Ludwig · Supraphonic 400 · 1960–present
Ludwig's 1960 catalog introduced the Super-Ludwig all-metal snare, one solid piece of brass beaded in the center, sold chrome plated as the No. 400 (5 x 14) and No. 402 (6.5 x 14). Joe Morello, quoted in the ad, said it cut through like crazy. By the 1964 catalog it had a one-piece Acousti-Perfect shell with no seam and a new name, the Supra-Phonic 400, and it came standard in the Super Classic, Downbeat and Hollywood outfits. Most later Supras have shells of Ludalloy, Ludwig's aluminum alloy, and Ludwig itself calls the brass Super-Ludwig a short run that became one of its most sought-after snares. Mitch Mitchell played a Supraphonic 400 through his years with Jimi Hendrix, and Charlie Watts kept one on his Gretsch kits into the late 1970s. It's still made as the LM400. A magnet won't separate the two shell metals, because neither brass nor aluminum is magnetic. The badge, the muffler knob and the snare beds tell you more, and brass drums are heavier. Buy on the shell and the plating, since the strainer, wires and heads are easy to replace.
Inside the shellSupraphonic 400
Vintage Drum Guide lists the tells for the early brass shells. They have a keystone badge with no serial number, a small round tone control knob and flange-crimped snare beds, while Ludalloy drums have the baseball bat muffler, a serial-numbered keystone or blue and olive badge and inward-crimped beds. Some brass shells carry a B or BR stamp inside. There are exceptions, including brass drums with blue and olive badges, so no single tell settles it.
The chrome pits and flakes, inside and out, and Ludalloy shells pit more than brass ones. Strainers wear and get swapped, and snare beds can be bent by careless reheading.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 1960s drum from a US seller, like the 1965 one at $604 delivered from a 100% seller, near the bottom of the $575–1,150 delivered band. There are at least 42 for sale, and the band runs high because Japan dealers ask about $960–2,000 delivered for drums that US sellers list at $430–700. New B-stock LM400s ask about $590–600 delivered, so a plain 1970s blue and olive badge drum shouldn't cost more than that. On any of them, check the photos for pitting or flaking chrome inside and out, and ask for a close look at the strainer and snare beds, since strainers get swapped and beds get bent. Skip the $2,300 1967 from a zero-feedback seller, and ask about serial 1224140 before buying it, since that drum is listed three times across two Japan shops.
$432.29est. delivered
The lowest delivered Supraphonic here at $432, a 14x5 with the blue and olive badge, so 1969 or later. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for photos of the chrome inside the shell and of the strainer.
Ludwig Supraphonic 14x5 Vintage Snare Drum Olive Blue
$604.04est. delivered
Titled 1965, the keystone-badge years, at $604 delivered from a 100% US seller, near the bottom of the band. Ask for the badge serial and a photo inside the shell to check the chrome.
1965 Ludwig Supraphonic Snare LM400
$502.94est. delivered
Titled very fine condition with new heads, so it should play as it arrives, at $503 delivered from a 100% seller. The title gives no year, so ask for the badge to date it.
Ludwig Supraphonic 5x14 very fine condition new heads
$1,136.28est. delivered
The early chrome-over-brass version, titled pre-serial with crimped beds, which are the catalog tells for the first brass shells. It's just under the top of the band from a 99.9% seller, so ask for a photo inside the shell for a B or BR stamp.
Ludwig Brass Supraphonic COB 5x14" Vintage 60s PreSerial Crimped Beds
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$432.29est. delivered
$400.00 + $32.29 shipping
Buy It Now$400.00
Good buy
Blue and olive badge, so 1969 on. No condition claim.
Seller: mungmaster2112
100% positive
Used$604.04est. delivered
$550.00 + $54.04 shipping
Buy It Now$550.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1965. Near the bottom of the band.
Seller: 509deadhead
100% positive
Used$502.94est. delivered
$375.00 + $127.94 shipping
Buy It Now$375.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled very fine with new heads. No year given.
Seller: robjac72
100% positive
Used$1,136.28est. delivered
$1,129.33 + $6.95 shipping
Buy It Now$1,129.33
Good buy
Titled pre-serial brass with crimped beds, the early version. Just under the band's top.
Seller: counterhoop
99.9% positive
Used$474.89est. delivered
$344.98 + $129.91 shipping
Buy It Now$344.98
Our take
Titled 70s blue and olive badge, needs cleaning. $130 shipping.
Seller: mother57
100% positive
![LUDWIG LM400 1960s Radick Metal Snare Drum [475851]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PBYAAeSwBrlqu0Hg/s-l500.jpg)
Used$1,050.00delivered
$1,050.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$1,050.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 1960s. Free shipping from a Japan shop, near the top of the band.
Seller: ishibashimusic
100% positive
![LUDWIG 70s L-400 Supraphonic 14x5, serial no. 1224140, snare drum [1224140]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UdUAAeSwf8pqqh3D/s-l500.jpg)
Used$983.00delivered
$983.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$983.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Serial 1224140 is also listed twice by another Japan shop. Confirm with the seller before offering.
Seller: ishibashimusic
100% positive
Used$2,300.00delivered
$2,300.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$2,300.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Zero-feedback seller in Japan, titled 1967 full original. About 2.4 times the median.
Seller: project_kj
No feedback yet
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