Another identification thread...

[Josh Conover]

Came across this snare on eBay. At first glance I thought someone just threw some Mastercast hoops on a snare and listed it as a Pearl prototype. But it looks to be legit(?). The most peculiar thing about it though is the strainer and adjustable butt. They look to be retro but I've never seen them before.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...obalID=EBAY-US

Pics in case the auction is deleted...

[Josh Conover]

More angles...

[Big King]

The seller goes out of his way to try and pass this snare off as being "Pearl." That is a red flag right there. there may be truth to what he is saying but he has zero proof, and if you don't have proof, it might as well not be true. He also drops the "Bell Bronze" buzzword. he is hoping someone will jump at that. My guess is that more than likely, it's a 3rd party shell, probably phosphor bronze, copper or something that someone dressed up with a Pearl Strainer, butt and hoops. Those tube lugs look strange, but they could be older tube lugs. I'm not sure on the era that throw-off is from. The fact that there is no badge is a problem in my eyes. It's an 8 lug snare. He goes out of his way to say how heavy and thick the drum is, but then says it weighs only 10-12 pounds? If it was some kind of rolled Bell Bronze, it would be much heavier than that. You also don't get a picture of where a badge would be. My guess is, there are 2 small holes in the shell where a badge was removed at some point. Looks like a Older, non beaded copper sensitone shell with tube lugs and a different pearl throwoff. It probably sounds pretty good, but I'm not buying his story about it being some sort of unique artist prototype. And I don't think it's worth $500.00.

[beermaniac]

do you really care if the shell isn't Pearl? Hardware looks fine and is made by Pearl, thus it's quality stuff. Does it really matter who made the shell itself? Since it 's metal it was made by Worldmax anyway. Sure, when it comes to resale value full Pearl would be worth more, but when it comes to playability? Id's say go for it if the price is right, as long as the shell is nice and round with good edges.

EDIT: just saw the 500$ post. LOLNOPE, not without a badge. Not for that price!

[AL PERCIVAL]

Hardware is Pearl. To my knowledge we never made a Bell Bronze shell or a phosphor bronze shell in that thickness. it looks nice though.

[Gord The Drummer]

It looks like phosphor bronze, but the hardware on the inside of the shell is not Pearl despite the strainer and other hardware being Pearl. I don't think this is a Pearl shell, it could be as the colour matches Pearl's phosphor bronze, but there are things that don't make sense.

[Josh Conover]

Right? I was thinking aftermarket shell with pearl hardware. It's just that the strainer and the buttplate look brand-new. It doesn't really look like any shell Pearl has ever made, that I know of anyway.

[2 basses4life]

it looks like someone took a 14x8 brass free-floater shell and hand attached normal snare hardware on it.

[Big King]

it looks like someone took a 14x8 brass free-floater shell and hand attached normal snare hardware on it.

I dont think free floaters have the folded lip on the bottom.

[Josh Conover]

I dont think free floaters have the folded lip on the bottom.

I've never seen one in person but photos seem to show otherwise.

[Big King]

I've never seen one in person but photos seem to show otherwise.

I've owned several brass FF snares over the years and never noticed the flip of the bottom lip. I guess I'll need to pay closer attention.

[Derek Wolfford]

Although I don't remember the tube lugs being on them, this looks like one of a few prototype concert snares we had made in the early-mid 2000's. They were really heavy and the sound wasn't spectacular which resulted in more modifications. It's definitely not a one-of-a-kind and wasn't related to any artist order.

[AXEMAN]

Most of the metal Pearl shells I have seen there is a label on the inside of the shell as well as the outside. The diecast hoops do not look like Pearl Diecast hoops. Or not like anything I have seen Pearl make for drumset drums.

However...more than anything else...I did not see a drum vent.

I did see and Evans HD Dry batter...and that head would be my last choice on any drum. Considering THIS drum does not have a vent...the HD Dry may be the best head choice for that drum.

It is a cool snare NOMATTER what it is though. I bet it sounds very good.

AXEMAN

[Josh Conover]

Most of the metal Pearl shells I have seen there is a label on the inside of the shell as well as the outside. The diecast hoops do not look like Pearl Diecast hoops. Or not like anything I have seen Pearl make for drumset drums. However...more than anything else...I did not see a drum vent. I did see and Evans HD Dry batter...and that head would be my last choice on any drum. Considering THIS drum does not have a vent...the HD Dry may be the best head choice for that drum. It is a cool snare NOMATTER what it is though. I bet it sounds very good. AXEMAN

I'm pretty sure these are Pearl's Mastercast hoops... The sticker is on both the top and the bottom rim.

And there is definitely a vent.

[LDdrummer]

I've owned several brass FF snares over the years and never noticed the flip of the bottom lip. I guess I'll need to pay closer attention.

The bottom edge does have a bend, but it is a 90 degree, not the traditional angles you see for bearing edges. It is just completely flat to sit on the FF chassis. It is also very small in comparison to most all metal edges on snares i have seen.