The "Universal" has 6 lugs, & a thin brass shell. A "Pioneer has 8 lugs, & a heavier shell. The top hoop was usually stamped w/ the model designation on the Universal, but I've had a few w/ out the stamp. The Universal cannot be tightened very much before the shell begins to deform, therefore they tend to sound tubby, & do not make a crisp piccolo like one might think , about a 4X14.

> The Universal cannot be tightened very much before the shell begins to deform.

I guess there is a reason why so many drum models went the way of the Dodo!

John

tdennis, is there a way to exactly identify the shell at model and date? Also, It looks to be all original right down to the snares. What are these models selling for approx?

I am planning a trip to the Chicago Drum Show, would it be worth taking it with me?

The Universal is a beautiful drum, & an inexpensive slice of history. I have seen them sell for many years at $125-$175(mostly in the $150 range). (i.e., a recent ebay sale garnered $149 +$18 shipping, & it had the desirable 338 strainer). C. 1929 L&L started putting the 338 strainer on their Universal snare. The Universal may have some appeal to a young beginning collector who wants the excitement of a first tube lug snare. But, in the end, they will not satisfy a player who wants a good brass snare sound.

Hey! I'm about to trade for a 14x4 8-lug "All metal separate tension" snare from the 20s. I looked through the catalogs and found this to be the "dance" model. Would this be a "Pioneer" snare then? I couldn't find that term anywhere in the 20s catalogs. Roughly, about what do these snares go for? This particular one has the throw-off replaced, and a couple of the rim clips replaced as well...