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Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum - 5 x 14 inch - Black Nickel with 8-Lugs Demo

5" x 14" Brass Snare Drum with 8 Imperial Lugs and Triple-flanged Hoops - 8-lug, Black Nickel

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This item is in like-new condition and is in perfect working order. Includes all original accessories. This item ships in its original factory packaging.

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Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum - 5 x 14 inch - Black Nickel with 8-Lugs
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A Modern Black Beauty with a Classic Look

A hand-hammered brass shell and vintage brass lugs give this Ludwig Black Beauty Snare a retro look and dry attack. Vintage Black Beauties go for a pretty penny used. That's because hordes of drummers consider them the ultimate in tone and playability. Now you can take home that classic look and sound without the high premium. This snare delivers the definitive warm, fat metallic tone that we drummers aim for. Fitted with Ludwig's P85 Supraphonic strainer, the Black Beauty is super responsive, no matter how hard or soft you hit it. The Black Beauty is only available in limited quantities each year from Ludwig USA. Take it from Sweetwater: this is one instrument you'll want to play for a lifetime.

The Ludwig legacy

Since 1909, Ludwig drums have had one of the proudest legacies in percussion and are a favorite of Sweetwater drummers for their warm, punchy sound. The world has heard them under the sticks of Cream's Ginger Baker, keeping the pulse behind Queen at Live Aid, and laying down the monstrous beat of Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks." But their biggest break came when Ringo Starr proudly played them on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, making Ludwig a household name for aspiring and superstar drummers alike.

Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum Features:

  • 5" x 14" snare drum
  • Black chrome finish over brass shell
  • 8 vintage brass lugs
  • Triple-flanged hoops
  • P85 Supraphonic strainer

What is Demo Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call a "demo" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

What demo means to us is that we've had it out of the box, or maybe it was in a customer's hands for a few days and isn't "factory fresh" as a result. Every demo item we sell has Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty, and has been tested and verified up to "new" specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it's in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

When you buy a Demo item at Sweetwater, you get:
  • 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty™!
  • Products inspected and tested by our factory-authorized techs, guaranteed to function like new (or better)!
  • FREE shipping on most items
  • Equipment that will MEET or EXCEED your expectations!

Click HERE to browse our current inventory of Demo equipment. Purchasing demo gear from Sweetwater is a smart and safe way to save!

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

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Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Snare
  • Drum Depth: 5"
  • Drum Diameter: 14"
  • Shell Material: Brass with Nickel-plating
  • Shell Construction: 1.2mm
  • Hoops: Triple-flanged
  • Lugs: 8 x Imperial Lugs
  • Color: Black Nickel
  • Finish: Gloss
  • Heads: Weather Master Coated Batter
  • Manufacturer Part Number: LB414b

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

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Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

The sweetest tone

I purchased a b-stock 8 lug 5 inch black beauty in medium and medium high tuning the tone and sensitivity is amazing. I also have a 5 inch brass, a 6.5 brass black beauties and a 10 lug 6.5 black beauty. Of these drums my 8 lug is my favourite. I used in for orchestra, wind ensemble, and with my drum set with a big band. I have to admit I am a snare junkie buying 2 or 3 a year always in the hunt. I stopped buying snares since I purchased the 8 lug, it is all I use now period.
Music background: principal percussionist wild rivers symphony, wind ensemble, big bang, piano trio, theatre pit orchestra
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