Hi all. I am new to the forum but in no means new to drumming. I look forward to learning about any issues I have and lending any knowledge from my experiences. I like Ludwigs and currently own three vistalite kits (clear, black and blue/clear spiral). At this time though I am a bit distraught. I got a great deal on a black vistalite snare to go with the rest of my kit ($85, needed a bottom rim and heads). I looked it over well. No issues. After stripping and cleaning I reassembled and began putting on the heads. I put the bottom and top heads on, not too tight. then I went to tighten a bit more for a higher pitch. I heard a pop. I thought it was the head breaking in. Five minutes later (after I set the snare down) I heard another pop. Uh oh. I knew. A series of small cracks appeared around the badge. I did not over tighten the lugs when I reinstalled them. Anyone know what happened? Has this happened to any of you? I have since filled the area with Weld On but did not put the heads back on yet. Crap!

Thats a new one to me.The shell cracking at the grommet hole at badge.Most of the cracks you will find and see on these vintage vista's are that the lug and mounts holes.You will also find cracks at the edges of the drums running up the shell ete.Like i said cracks around the grommet hole is new to me.Justa side note on these shells the pattern drums seem to have more cracking problems then the single color shells.I have 30 of these vintage sets from 1975-77 i collect them but don't play them alot.But when i do i use a new set of vista's so if they crack and they do no problem i just replace the shell..Mikey

It just seems odd that tightening a head would crack it. I was hoping that someone knew what to avoid when replacing a head on vistalites. After your comment about the pattern sets I don't think I'll ever touch the blue/clear pattern C snare now.