Hmm...I've never heard of the DW Craviotto Edge snare. Sounds very intriguing!

As far as "real world value", items are only worth what people are willing to pay for them. For *most* instruments on craigslist right now, for example, about 40% of the new price is what an item sells for, with the exception of a few models (Catalina Club Jazz, A Zildjian crashes, etc...seem to be in enough demand that people are willing to pay a bit more for them). I'd imagine that since your snare is pretty rare, you could probably define the market for it. I wouldn't sell it for the new price, but I think you could recoup almost all of your initial investment. You've just got to find the right buyer.

Nobody pays list. It's a fictitious number. As best I can tell, the whole purpose of a list price is to enable dealers to say things like "40% below list price!" when they're still pricing things near or above their competitors' prices. So don't get caught up in what the drum's list price is or was.

If a similar drum went unsold at $799 and other nice Craviotto/DW snares are selling on eBay in the $500's and $600's, I'd say we've found your ballpark price range. If that's too low in your opinion, it may be best to hold onto the drum, hoping the economy and high-end drum market will eventually pick up a bit.

I had an Exotic series Craviotto,about the same year model as your edge and it sold for $800.00, so as previously advised you'll never come close to List price, the $600.00-$700.00 range and in this economy that maybe a tough one also! is the center maple? post some pics if you will!

Thanks for the input folks.

I do love the snare, and even toying with selling has me sad... If it's smarter to keep it for those prices, I will.

I'm looking for pics - I'm hoping they're on this computer still. If not, I'll snap some more.

For those that looked up the ebay version - it's that with a clear maple shell visible between the incredibly bearing edges (which are pretty sharp, by the way...).

Thanks again,

Ken

First up is a a beautiful blue Edge for $700 on CL for the past couple of weeks.

Next up is a long time resident of eBay for a B.I.N. of $749.99

I'll echo what I said in another post about the basic economics of the resale. If the price gets too high people simply look for substitutes. There happens to be a ton of substitutes available. Here I'm talking great sounding snare drums, less so if you consider solid snares but not enough to make it more than the $700 range. DW has got that great "Super Solid" snare out that can be had for $700+ range if you grind a bit (BTW I've always felt that the DW lugs hide way too much of the pretty wood on thier snares and thus make me really consider the value).

Also, I really don't get that some 70/80's Black Beauty's go for so much when they still produce the same drum today! I'd much rather buy a new umloested snare than a previously owned one... even if it costs a bit more. If it has the slightest of blemishes, I won't purchase it. However, if I own it and I scratch it or ding it, well that's just weathering and character.

Thanks -

All great points. I happened to pick up this drum for a lot less than it's worth - even given the current comps. I knew I'd play it very little, so I considered it an investment.

I was at a small clinic held at my local shop. Johnny was there along with a DW rep. They had one example of each model they made together, all at ridiculously low prices. I was eying the edge model, but still couldn't really justify the expense at the time. The store owner - someone I knew for a couple years at that point - knew I was leaving the show to go play a gig. He says "Take it with you. If you don't want it, bring it back tomorrow. If you do, just call me with your credit card."

You can imagine the outcome.