I've owned both, a 400 BB from the 70's and Super 400 from the 60's along with 7 or 8 other versions of the Supra. The Super 400 is the only one I've still got. As for the vintage brass version vs. the new ones, I've got to think the brass today is a different animal from it's ancestor.

FYI

The original Cob's vs the new Cob are as different as night and day, the old ones smoke, trounce, the new ones in tone, the old ones are first off are a larger diameter than the new ones the brass is far better on the old ones than the new ones. the new ones have to have spacers placed under the lugs now to combat splay, you never see that problem on an old one, I have owned 3 of the brass edition 402 ludwigs, Myself and Kevins did a side by side comparsion,on a brass edition vs a new and old 402, the new 402 and the brass edition had no tone difference, then the old ones came out, the difference was huge, we have a thread on it here some where.

I bought a new 6.5 black beauty a couple of years ago. it sounded great. but I liked my vintage alloy 6.5s better, so I sold it to a forum member.

mike

I never owned or played one of the new ones so I really can't offer any comment on those, but I own and have owned several of the old 400 COBs and they are consistently some of the best sounding snares I've ever played. I'm actually surprised to hear that there is such a noticeable difference between old and new.

John

Are the new ones made with cob hoops? Believe the old super drums had them.

No they aren't

^ that aspect alone can make a difference.

Not as much as you may think the comparison was done with cob rims and 2.3 mil steel rims, I would challenge you to tell the dif from your ears alone.

I played my pre-serial Super on two gigs a few weeks ago. The ring is easily managed with a very skinny napkin-and-gaff-tape 'band-aid' which is half-on, half-off the head and top rim (Ambassadors top and bottom) These are powerful drums, but not unmanageable. $00.02