Looks like it went from the freezer to the oven.

Original finish that have been temperature abused most likely.

Please remove a couple lugs and post more pics. Never seen this before. NOT FACTORY. .... at least not factory anyone has seen. I would also like to know if there is any writing inside the drum. I know its a hassle to take a drum down and put it back together, but this may really help identify exactly what we are looking at here.

Good big pics. I need to see the edges where the finish meets the bearing edge top and bottom. I need to see the inside of the drum at the grommet to make sure its been un*********. I would like to see finish under the lug felts.

I am wanting to know if there is original finish underneath. I am wanting to know about heat blistering under the lugs, or the smell of smoke. Believe it or not, the smell of smoke under lugs can exist for 45 years or more. And, perhaps we can determine if this is a material applied over original finish. It may be possible to do a restoration.

I own drum number 114608. Not far from yours on the serial range.

Ploughman, those are all things I'd do if it were my drum. It is, however, someone else's. It's for sale, but they're at an unreasonably high price just now. I haven't been to see it in person, so can't answer questions about the smell of smoke and the like.

Does it look like an XP10 to you?

Serial number and grommet are genuine. The interior looks right.

If that is an original finish....... and that is something I cannot document.... it would be worth a lot, providing you had history on the drum. If there is a signature inside the drum, that would help to know.

If that crap is home depot crackle paint.... the drum is greatly devalued for what is is. I am leaning in this direction because of what I see in the badge close up. To me it appears the finish is higher than the badge. That means paint. It might be possible to remove that, and do a restoration to the original lacquer. I believe that is original finish you see in the cracks. If the drum wasnt sanded prior to crackle paint, it might be salvable.

I am curious, how much is he asking? In its present condition, if unoriginal on the finish, I dont think I would shell out beyond 250 for it, and that is more than its worth as it is. Providing the edges are unmallested it would be a great player.

Tomorrow morning I am going to pick up an 8x14 Superten that looks like brand new, and I have history on the drum.

Word from the seller: "Yes it was stored in an uncontrolled storage building for a short time."

A short time. Geologically speaking.

The gent is offering this fine snare drum at the bargain basement price--and it kills him to have to practically give it away like this--of $650.

Tell him no way.

I should know. I have eight of them as of tomorrow. Theres no way in the hell that drum is going to hit 650.00. First off, it is an eight inch drum. The most common by far. And an eight incher in perfect condition wont get 650.00 on a good day in this economy. 500... maybe. A 6.5 incher in perfect condition might get you 600-800 if someone wants it really bad. But not with that clown posse paint job.

$650!!! Isn't it always the way. I saw a mint condition one go here for $500 about two months ago and the $AU dollar is parity with the greenback. That paint just looks like severely stressed laquer to me; coupled with moisture at some stage - check out the rusty grommet. He'll need good luck getting $250, surely?

Nope. Typical for an unchromed brass grommet. I have a few drums that look identical in that area.

[IMG]http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/46200/2656963840028342110S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/49157/2357675660028342110S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/48578/2990191810028342110S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

And I will bet a ten spot it is paint. Any takers?