I was somewhat "stunned" to see a Ludwig Pioneer in OBP sell for $1,001 recently on eBay. Here I thought that we were in the middle of a recesssion but it looks like I must have been mistaken (again)!DOHI've been around long enough to realize the "Ringo effect" of the OBP wrap but if a Pioneer can bring in this amount, I can only imagine what one would get for an OBP Jazz Festival in the identical condition, both functionally and cosmetically. My question is whether there are specific wraps issued by the other vintage American drum manufacturers (Rogers, Gretsch, Slingerland, etc.) that have had similar drastic cost impacts on the selling prices of their respective snare drums, including their 6-lug models? I recall when 6-luggers were considered "student model" drums. Based on the selling price of that Pioneer I guess I need to change my thinking on that one!I've currently got a minimal amount of 6-lug model snares in my collection. I'd like t get some input as to whether it might be wise to add some additional ones based on specific finishes? For example, did Gretsch make a particular wrap that would be considered extremely rare, unique or a good "find", regardless if it's on one of their 6-lug models? How about Rogers? Slingerland?As usual, thanks in advance for all of your input, your time and your help!
If a drum is considered somehow "superior" because it has 2 more lugs than the one next to it, then is a 12 lug snare drum better than a 10 lugger? And maybe if an 8-lug snare drum is good, then a 16 lugger would be twice as good? Burger Kin
I don't understand the logic of why a 5.5 X 14 Ludwig Pioneer (for example) would be thought to be inferior in terms of sound to a Jazz Festival. Yes, it has 2 fewer lugs. And? Burger Kin
Of course, the buying/selling/collecting thing is a game. You never know who is buying on any given day. Prices on BOP stuff are almost always higher than anything else because of the association to Ringo -period. No other color has the same cross-collectibility. If it's a Jazz Fest, then that's even better for the Beatles cross-collectors. It's difficult to compare values to other brands/wraps for this reason.
Gretsch 6-luggers can sit there all day long and won't sell. I had one. It was the worst snare drum I ever tried to play. The fiber case it was in sounded better! I finally got rid of it.
Of course, the rarer finishes like Pink Oyster and Citrus Mod and Mod Orange -in good shape, will draw out the specialist collectors, too.
I have a gold sparkle '64 Pioneer (5.5" depth) that is easily one of the best sounding snare drums I have ever heard/played (and that's quite a few!). If someone wanted to trade me a BOP Jazz Festival in the same kind of MINT condition as my Pioneer, I wouldn't even think about trading.
Different strokes....and all that.Burger Kin
