i saw a video on youtube where a guy got bought a snare from phantom regiment after the 2008 season was over. is this standard practice for all corps? if so, what's the best way to go about it? i would have loved to had one of crown's snares from 2009 season. that green looked awesome. thanks.

One of the Major Retailers, Forks or Memphis gets them in sometimes, you might want to give them a call. Some of the Distribution offices for some companies are not far from them and they developed a nice relationship with these guys.

I have a SCV drum from 2007. I bought it off of Forks Drum Closet. They has drums from several corps in stock when I bought mine.

It's common practice for corps and indoor lines to give their drums back to the companies that gave them to the group in the first place. The biggest issue with getting corps drums is that you basically get second pick if you only want a single drum. Most of the corps sets are sold as sets and most companies won't part out the sets until the know they won't sell them as a set.

I know a lot of the stuff goes through Forks Drum Closet and Chops Percussion, specifically Yamaha and Pearl stuff. I'm sure you could contact any of the companies to see whether they're selling the used drums direct or who they're selling them through.

Most of the major DCI corps send their used percussion gear back to the manufacturer, who then makes sure it's in working order and sends it out for sale through resellers.

Forks Drum Closet sells Pearl's used gear. Off the top of my head, I've seen Yamaha and Dynasty stuff go through Chops Percussion and Columbus Percussion.

sounds good guys. i will check those vendors out. i must say i'm really impressed with this website. everyone is really friendly and knowledgeable.

Also while your searching sites, try and get to know people in that circle of drum sales. When you have friends in the businesses you can catch things coming up ahead of time. Also look into WGI as well as drum corps, indoor units also do prototyping and hyping just as much as your DCI groups.

Glad your enjoying your DLO experience! We all try and keep this positive and helpful.

Sometimes indoor groups will get drums from corps within the same year or shortly after. Each manufacturer is different with their endorsement policies. For example, Pulse Percussion this past season used Colts drums from a few seasons ago. Other times the drums might get back to the manufacturer to have a new finish put on. It's cheaper for those manufacturers to sometimes have the drums re-finished to meet the next group's needs rather than build them from scratch especially when you are talking about free drums from group to group.

What I am getting at is though you may see a drum you like from certain corps, it may not be available for purchase.

i live in fort mill, sc(home of crown) and i go out and watch them during their winter camps. they didn't get the drums for this past season until spring training. they were still using 2009 models during auditions and winter camps.(i wonder if they still have one of those sweet green snares around). i should check with them about what they do with their drums.

Yamaha corps send the drums back to Yamaha to be fixed up and resold.

Corps don't get their new drums until spring camps typically as it takes time for a decision to be made on the finish of the drums, the actual making and finishing of the drums, then shipping.