cord...) Anybody got some parts?

Also, Tommyp: do you happen to know the story on Trixon stickers vs plastic badges and when each was used? I tried to find out from Ingo but the language barrier may have betrayed me. My Telstar set has stickers and old-style rolled-in hoops, but I have a "matching" snare with plastic badge and the newer triple-flange hoops. Thanks!

Posted on 11 years ago
#8
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From Mookie

I've been unable to find my wires and possibly threw them out! I have, however gone thru my Trixon parts horde (very modest) and found I have plenty of inserts in stock, but only one spare tension rod. So now I'd need a top hoop, 7 Trods and a wire assembly with clips (or go with something easily available and some cord...) Anybody got some parts?Also, Tommyp: do you happen to know the story on Trixon stickers vs plastic badges and when each was used? I tried to find out from Ingo but the language barrier may have betrayed me. My Telstar set has stickers and old-style rolled-in hoops, but I have a "matching" snare with plastic badge and the newer triple-flange hoops. Thanks!

Mookie!

Ah... Ingo. I have had MANY conversations with him! Both my BR snare drums are shown/featured on his MASSIVE Trixon site in Germany, which is the perfect segue to this:

My Trixon/Vox knowledge comes from what I focus on primarily: Buddy Rich! I have spent decades researching BR's different endorsements/hardware/snare drums etc... and that is where my interest in Trixon started, based strictly on the fact that Buddy played 'em in 1967, albeit very briefly... and there are reasons for that too, but that is another story. Anyway, regarding your badge query:

Trixon stayed with the plastic Trixon badge up until 1967 actually. In 1967 there was a changeover to the gold foil "sticker" which could say Trixon or VOX depending on where the drums were being sent. So... the gold foil sticker is the correct badging for the 1/440S Metal Concert Buddy Rich.. however .. like so many things back in the day, there can be exceptions, as there are drums from 1967 that still have the tacked on plastic badge too! A fine example would be my 1967 Trixon 1/440 Standard in WMP.. ( wood shell ) .. as this drum still features the plastic Trixon badge held on with two brads. The date for the changeover is during 1967 though. Here are a few of my 1967 1/440 Standard in WMP. Buddy played this wood shell model more than the metal, although he liked both... until he didn't!

Tommyp

Posted on 11 years ago
#9
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From Tommyp

Actually, Buddy played/used standard Trixon snare drums during his extremely BRIEF association/endorsement with Trixon.. and .. this was prior to Trixon becoming VOX for the US market. The drums are the same regardless of badging though. The snare drum you have here is indeed the 1/440S Metal Concert Buddy Rich, and in 1967 it's actual name was the "Buddy Rich Trixon Metal Snare Drum". Did Buddy play this drum? YES!... he actually liked it and played it LIVE for longer than one might think he would have. While with Trixon/Vox in 1967, Buddy preferred their wood model 1/440 Standard in WMP, and played that one more than the metal version.. but .. I do have pics in my collection of "ALL things Buddy!" showing him playing the Metal Concert Buddy Rich in 1967, and in this case prior to his playing/using the 1/440 Standard wood shell in WMP.I'll attach a few pics of my 1967 Trixon badged.. ( exactly as BR played ) .. 1/440 S Metal Concert Buddy Rich model with the Standard throw.. ( showing the proper Trixon wires and attachment system which is most often MIA ) .. which is how this drum was built/supplied by Trixon. My drum is OEM and near MINT in condition. It actually plays and sound NICE! This drum currently resides in my Buddy Rich snare drum collection covering the years between 1950 and 1982. Enjoy!Tommyp

It would seem that the earliest pictures of buddy playing Trixon drums were taken on March 29 , during his visit to the Trixon factory in Hamburg, where he is seen playing both Trixon and Vox kits, so Vox was well in hand by the time Buddy Rich took on Trixon. There are various snaredrums around, including a 1/440S. The most curious picture of him playing Trixon was used in a Trixon brochure , from 1967. He must have toted at least one drum along from his Hamburg visit, or more likely, been supplied earlier , because he is seen playing a 1/440S ,in the company of his Rogers Celebrity kit, the drums he endorsed prior to Trixon( unless I have gleaned incorrectly). So ,he was playing the COS drum right from the start, indeed.

There are a group of curious photos, though, that are supposed to be publicity photos for the 1967 NAMM show( Jan. 1967?), where Buddy is seen playing a VOX kit with the full BR stencil job on the front head and a in a smiling endorsement of all three Trixon settups in Croco wrap.

Does this indicate that Buddy Rich was well along in preparing his Trixon arrangement in 1966, well before his Hamburg visit, because presumably such publicity photos , which are publicly referred to as being FOR and not OF, would have predated the NAMM show? BR is playing a 1/440S snare in one of the photos. Further, pictures taken in early 1967, at a film studio( VOX had an executive in , with film studios), shows a custom foil covered snare with the new single drop throw.

note** It is hard to determine , from pictures, whether a Trixon snare drum is wood or metal ,because they offered metal shelled drums , with celluloid covering as well.

Posted on 11 years ago
#10
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