back then i would not of cared id be too busy drooling all over my self

Great info. I have heard that Ludwig started mass producing their drums in the 60's, affecting quality, and that 70's are the way to go. Is there any truth to this?

I also found this kit on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LUDWIG-CLUB-DATE-VINTAGE-60S-22-BASS-DRUM-/120816853109?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c213ee075#ht_1118wt_952

Seems like I'd pay the same amount either way - what do you think is the better option here?

It looks like the craigslist 1969 kit is in better condition.. but the ebay club date is perhaps "more desirable" due to keystone badge...

I would stay away from that club date personally. It's a re-wrap and has too many issues.. If the SBP is minty I would pay the extra cash and be happy. Just my :2Cents:

I got a brand new Supra 402 as a young kid in 1971, after fantasizing about all things Ludwig with the old script logo. I remember feeling really excited about the fresh new B/O logo on my drum and given the choice at the time, probably would have chosen it over the keystone badge. But I've always been amazed at how random the use of these two logos seem to be with Ludwig. Not the greatest example of brand management IMHO. Even before re-issues, they seemed to have old script logos on some drums/parts and the newer logo on others. That is still true today. Guys like me who are 50+ have an affinity for both logos because we were around when the "transition" occurred. (Though it's arguable that it never really fully occurred). But I wonder what a 20-something thinks when they see a brand new Ludwig kit with the script logo on badges and bass drumhead with the other logo. Or maybe I just have too much time on my hands thinking about it. :D

In answer to the original question...I have a 3-ply clear interior 20/13/16 and it is awesome sounding. Has B/O badges.

Honestly,unless you like the BOP wrap better,I would stay with the clear int shells,that kit will be worth more eventually. The add says the clubbies are a 13 tom,14 ft,that devalues the kit somewhat IMO,and Ludwig offered a 15ft in catalogue kits with a 13 tom,and a 20 kick with a 12 and 14 ft,so unless that kit was a spec order,I think the 14 ft is not original with the set .The clear int sizes are better IMO,and a lot of people say the 3 ply clear int were the best shell Ludwig ever made.

As far as ludwig quality goes,Ludwig was making about 200 kits a week in 1963,very soon after the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show Ludwig had orders for three times that amount,so quality suffered for a few years after that,but the shells were made the same way up until 1976,when ludwig went to a uni mold straight sided 6 ply shell.

AWESOME info all around. I don't know much about old drums so the information here has been invaluable.

I am more interested in quality over perceived collectibility. Don't care much if the keystones are more valuable than blue/olive - the shells are identical, and the kit is gonna sound DIRTY. I'm getting the SBP blue/olive kit.

Thanks everyone for your input.

So I just bought the 1970 SBP set 13",16",22" from this guy on craigslist. The badges on both the kick and rack tom have no serial number, but the floor tom reads 1,754,653.

According to this source:

http://www.ludwig-drums.com/features/hoamld/serialnumbers.php

the floor tom could have been manufactured between '77-'79, but didn't Ludwig change their shells in 1976? My question is, basically, do I have a floor tom that does not match my rack tom and kick drum? Not that this would be the end of the world, but I thought I was paying for an all original kit here..

Like the chart says... many of the 1970 BO badges have no number. I had a complete 70's kit with no number BO badges. Out of sequence numbers were also used. The best way to tell, is the floor 3 ply with re rings or 6 ply? If it is 3 ply with natural interior I would say 1970. Didnt the Granitone interiors start in late 70 or 71? Ill let the experts narrow it down.

The interior of the floor tom is natural and has the same rings as the BD / RT.

Does this indicate a 3 ply shell? I can't distinguish whether it is 3 ply or 6ply.

It's just weird how the serial number 1,7xx,xxx dates this drum to late 70's, is it possible to have a 3 ply that dates as late as 77-79?

granitone seemed to start in march of 71 as drum inventory was being used up some march shells had a mix of clear and granitone