If an early 60's solid maple Slingerland goes for $350, I assume there are wear & condition issues. These snares can go out of round. It's very common for the reinforcement ring to separate. etc etc. ... Condition determines the price. There's no reason to think there are generally any problems w/ early Slingerlands. A price of $350 doesn't signal a downward trend, it just reflects a certain Condition.

Thanks for the reply. Condition was top notch on both. I know one of em was 'in round' for sure, and the reinforc.... rings were still solid, hardware original and not pitted. One even still had the factory heads on it. The wraps were a little yellowed, but not bad - no cracking or bubbles. I guess I just stumbled across a couple good deals at the same time. :)

I've seen a few lately with asking prices between $300-400. Good deals for great snares!

These were very good deals. Ebay can be very quirky from week to week, & it shows what great deals one can luck into, if you fish consistently.

Sounds like some pretty good deals to me. I paid $300 for my late 50s Super Gene Krupa and it had some rusted, broken, and missing pieces. The nickel hardware was pretty rough, but most of it cleaned up nicely. Oh, and there was some ring separation that I had to tend to, and it's a little out-of-round - have to use Aquarian American Vintage heads. After much elbow-grease and Novus, the shell and hardware that is present looks pretty good. I've spent $150 in parts...if they'd ever get here, I'd have an awesome drum...for $450 and time.

Lynn