I've got a Monroe era 6.5x14 maple snare with the outer ply of African Satinwood......looks great, sounds great, plays great. It will sound like a Ludwig, plain and simple. No other way to describe the sound I'm afraid. :D

As far as values......you can get them for reasonable money still. Figure 1/2-2/3 the price of a vintage Ludwig snare.

I saw and heard a used 6.5x14 at the local GC for $200. I still kick myself from time to time for not buying that sweet thing.

Monroe Ludwig drums are FANTASTIC! I own several Monroe (and vintage Ludwig kits) and they perform and sound excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase any of these drums.

As far as market value, there is so much info online, you will be able to find what's a good price.

THANKS TO ALL for the feedback thus far.

However, I guess the issue I'm having in determining "fair market value" is that the drum I looked at didn't have the tube lugs like the others I've seen. Also, it wasn't a 6.5 x 14 snare. I believe it was a 5 x 14. I honestly haven't seen any others with the bowtie lugs in this configuration.

I've got a nice 1999 one in that finish f.s. Awesome condition. Bowtie lugs. Natural maple. Fresh heads and wires. Sounds great, just paid for a new home roof {$10k}, gotta thin the head. $200.00, shipped.....More to follow, including Zildjian/N&C cast snare, super clean '68 B/S Ludwig Hollywoods, Rogers Cleveland Luxor, and some high-end uke's.......Bill D.

I've seen one, and I beleive it was a maple classic with bowties. To be honest, if you think it is too much, it probably is. For a 5x14, I would say, and this is only MY opinion, 150 tops. Now, others will blast me for this position, maybe, others may yet say too high, but 100-150 would, IMHO, be fair. You know I am not a Ludwig guru, but the market is soft, and modern drums are everywhere and a dime a dozen, so go for blood if you can make a lowball and get away with it.

The current owner is asking $225. Since I'm not familiar with the "newer" Ludwig products I honestly don't know if the asking price is out of line. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find this particular drum in this size and finish on-line to compare prices. I've offered $150, which is the MOST I'd consider paying, and am waiting a response. Whether that's "fair market" value or not, I still am not sure.

THANKS for the feedback!

http://www.ludwig-drums.com/snaredrums/classicmaple.php

Looks like the LS401. Does the drum your working on have the Millenium snare strainer?

I'd say $150-$200 is reasonable for a Monroe snare. Tube lugs or bowties make no difference, one isn't more valuable than another. Sometimes the Millenium strainer lowers the value of the drum. Its an interesting throw off, but it has a few issues that are easily fixed. A P85 is more common and makes for a better players drum. The only Monroe drums worth paying any kind of premium for are the anniversary drums.....you know, numbered badges, rare finishes, etc. The 90th anniversary Tophat & Cane drums with all paperwork AND its case bring top $$. An unmolested 75th anniversary drumkit with the Eagle on the toms would bring good money as well, even though they were the last drums made in Chicago and not Monroe. The reason I bring these up is because they were a limited edition kit, and were usually beat on pretty hard (at least the few I've seen on Ebay) and they are a modern kit as well. The limited edition African Satinwood snare I own is an earlyer numbered drum and is probably worht twice what a "regular" non-exotic wood snare is worth.

Hope this helps and doesn't add confusion. Any way you look at it, you can't go wrong....the value can only go up over the years. Cool Dude