thats a fine,fine snare. where did you come up with the inspirational name though?

mike

That seemed to be the name associated with the non-etched drum (Black Beauty). Didn't know if this one would be considered a BB.

Been doing some more digging tonight and it seems that this is a drum from 1923 for sure -- After "Patent Pend." was put on the throwoff, but before the Ludwig logo moved from being etched on the hoop to being etched on the shell.

Also, it's an 8-lug and I guess that was introduced in '23?

Any idea what it's worth?

It belongs to a dear friend of mine, a bass player, who's had it since he was a teenager. Apparently it was part of a barn-find kit his dad picked up for him to learn on -- paid $50 for the whole kit. Mind Blowi

I'm considering trading an Ernie Ball Stingray 5 bass for this. Thoughts?

i know nothing about the ernie ball bass. the 5x14s from this era are highly desired. looks like yours has the art gold hardware on it. i think thats what they call it. these are amazing sounding drums. ive got two of them in nickel over brass.

mike

Well the bass came after a series of trades and barters -- I'm out probably $500 in cash for it, but the street value is about $1,500-$1,800.

My friend who currently owns the drum does very little drumming and I do very little bass-playing. Would love to put together a nice vintage kit for jazz trio stuff and thought this would make an amazing centerpiece.

What would be the general value on one of these drums compared to a traditional scroll-etched 5x14 BB of similar condition? I've been seeing those go on ebay for around $2k

pretty sure that mike curotto is a member here. he will know all there is to know about this drum and its value. let's hope he see this thread.

mike

Alittle info.off the top of my head.Ludwig did have a snare from 1919 to 1926 named "Inspiration" it was a brass shell drum that was in black nickle plating to the shell.These drum's came in a few size's if i re-call right from 4" to 6.5" deep 14" and 15" head size.But this line only came with 6 lugs the hardwear was in gold plated.Ludwig also in 1923-1926 came out with the "Deluxe" model snare drum's 8 lug shell with gold plated hardwear.Both the "Inspiration" and the "Deluxe" models were not engraved guy's call them the poor man's B.B. because both of these model's were the same shell as a B.B that was ingraved shells..Your drum is a 1923-26 "Deluxe" model.As far as the trade you would be ahead of the game on the trade..Mikey

The 8 lug gold plated/no engraving snare drum cost was around $45 new in the 20's,and I recall the engraved drums were $36...

$9 difference was a lot,when the average wage was around 20-25 cents AN HOUR!

I had a Luddy 4 by 14 gold hardware drum/no engraving around 20 years ago.......came with a 24" BD with gold plated hardware (single tension) ,and a factory oil painted scene on the front head........

24" is a VERY rare size for early 20's!

Got them both for $200!..

There was a tag hanging off the BD when I bought them that said $75....

i asked what that was about,and they said thats what they paid for them at a yard sale!

I personally believe a rich guy bought them for his kid..hence the gold plating/small sizes...custom ordered BD too I think....

Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors bought the snare,and believe he still has it..

A guy in Ann Arbor,Mich bought the BD to put a round piece of glass over it for a coffee table!..Got $500 alone for that...

I've sold a Stingray for around $750 in nice condtion/used

I think that matches up with that drum, being a $1000 piece.

Give or take.

I think I'm gonna go for it. the bass is an '08 Stingray 5 HH in perfect condition, so those are selling for a bit more than $1,000, but this is an old band-mate and a dear friend.

He's being hit suddenly with very big gigs since the girl he plays for just signed with Interscope. He's scrambling to get a better axe than the one he's got and is willing to trade since this drum has just been sitting in a closet for a decade.

Any idea who I could contact to dig up some replacement parts? I know that it's missing a tension rod or two. Possibly a tension hook or two as well.

The owner is heading back up to northern California over Christmas and is going to bring back whatever parts he has. He thinks he might have the original gut snare wires.

If the snare wires and original heads turn up, I'll probably just store them.

I plan to play this baby, but I also want to preserve it as best I can. What would you guys suggest? Leave it completely alone? get it cleaned up and or re-plated? Clear coat it? I don't want the drum to suffer in my care.