Basically you should be able to see if a magnet sticks or not. Also the hardware and weight of the drum will help in determining if it is brass.

You can also take a lug off and see if the brass is visible.

Let us know!!

David

...plus, there will be crimped snare beds and no serial # on the keystone badge...the weight will be obvious as a cob Supra-400 is way heavier than a regular Supra-400...price range is 300.00-1200.00 depending on the condition...

Mike Curotto

This is an old question that will forever pop up! The magnet test doesn't really work, because a magnet won't stick on brass or aluminum. (There will actually be a slight "stick" as the plating is somewhat magnetic.) If it has a serial number, 99.99 per cent of the time it's not brass...it's aluminum (ludalloy). If it doesn't have a serial number it MAY be brass, but not always...there's a no serial # one on ebay now that has a steel shell. THe brass shells have a crimped snare bed and there's a certain type of curl under the bearing edge on the brass ones that the others don't have. The alloy ones usually have a lot of pitting. Ones in really nice shape used to bring $150...seems that prices for these have gone up...saw a nice one go for over $200, and another brought close to $400. Brass ones go for up to a grand on the right day..