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Overview
Spotted in August 2022 on Yahoo Auctions Japan by Julio Parades, at first blush you might, as I did, think this is a basic 12"x3.5" Brass Master piccolo snare. Not common, but there's a few of them around.
However, once I point out the finish (as Julio did to me) you can see it's a bit of a unicorn. Neither of us had seen a polished brass version of that model anywhere before; it certainly doesn't appear in any catalogue I've managed to find. The seller only wanted the equivalent of 100 Euros for it initially, so Julio chased it, but unfortunately someone offered much more than this towards the end of the auction, so to his annoyance he had to let it go. If you were the person who gazumped* Julio, please get in touch as we'd love more photos!
Note: The August 2022 auction listing says the snare is 15 years old, but it was clearly made in December 1998, so the maths is a bit out.
* Good old British word for making a higher offer for a house than someone whose offer has already been accepted by the seller and thus succeeding in acquiring the property. You're welcome.
Update April 2023
Turns out that this is the smaller piccolo in the "Golden Rod"* family of Japan-only Polished Brass Black Panthers. Information about this model didn't come to light until April 2023 when Julio from NekoMusic in Japan managed to get his hands on the 1999 Japan catalogue that featured the whole family.
It turns out that the range is actually called "Standard Brass", and (roughly) translating the text from the catalogue...
The Standard Brass is a different concept to the Black Panther. 2.3mm Powerhoops and 24K Gold hardware are fitted as standard. Brightness and tightness that are a bit different from the (normal) Black Panther are the major features of this snare.
So basically the same as the Black Brass model but with a different shell finish which gives a slightly different tone.
Shame they never made it out of Japan really eh?
*I have called the series the "Golden Rod" because
- That's an actual HTML colour (#DAA520) and I'm a web geek. Duh!
- Tom Doogan from the FB Page suggested that it's deeper sibling looked like C-3PO...and it 100% does!
- It's as arousing as the "Golden Rod Card" Look it up. Just maybe not at work....
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Original Text (原文)
スタンダードブラススネアドラムはあえてブラックパンサーとは異なるコンセプト製作。24金メッキをほどこした2.3ミリ厚のパワーフープを標準装備しました。ブラックパンサーとは一味異なる明るさとタイトさはこのスネアの大きな特徴です。
当方の出品をご覧いただきまして誠にありがとうございます！
Mapex スネアドラム ブラスシェル １２X3.5インチ、
１５年前位の物になります、現在は廃盤だと思われます、
フープなど所々ビッツがあります、内側は綺麗です、
トップヘッドはQホッパー、ティンバルスネア用です、
（サブでティンバレス的にも使用してました）ソフトケースは１４X6,5インチ用です、
チューニングボルト、スナッピースイッチ、等々、いずれも不具合ございません、
尚、中古品ですので、細かい傷など有ると思われますので、ノークレーム、ノーリターンでお願いします、
神経質な方のご入札お控え下さい。
プチプチシートで配送いたします
気持ちの良い取引ができるよう心掛けております。
よろしくお願いいたします。
Main photos taken from Yahoo Auctions in Japan and used for reference under fair use. Unfortunately it's impossible for me to contact the seller as Yahoo Auctions is blocked in the UK. If these are your photos, please do get in touch, as I'd love to get the back story on this rarity. Screenshots captured by Julio Parades from Neko Music in Japan - どうもありがとうございました Julio!
Additional photos courtesy of Alomy Zafat Prates Missio. ¡Muchas gracias Alomy!
