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Thanx Chris’s even at 950 shipped nos I will pass

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As a player they aren't different from current offerings, so sonically you should end up in the same place and thus not worth a premium over a non-anniversary model.

As a collectible, well I think they offer only a small percentage of a mark-up over non-anniversary or collector drums. I would say the increase in value is driven only by a small population that desires the item(s) and that the non-anniversary/collector version drums are still being produced.

I have a 100th Anniversary BB... I justified the purchased by reasoning that I always wanted an engraved snare and couldn't afford one when I purchased my first BB in late 79/early '80. Should it command a premium? John Aldridge is still engraving drums, so what's stopping somebody from getting a BB and having him engrave it? Very similar end product, however each of the 100 production Anniversary snares had some minor differences (I recall it was mostly in the Ludwig "birds") to make them unique in the limited run. That, along with the anniversary case may make it appealing to a very limited number of collectors. In the end, it's only worth what the buyer is willing to pay (if reselling is part of the plan and not just collecting/buying & holding).

What I'm amazed with is the BB I mentioned above that I got in late 79/early '80... I've seen these go pretty quickly on eBay for $2,000-$2,500!!! For the life of me I can't figure out why. The black chrome is usually not very good in the examples I've seen, and they are still making these shells today!!! I purchased mine for $200 and using an inflation calculator that comes to $591.01 (195% increase), which isn't too far from what a new one cost today, but no where near what some collectors are willing to pay (I often joke that mine snare has old growth brass, which is why it commands a premium).

I never put a lot of stock in “limited edition” drums as an investment. I would value the 90th anniversary BB at what an Aldridge engraved BB is going for. John Aldridge did fantastic, detailed work on these drums. Should also come with the case, itself probably a $150 value. I have seen the 90th BB listed in the $1400-$1500 range.

I think an Aldridge engraved BB, whether it is a 90th or not, available for $950 shipped is a good deal if you are in the market for one. If you think about it, the shipping alone would be close to $50, the case worth $150, which brings the drum down to close to the cost of a new unengraved BB.

I already passed any one want it I can get the email