1997 Mapex Black Panther Birdseye Maple Snare 14x5.5 - Made in Taiwan (11/97 Date)

Up for sale is a classic first-generation Mapex Black Panther Birdseye Maple snare from 1997. This drum is a true "player's piece"—it has clearly been gigged and loved for years, offering that sought-after vintage Black Panther warmth and "crack" that modern drums struggle to replicate. This drum comes from the highly regarded "Made in Taiwan" era, known for boutique-level build quality and exceptional tone.

Condition:Shell: The 6.1mm maple shell is in excellent condition with no structural issues. The birdseye figuring is beautiful and remains vibrant.

Bearing Edges: Perfect. I have inspected the edges and they are smooth and factory-clean. This drum tunes up effortlessly and has a massive tuning range.

Hardware: This drum was a workhorse. There are visible scratches and scuffs on the black chrome hardware (hoops and lugs) from years of active use. It doesn't affect the performance but gives the drum a great "road-worn" character.

Performance: Fully functional. The original dual-adjustment throw-off is smooth, and the die-cast hoops provide powerful, sharp rimshots.

Size: 14" x 5.5" (Standard versatile depth).Material: 100% North American Maple with a Birdseye Maple outer ply.

Hardware Finish: Original Black Chrome.

Hoops: Heavy-duty Die-Cast.

Lugs: 10 low-mass oval lugs.

Origin: Includes the original internal Black Panther sticker dated 11/97 and the gold rectangular "Flourish" made in Taiwan badge. This is a fantastic opportunity to grab a professional-grade, boutique-style snare that is ready to go back on the road or into the studio. It sounds incredible and is built like a tank. The 6.1mm maple shell combined with heavy die-cast hoops creates a versatile snare that is warm and woody for jazz/studio work, but loud and "poppy" when you lean into it. The original black chrome hardware gives it that stealthy, classic Black Panther look.