Not really much difference. It's the same shell with the same edges and same snare beds, snares and throw off made on the same machines by the same people in the same plant. It has different lugs (probably a bit lighter than the bowties) and different wrap (thinner than the stuff used on Jazz fests) so those two things might effect the sound slightly but all in all a Standard can sound just like a Jazzfest, it would likely be hard NOT to have it sound like a JF.

I have 5 Standard snares (looking for a bronze strata one to complete my "strata set") and at least five Jazz Fests and I sure don't hear much difference.

Thanks K.O.... I just bought my 2nd Standard, in Ruby Red. Love my other one, which is copper strata. I've never actually played a Jazz Festival, so I don't have a frame of reference to compare.

Copper Strata?

Must be either Bronze (orange and black) or Gold Strata (orange, silver-white, and black) as there wasn't any copper offered.

If it is Bronze let me know if you want to sell it.

Ok thanks. From your description mine must be Gold Strata then. Here's mine:

Yup, that's Gold Strata.

I already have one of those. Looks like you have a nice one.

Did the Strata snares (or sets) come is sparkle finishes?

Yes, there were four finishes they called "Sparkle Mists." There was red, gold, blue, and silver. The wrap was thinner and the sparkles finer than regular wrap. The blue often fades to a greenish hue and the silver fades to look almost like Champagne sparkle (to the point where many people think that is what it is even though that color was never offered on Standards).

They also had what they called "Astro" wraps which were similar to Satin Flame type wraps but with a somewhat different pattern to the waves.

All unique wraps that were not available on the more expensive Ludwigs.

The Stratas appear to have been the best sellers (at least they seem much more common today).

JKnerr! Welcome to the forum - nice to see you on here!

Here's the said beauty that's shipping out today or tomorrow: http://vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=50704

You're going to love it - super clean. Thanks again!

Ever since I got my first drum set in 1958, I've had an aversion to Ludwig drum sets. I know that this dislike began because it seemed that every young drummer I knew with a set of drums had Red, Gold, or Blue Sparkle Ludwigs. It also seemed to me that every adult drummer that I saw at weddings or on television played White Marine Pearl Ludwigs. So, I did not want that brand or those colors. I was required to play on the "house" set of new Ludwigs in a big regional battle of the bands in Chicago because Ludwig was one of the sponsors of the event. During our three song set, the tom mounts failed, the cymbal stand collapsed, and the tuning sucked. Remember the first big Rock n Roll show for the Wonders in the movie "That Thing You Do"? I lived it that night. I had only owned two Ludwig sets in the ensuing 50+ years. I bought them on the cheap, and used them for trade bait to get drums that I really wanted. Two years ago, I picked up a set of Ludwig Standards in Ruby Strata because they were not very expensive, and I had read many praises for these drums on the two drum forums where I spend way too much time. I immediately liked this drum set even though the lugs look like they have the chicken pox. I'm thinking of replacing the extremely pitted lugs with classic lugs if I can find enough of them for not too much money. I can't say that my opinion of Ludwig drums has changed. But, I do like this little set a whole lot.

Back to the topic......I don't know squat about a Jazz festival snare drum, and how it sounds and plays. This little snare drum is a good sounding and good playing drum.