Some people claim there is a sonic difference. Some people claim there is a tuning capability difference.....I've owned them all...6,8,10, and 12 lug snares. I tune them all to my liking, so they all pretty much sound the same to me. The bargain on any of the brands is the 6-lug "student" models.....they sound great and you can usually get them much cheaper because of the myth that they have no tuning range or sound different.

Michael, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one......the Gretsch 6-lugger I have is far from open, ringy and very woody sounding. It sounds exactly the same as a more "advanced" model to my ears. Same with the Pioneer vs Jazzfest/Super Classic, they sound the same to my ears.....but, like I said above....I tune all my snare to basically sound the way I like them to sound, which is pretty much the same, so.......

I figured that one out. That's why I deleted it just a minute or two after I posted it. I had a strong suspicion that this was one of those "ear" questions. Mine are different from others ... so the post gets the delete treatment.

I'm not saying you were wrong, just that I disagree....your ear may hear something different thay my ear can't pick up.....sound is subjective anyway...no worries....

After reading what the seller stated in his listing, HE doesn't even think its worth 450.00, but knows someone will pay it eventually to get this particular snare in this condition, and with this color wrap. If you aren't a collector, does it have to be this pristine? or just a great sounding 60s wood in Silver Sparkle, Black Sparkle, or BDP, a wrap that will go w/ your set. Seems to me if you are patient you might find a higher quality snare for the same amount of $$$, and possibly less. You could get a Super Classic or Jazz Fest but probably not a Downbeat that kind of money, But you never know. I know alot of drummers don't care for 6 lug snare drums in 13" or 14" size range because of tuning issues. Will the seller post or send you a sound file?

If you've got a BDP set, then hold out for a nice BDP Pioneer to go with it; they come up often enough, & go for affordable prices(BDP is my fave, but not evrybody's, so the prices are on the lower end). There's no beating a complete set of matching vintage drums........marko

thanks for everyone's input!