Ludwig Supraphonic LM 402 question

[Mdrummer]

Hi, I have a couple of questions.
I'm going to buy this Supraphonic snare for 150$
1. Is it worth 150$?
2. How could I clean it, and with what?
3. Can it be cleaned at all?
Thanks!!!

[cdrums21]

To answer your questions in my opinion...

1) It's probably worth right around what you are paying for it. It is pitted up a bit, which is inherant to supraphonics (the chrome over the steel/aluminum alloy doesn't hold up well over time), but it's looks like a blue/olive badge supra from the 70's and they sound great.
2) Any chrome polish/cleaner should work. I prefer this stuff called "Never dull". It's a wadding that has the chemical impregnated into the wadding. It's awesome. You would probably want to take the drum apart, lugs and all, and clean up everything reall well. Slap it back together and it should look pretty decent. Again, some of the rust/pitting won't come off. That's a supraphonic's MO.
3) Yes!

[Mdrummer]

To answer your questions in my opinion...

1) It's probably worth right around what you are paying for it. It is pitted up a bit, which is inherant to supraphonics (the chrome over the steel/aluminum alloy doesn't hold up well over time), but it's looks like a blue/olive badge supra from the 70's and they sound great.
2) Any chrome polish/cleaner should work. I prefer this stuff called "Never dull". It's a wadding that has the chemical impregnated into the wadding. It's awesome. You would probably want to take the drum apart, lugs and all, and clean up everything reall well. Slap it back together and it should look pretty decent. Again, some of the rust/pitting won't come off. That's a supraphonic's MO.
3) Yes!
Thank you man very very much!

[Mendozart]

I'm sure LVDC will be around shortly to give you some great tips on how to clean this drum up properly. You should definitely completely dissassemble this drum to clean it properly though.

[Mdrummer]

I'm sure LVDC will be around shortly to give you some great tips on how to clean this drum up properly. You should definitely completely dissassemble this drum to clean it properly though.
Thanks, so Mr. LVDC I'm waiting for your instructions.

[Mdrummer]

I have bring it home and start to polish.
This is phase one.
Polishing the shell.
Results:

[Mendozart]

That looks a whole lot better now. I'm surprised LVDC hasn't chimed in by now, he must be on vacation. It looks like you've got it under control though.

[Mdrummer]

Phase two;
polished lugs installed:

[Mdrummer]

Cleaning complete,
Results:

[Mdrummer]

And my SupraCat Gizmo:

[rhydianjlewis]

WOW, those results are spectacular!

You got a real bargain there, the previous owner probably didnt know it could be cleaned up that nicely!

[LiveGoat]

Great Job! Thats 150 bucks well spent. I see you removed the tone controller. Good call. Mine always came loose from playing and the little metal do-hicky would rattle around on the bottom head.

--LG

[cdrums21]

Awesome job man! That drum looks great! It oughta sound really sweet too....well worth the $150. Congrats!

[Steady Freddy]

That Supra looks great. Awesome job. Should be a really great drum, and for $150.00 you can't go wrong. Congrats!

[themac5150]

That turned out amazingly better than I would have expected! Although my eyes can't handle the sacrilege of the head selection.... LOL

[onemat]

The drum looks amazing and you got $1000.00 worth of sound options with that drum.
Matt

[KarlCrafton]

Great job!
Looks super, and you'll get years of enjoyment out of it!

[Shedboyxx]

I'd love to find a deal like you did.

My first thought when I saw the snare in original condition was that it was worth the money - regardless of how it cleaned up. For me that's for a 'player' drum. One that could look like whatever but sound wonderful. Check out how many older guitars and basses look like they were in war zone yet sell for top dollar. Same thing with great drums. You just have to not want 'ooo-shiny' more than a killer sound.

However.

I'll chime in and say great cleanup job and congrats on your 'A-Bonham-nator' :)

Jim