Oldschool, no pics it doesn't exist, but the badge is the commemorative edition badge! does it look like this one?

Sounds like one of the limited edition 90th anniversary African Satinwood drums. Originally there were only supposed to be 90 of them produced, but they sold so well that they offered them for a few years after. The earliest ones were numbered as well, but after a while they stopped numbering them. I own one of the "continuation" ones...#256.

There were two other 90th anniversary drum models offered. One that was a reissue of the "tophat & cane" wrap and a maple drum with a dark finish (I think it was a mahogany or cherry color finish) and with brass hardware. Both of those models came with a tweed 90th anniversary case with plush lining. The African Satinwood models did not come with a case, but you could order one for it as an option.

Be kind, please (lol)! The badge on yours appears somewhat larger than the one on the drum that I saw. Also, the one I saw had that "#xxxxx of xxxxx" on it.

Ludwig-dude:

I appreciate your input (as usual). Assuming the drum is, in fact, a limited edition 90th anniversary African Satinwood drum, what do you think might be a fair price to offer for it, should I decide to purchase it?

Hmmm....hard to say as they are considered "future collectibles". Also, it depends on the size and the style of lugs fitted. Some came with classic lugs, some were ordered with tube lugs. I would say slightly above the current used market of a regular classic maple series snare drum in a similar size.

I was only ribbin ya!! post us a pic please??

....this equates to $47.64...

Offer him 100 or 200 or whatever is well below his asking price and see what he says. I am not telling anyone to lowball, but as stated it was "supposed" to be a limited run and as usual the powers at the top can't let well enough alone, so they over produce and that therefore dilutes the value of any future appreciation in value of the originals. Use that as a basis for your "low" offer, stating that since they (Ludwig) decided to dilute the market with even more unlimited "Limited" production, you have no basis for a real collectible value because of this fact.

I use this as a basis for this argument: In 1996 my best friend bought a new Mustang based Cobra. It was #740 of a supposed 1250 hand-assembled (read retro-fitted with upgraded suspension, nicer interior upgraded seats and hand built H.O. 4.6 liter motor) His happened to be one of 6 in it's particular colors. After the original 1250 sold out in record time, within days of hitting the streets, Ford Execs decided to "build a few more" to the tune of something like 12,000...his trade value, and the overall resale value of all the re-issued Cobras for that run of "special production" dropped 40% overnight. And he paid a "Special Market Cap Adjustment" (read price gouge) of $7500 over sticker for the priveledge....this is standard practice in the car biz for these types of "special" vehicles. Remember the Plymouth Prowler? The same thing happened to me on that one, only I walked away from the table (refusing to pay more than sticker), knowing it would happen to this vehicle as well, and it did, but, that is still a very highly sought after car, unlike the Mustang based Cobra turned out to be. So, it is a favored trick of many companies with a "Commerorative Anniversary Widget" to do exactly that... (from the boardroom) "Let's see how this sells and if it really goes well, we'll reintroduce a special limited time add-on of 10,000 more units and who cares about the value of the originals, we are making more money for the shareholders and they will love us!"

My point is, make him an offer "based in ignorance of true value", which is diluted now because there are so many of them, not just the originals, and that set of add-ons killed the value of his, if it is indeed one of the original set. Do you see what I am saying? This drum is no longer special because Ludwig chose to screw the originality of the first issue.

If he is asking 500....don't even bother. It is a maple snare that will sound like any other, it just has a nice veneer on the exterior, correct? Hell, grab a set of lugs and other hardware of your desire, order the shell of your choice from Keller, go to www.theveneerstore.com and pick out the nicest looking veneer they have, ship it all to me, and for 50 bucks I will build a badass snare that will sound just like it, maybe even better. And it will be a complete custom snare, built exclusively for you....

I apologize for the rant, it's just these days, hardly nothing is left to be an original. Leave something sacred and special for crying out loud. Just because it worked once for Gretsch does not mean it will work for Ludwig...they don't care for originality anymore. Look at Pearl for example. They are building a run of 50 kits each year out of high end exotic woods, and that is all they build. And TAMA, a run of 10, or whatever, and they leave it at that. Ludwig got greedy and killed the value of the collectible that they "promised" the original buyers. That is what a commerorative should be, a "promise" of limited production. They called it a Limited Edition. Not a lets see how it sells edition. It works for the other guys, why not us?

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I would echo that sentiment as well and only offer a "players" price for the drum, unless it's still in the plastic bag and orignal box. My take on the collector drums is that shouldn't be played but pristine and the value traded on that fact... but if it's palyed, well then used retail prices is what I would be offering.

BTW... that's a nice offer!