Hi, first post on this here forum.. glad I found you.

I just purchased a Ludwig Supraphonic on eBay for around $125. It's the 400 model. I did a fair amount of research about the Supras regarding year, badges, and other signs of vintage. However, I think in my excitement I might have blown this one.

The drum came today and looks like a reissue. I will follow this post with some pics. For starters, however, I'll post a few questions if you care to help me identify the year.

First off, the inside of the shell is stamped with what I can only assume is the number "024." That's my first hint.

Second, though all the lug mounting holes are cleanly drilled, the holes for the strainer and butt plate have burrs on the inside. I would have thought even a new Ludwig would have been drilled out better and cleaned up.

Third, the badge is keystone with a 7-digit serial #3292627. So, it's out of range for the drums produced thru 1979 according to one site I visited. It's also not a brass keystone, but looks more like plastic or stamped aluminum and it is glued on as well as secured (rather loosely) by the air vent, which rattles around a lot. The badge says Monroe, N.C. U.S.A.

There is pitting, and no magnetism, so it's chromed aluminum.

Also the lugs look like real Imperials but there are gaps between them and the bulge. Another sign of a reissue, I believe.

It has a dial-style damper... looks legit.

Rims and strainer are not Ludwig that I can tell.

Now, I'm really not that interested in collecting... I just want that Ludalloy Supra sound. But, I was hoping for an original-style shell...

Think I got taken?