Ludwig No. 491 Supreme Snare 5.5x14 1965 - Mahogany Video

Ludwig Supreme Snare 5.5x14 No. 491 1965 - Mahogany

This Supreme model is pretty rare. Most Ludwig snares were either 5", 6" or 6.6". They made this for only a couple of years. The serial number dates it to 1965. I could only find it in one Ludwig catalog.

Wood ply shell with a stained mahogany outside ply. A lacquer finish instead of a plastic wrap to give the shell more resonance. It still has both original heads and snare wires. They even have a patent number on the snares; see the picture.

It has the classic white Ludwig inside paint. You can tell the inside ply is also mahogany. You can see the maple re-ring and the original bearing edge, which is in perfect condition. The date stamp is for Friday, June 25, 1965 It has the classic Ludwig "baseball bat" muffler, which is also in perfect condition. The classic Ludwig keystone badge has serial number 160177. The lugs are Ludwig bowties. Six lugs for a responsive, springy feel.

Sound:

When I think "snare," there's always one specific sound I hear in my head. I've never heard this from a real drum, until I heard this snare. It gives me chills! As a result, I'm pricing this on the high side because I don't want to let it go. This could easily become my "forever snare."

Condition

We completely took her apart and cleaned every piece. Then we buffed the shell and all the metal hardware.. The shell had a couple of small dents on the lacquer, which we repaired with period lacquer' Look at the pictures. There's also a picture of one small bit of pitting on the edge of the batter hoop.

Henry Nelson Luthiery stuff might cost more than other listings, but we think it's worth it. We're not going anywhere. We stand behind our gear. We do research and accurate descriptions. We test our stuff and usually do restoration work; sometimes light, sometimes intense (read our item descriptions for details). In addition, our vintage gear holds its value, unlike new stuff. If you buy a new $400 guitar, It's only worth $240 the second you leave the store! If you buy an instrument from us, it will likely be worth more than you paid after a couple of years. We have a no-hassle return policy. The return shipping is on you, but we refund every penny you paid. Simply return it in the same condition in a timely manner.