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Rare Models

Rare Models

12 x 5.5 Chris Adler Signature

12 x 5.5 Chris Adler Signature

BPWM2550BCANO

Rare

Rare
In 1995, Lamb Of God founding member and drummer, Chris Adler was browsing around a local drum shop, searching for a snare drum to complete the drum set he planned on using for recording with his new band. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for at the time, but he knew that the snare drum...
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12 x 5.5 Chris Adler Warbird (2015)

12 x 5.5 Chris Adler Warbird (2015)

BPMW255LWH

Rare

Rare
Chris’s snare drum is custom engraved with his own Warbird design and sounds as awesome as it looks. The 12” x 5 1/2” 6 Ply Maple / Walnut shell delivers an intense, dark punch when tuned low and an explosive pop when cranked high. With addition of the SONIClear™ Bearing Edge the sounds that this...
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12 x 7 Cherry & Maple (Gloss Black)

12 x 7 Cherry & Maple (Gloss Black)

Rare

Rare
The clever money is on this being another variation of the Cherry & Maple model that was given away with purchases of certain ProM kits in 2006, this time in Gloss Black. It does seem quite a bit rarer than it's gloss natural cherry cousin - I didn't even know it existed until it surfaced in ...
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13 x 6 Cherry & Maple

13 x 6 Cherry & Maple

BPCM3605MB

Rare

Rare
Details are a little sketchy on this one, as it was given away with purchases of certain ProM kits in 2008 and then disappeared completely. There's no actual specs in the catalogue, but we're assuming the construction is similar to the 12"x7" version; feel free to chip in if you know different.
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13 x 6 Premium Maple Wax Natural Limited Edition

13 x 6 Premium Maple Wax Natural Limited Edition

Rare

Rare
This limited edition model is a bit of a strange "mash-up" to be perfectly honest. That's doesn't mean it's not a great snare - I'm sure it sounds fantastic. It's just that it was released in late 2012, has the tall rounded rectangle Black Panther badge, but features the pre-2010 low-mass lu...
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13 x 7 Birds Eye Maple Natural Gloss

13 x 7 Birds Eye Maple Natural Gloss

Rare

Rare
Bit of a rare one this. Initially spotted in March 2022 on an listing (eBay and Reverb) from Absolute Music in the UK, and then another flagged up on eBay a couple of months later.   13"x7" isn't a tremendously popular size - Rees Bridges told me that he had his signature model sp...
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14 x 3.5 Brass - Limited Edition 500

14 x 3.5 Brass - Limited Edition 500

Rare

Rare
Ok - since this is an early model, you could argue about whether it is technically a Black Panther until you go blue in the face. However...look at it! It's got all the hallmarks of the Black Panther line, right down to the correct piccolo lugs. I've seen a few Brass 500 Limited Editions in othe...
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14 x 3.5 Maple Classic - Limited Edition 200

14 x 3.5 Maple Classic - Limited Edition 200

Rare

Rare
It's amazing what you find on the Internet when you're looking for something else! Spotted this in February 2023 while trying to track down more information about the Power Steel Limited 200 model that Zack Cruz had found.  It was sold Yahoo Auctions Japan in early 2022 and went for a ...
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14 x 4⅝ Russ Miller Versatus (2015)

14 x 4⅝ Russ Miller Versatus (2015)

BPMH445LRCY

Rare

Rare
The 14” x 4 5/8” hybrid Mahogany/Maple delivers a sound that is warm, open, and explosive. Using a unique combination of bearing edges, with reinforcement on the batter side and a rounded non-reinforced 35° bearing edge on the snare side the Versatus possesses versatility, articulation, and cont...
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14 x 5.5 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

14 x 5.5 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

BPML4550SUCTO

Rare

Rare
Available in three depths, this 14"x5.5" is the baby of the special edition trio, which were on the market in the early 2010s. The maple shell features a particularly handsome "Ash Burl Coffee Burst" finish and a Saturn standard strainer, not uncommon in such special editions. This model was bro...
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14 x 5.5 Babylonian Stainless Steel

14 x 5.5 Babylonian Stainless Steel

Rare

Rare
Stainless steel shell, etched with Babylonian graphics Produced in 2005 and limited to 500 worldwide, with around 50 being brought in to the UK. (Anecdotal production numbers from sellers only - Mapex citation needed)
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14 x 5.5 Birdseye Maple Antique Ivory

14 x 5.5 Birdseye Maple Antique Ivory

Rare

Rare
There's not a lot of information on this one, as it was spotted in a Facebook Marketplace listing in December 2021. The kit it was being sold with was the classic Antique Ivory Orion Classic with gold lugs/chrome hoops. Mapex did do some of these matching Black Panther snares that weren't part of...
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14 x 5.5 Carmine Appice Signature Snare

14 x 5.5 Carmine Appice Signature Snare

Rare

Rare
This rare model doesn't appear in any catalogue or advert I can find but I found some information in an old issue of Modern Drummer from 1996. There's a piece about the Winter NAMM show that year, and it includes Mapex's release of this snare. It's not exactly a high-resolution scan (see below) b...
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14 x 5.5 Deep Forest Vavona Burlwood

14 x 5.5 Deep Forest Vavona Burlwood

BPBV455L

Rare

Rare
The Vavona Burlwood Snare drum is being heralded as Black Panther's latest achievement in exotic beauty and sonic perfection. There were only 200 made of the 14" shells made worldwide so they are pretty rare.  Because the Vavona Burlwood comes from a source exclusive to Mapex, the company w...
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14 x 5.5 Gold Fade Maple

14 x 5.5 Gold Fade Maple

Rare

Rare
Produced in the early 2000s, this maple shell in Gold Fade with gold hardware would very probably have been made to match an Orion kit in the same finish. Like all the kits with gold lugs featured in the 2000 Mapex catalogue, the snare has all gold hardware, whereas the kit has gold lug...
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14 x 5.5 Heritage Limited Edition

14 x 5.5 Heritage Limited Edition

BPML4550CSEWT

Rare

Rare
The Mapex Black Panther Heritage Limited Edition has a maple shell and a figured burl finish. This is from 2013 and is a totally different drum from the much later 2020 Heritage model. Images courtesy of Antonio Rodriguez and Graham Russell Drums
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14 x 5.5 Kung Fu Stainless Steel

14 x 5.5 Kung Fu Stainless Steel

BPST455KFU

Rare

Rare
Black plated stainless steel shell, etched with graphics representing the arsenal of Kung Fu weaponry: spear, hammer, knife, sword and bow. Included special edition drum head and heavy duty padded carrying case. Produced in 2007. Note: If you look at the single "catalogue shot" (on the whi...
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14 x 5.5 Maple Classic - Limited Edition 200

14 x 5.5 Maple Classic - Limited Edition 200

Rare

Rare
Spotted this in February 2023 while trying to track down more information about the other two Limited 200 models (links below).  Like its siblingsm there is almost no information on it, and in this case unfortunately, only one low-res photo that I can find. I can't even access the auction p...
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14 x 5.5 Maple Imperial Burst

14 x 5.5 Maple Imperial Burst

Rare

Rare
A very close sibling of Lilac Burst, Imperial Burst was more popular and therefore available for far longer in the Mapex range. There's not a huge amount in it, especially in low light, but in brighter conditions you can see that Imperial Burst fades to red rather than the purple of Lilac Bu...
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14 x 5.5 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

14 x 5.5 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

Rare

Rare
Like its big brothers, there's not a huge amount of information on this Limited Edition snare, but piecing together information from videos from the Drum Center of Portsmouth and a few random sales listings, it appears to have been made in late 2013. According to Shane at DCP, Mapex made thr...
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14 x 5.5 Mayan/Aztec

14 x 5.5 Mayan/Aztec

BPST455MA

Rare

Rare
This beautifully crafted Black Panther snare drum captures the bold spirit of the ancient Mayan civilization.This 14x5.5, 1.0mm steel shell is embossed with traditional Mayan eagle/human mask art. The shell’s bearing edge is rounded on the batter side for greater head to shell contact. The result...
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14 x 5.5 Memphis

14 x 5.5 Memphis

Rare

Rare
Maple and Walnut shell. UK only limited edition. Made to replicate the American Soul sound, hence the name, the snare has a 7.88mm shell: 2-ply of Maple and 4-plys of Walnut to give a loud 'crack' with a lovely warm tone. It has a lacquered Burl Maple outer ply and comes with chrom...
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14 x 5.5 Power Steel - Limited Edition 200

14 x 5.5 Power Steel - Limited Edition 200

Rare

Rare
First spotted by long-time contributer Zack Cruz in February 2023, there's very little information available (so far) on this rare Taiwan produced Japan-only model. Zack saw it up for sale on eBay by a Japanese seller and, after a bit of sleuthing, found it on the archived Mapex Japan website. Th...
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14 x 5.5 Seamless Solid Steel

14 x 5.5 Seamless Solid Steel

BPST455SLBR

Rare

Rare
This one is an absolute monster! Basically, Mapex cut a steel pipe into sections then routed the sound rings into it. Having personally used this on loads of gigs over the years, it does live up to it's reputation as a beast that has the power to cut through literally any music you can throw at i...
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14 x 5.5 Solid Bronze

14 x 5.5 Solid Bronze

SB4553D

Rare

Rare
This was released in 2002 as part of the Precious Metal series. Although that series was initially marketed separately to the Black Panther series, it was rolled up into the Black Panther range in 2004, annoyingly without the Solid Bronze models A bit of a Unicorn this; they don't come up for sa...
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14 x 5.5 Thomann Aztec

14 x 5.5 Thomann Aztec

Rare

Rare
This is the 10th Anniversary Thomann Special Edition of the Mayan/Aztec.  Exact details are a tad hard to track down but according to a German viewer the shell spec is the same as the standard Mayan (if you can call such a rare and expensive drum "standard"!) but with a different finish. 
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14 x 5.5 Thomann Natural Maple Burl Limited Edition

14 x 5.5 Thomann Natural Maple Burl Limited Edition

536019

Rare

Rare
One of two models released in November 2022 to surprisingly little fanfare, but spotted by Alex Wicheard (nice one - cheers Alex!). Both feature a shell that I haven't seen before in a Black Panther: a Maple-Birch-Walnut construction, including a burl finish. Moreover, unlike a few of the Thoman...
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14 x 5.5 Transparent Emerald Green Birdseye Maple

14 x 5.5 Transparent Emerald Green Birdseye Maple

Rare

Rare
This 14''x5.5'' Birdseye Maple model is another snare that dates from around 2000-2004, during the period when Mapex were making Black Panthers to match Orion kits. The example in the main shot and similar from Julio of Neko Music in Japan is from May 2001. Julio's example is in showroom conditio...
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14 x 5.5 Transparent Red Birdseye Maple

14 x 5.5 Transparent Red Birdseye Maple

Rare

Rare
I spotted this in early March 2022, during a late night dive down the Google Images rabbit hole, on a Polish selling site called Olx. The seller, Osse, was kind enough to respond to my hastily Google Translated (what did we do before this?!) query and let me share his photos. I don't h...
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14 x 5.5 Transparent Violet Birds Eye Maple

14 x 5.5 Transparent Violet Birds Eye Maple

Rare

Rare
You don't see too many of these around, especially with the Black Panther badge - definitely a relative of the 14 X 6.5 Transparent Violet Maple Deluxe. This one belongs to Levi Lateralus who kindly let me have these shots for the site. 
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14 x 5.5 Transparent Violet Maple

14 x 5.5 Transparent Violet Maple

Rare

Rare
This 14'' x 5.5'' Maple snare drum dates from 2003, during the period when Mapex were making Black Panthers to match Orion kits. Judging by the catalogues, this practice ran from about 1996-2003, so this model would have been produced right at the end of the era and is in surprisingly good condit...
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14 x 5.5 Tribal Stainless Steel

14 x 5.5 Tribal Stainless Steel

BPST4551EC / ST4551EC

Rare

Rare
Limited edition stainless steel shell, acid etched with Tribal graphics. Produced in 2006 and only 100 were available in the USA. You can see evidence of this on the internal sticker in Andy De-adman's pristine example: 1 of 100!   The drum features an unrivaled stainless steel shell w...
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14 x 5.5 Wax Cherry Red Birdseye Maple

14 x 5.5 Wax Cherry Red Birdseye Maple

Rare

Rare
As with many of these models from outside the standard range I don't have a huge amount of background on it. From the colour, the badge and the fact that it was made in Taiwan however, it will have been made somewhere in the later period between 1996 and 2003 when Mapex were making matching snare...
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14 x 6 The Matt Halpern Wraith

14 x 6 The Matt Halpern Wraith

BPBR460CSB

Rare

Rare
Bone-dry, winter-sharp; the ghost notes whisper while the backbeat wails. The 14” x 6” 1.2mm Brass Shell provides the foundation for every bone shattering rim shot. The 9 vents in the shell bring a touch of dryness to the overall sound best described as warm, open and explosive. Came fitted with...
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14 x 6 Thick Flamed Maple

14 x 6 Thick Flamed Maple

BPFM4600THT

Rare

Rare
The 15-ply extra thick shell features a traditional rounded bearing edge that provides increased shell to head contact and a traditional deep snare bed. The result is a warm, dark, full-bodied sound with incredibly soft feel. The flamed maple exterior veneer is finished in high-gloss, hand applie...
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14 x 6 Thick Maple

14 x 6 Thick Maple

BPML4600TBIL

Rare

Rare
The only official Black Panther sparkle finish released in the west, and (as far as I can tell) the only one ever where it's not a wrap. Good luck if you are after one of these - they are rare as hen's teeth. I eventually managed to get my hands on one from Graham Russell Drums in March...
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14 x 6.5 30th Anniversary Modern Classic

14 x 6.5 30th Anniversary Modern Classic

SEBPWN465CWH

Rare

Rare
The 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Snare Drum is a throwback tribute to the widely admired Deep Forest Snare Drum of the 1990’s. Made of the same natural finished 100% walnut plies, this drum’s Dark, Rich Saturating Tone is sure to awaken every drummer’s inspiration for a solid backbeat. The so...
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14 x 6.5 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

14 x 6.5 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

BPML4650SUCTO

Rare

Rare
Available in three depths, this 14"x6.5" is the middle of the special edition trio, which were on the market in the early 2010s. The maple shell features a particularly handsome "Ash Burl Coffee Burst" finish and a Saturn standard strainer, not uncommon in such special editions. This model came ...
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14 x 6.5 Heritage Limited Edition

14 x 6.5 Heritage Limited Edition

BPML4650CSEWT

Rare

Rare
The Mapex Black Panther Heritage Limited Edition has a maple shell with a figured burl finish. This is from 2013 and is a totally different drum from the much later 2020 Heritage model.
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14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe - Transparent Red

14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe - Transparent Red

Rare

Rare
One more in the Maple Deluxe family produced somewhere between 1996 and 2000. It was made to match a kit in the same finish - and we know that because Paul Dasilva was lucky enough to get both the kit and the snare in April 2022!  Given its age it's in excellent condition, as is the kit - y...
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14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe - Wax Natural

14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe - Wax Natural

Rare

Rare
Given the badge and hardware on this Maple Deluxe, it would have been produced somewhere between 1996 and 2000. As it's not black, it would very likely have been made to match an Orion kit in the same Wax Natural finish. I found this example in April 2022 on the South American selling site&n...
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14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe Emerald Green

14 x 6.5 Maple Deluxe Emerald Green

Rare

Rare
A rarity from the late 90s, spotted on an eBay listing by Bill (bepdrumsqi) in Jan 2022.  To be honest, his description is pretty comprehensive, as are his set of photos, so I'll get out of the way and let him do the talking.  This fine snare accompanied the matching Orion Classic M...
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14 x 6.5 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

14 x 6.5 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

Rare

Rare
Like its two brothers, there's not a huge amount of information on this Limited Edition snare, but piecing together information from the video from the Drum Center of Portsmouth and a few random sales listings, it appears to have been made in late 2013. According to Shane at DCP, Mapex made ...
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14 x 6.5 Solid Bronze

14 x 6.5 Solid Bronze

SB4653D

Rare

Rare
Just like its slightly slimmer brother, this was released in 2002 as part of the Precious Metal series. Although that series was initially marketed separately to the Black Panther series, it was rolled up into the Black Panther range in 2004, annoyingly without the Solid Bronze models A total Un...
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14 x 6.5 Thomann Birch Special Edition

14 x 6.5 Thomann Birch Special Edition

Rare

Rare
Another Thomann special Edition that I spotted on one of my random trawls around the net in March 2022. It was on an old listing from Horny's Drums and Jake himself was kind enough to send over the shots. Apparently this was actually one of his personal snares he had sold off, and to quote J...
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14 x 6.5 Thomann Maple Burl Black Limited Edition

14 x 6.5 Thomann Maple Burl Black Limited Edition

536020

Rare

Rare
One of two models released in November 2022 to surprisingly little fanfare, but spotted by Alex Wicheard (nice one - cheers Alex!). Both feature a shell that I haven't seen before in a Black Panther: a Maple-Birch-Walnut construction, including a burl finish. Moreover, unlike a few of the Thoman...
Full Details
14 x 6.5 Transparent Violet Birds Eye Maple (Gold Hardware)

14 x 6.5 Transparent Violet Birds Eye Maple (Gold Hardware)

Rare

Rare
The sibling to the really quite rare 14 X 6.5 Transparent Violet Maple Deluxe, this was spotted on a Facebook post by Kendall Pariah Divoll in April 2023. Kendall says he'd wanted one since he was a teenager and thanks to his friend (and long time contributer to this site and the Facebo...
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14 x 6.5 Transparent Violet Maple Deluxe

14 x 6.5 Transparent Violet Maple Deluxe

Rare

Rare
Not too many of these around now. By her owner's admission, this old girl has seen better days (haven't we all!) but I bet she's just biding her time to kick some ass again. 
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14 x 8 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

14 x 8 Ash Burl Coffee Burst Maple Special Edition

BPML4800SUCTO

Rare

Rare
Spotted this rare beast in a photo with some other Black Panthers in a reply to a post on the Mapex Drums Facebook Page by Roberto Vazquez in late 2021 and had no idea what it was.  Roberto was kind enough to reply with the details and send a photo of the drum on its own. It's a 10-lu...
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14 x 8 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

14 x 8 Maple Limited Edition Rosewood Veneer

Rare

Rare
There's not a huge amount of information on this Limited Edition snare, but piecing together information from the video from the Drum Center of Portsmouth and a few random sales listings, it appears to have been made in late 2013. According to Shane at DCP, Mapex made three sizes of limited ...
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14" x 8" Ralph Peterson Onyx Limited Edition

14" x 8" Ralph Peterson Onyx Limited Edition

SEBPNML4800BKTB

Rare

Rare
Announced on 12 November 2021, this special limited release snare drum was designed (just two weeks before his passing) to Ralph’s preferred specs in both looks and sound, representing a style and personality missed by all who knew him. Ralph was the longest-running artist endorser in t...
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14x 6.5 Premium Maple Wax Natural Limited Edition

14x 6.5 Premium Maple Wax Natural Limited Edition

Rare

Rare
Like its 13"x6" baby brother, this limited edition model is a bit of a strange "mash-up". It has the 2010-2013 tall rounded rectangle Black Panther badge, but features the pre-2010 low-mass lugs, 2.3mm Powerhoops and a Saturn strainer. Personally (and I have nothing to back this up - it's just a ...
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