I have always thought that it was cheap but once I got a double tom set with 12" and 13" toms it just looks right.
Looking at your picture, I would agree. Looks nicely balanced, casing-wise.
I've always found Ludwigs to be easier to tune than Gretsch, so it's interesting to hear others report the opposite! Ah, variety - the spice of life....:)
Mitch
Lot's of vintage 5 lug out there. I have Slingerland 12" in 5, Two Rodgers tacked bottom head single tension transition lug from 1951 or so. Work just fine.
Creighton
I've always found Ludwigs to be easier to tune than Gretsch, so it's interesting to hear others report the opposite! Ah, variety - the spice of life....:)
Mitch[/QUOTE]
Maybe that's because my Ludwigs are late '64, '65.
Quality control on the "post Ed Sullivan" are usually pretty laxed.
My 1967 deluxe classic set lived most of its life without resonant heads so they aren't especially round or sharp.
So condition has a lot to do with my old tubs.
Where as my Gretsch looks like it sat in a closet. And it's late 70's/early 80's.
I'm a bit tired of hearing about the quality control issue with Ludwig after the The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan show. Most of the Ludwigs I've owned were from this time period as is the one I have now. Never had one bad sounding kit or had any problems tuning them. I'll take a mid 60's Ludwig over any kit from the same time period.
Yeah, it could have something to do with the age and mistreatment of the drums too.
My 65 combo has smaller wood hoops, steel hoops on the tom, and the breather/badge is not centered neither is the consolette.
My 64 is fine, fat hoops, brass rims ect.
But that is just on my drums.
My 65 combo has smaller wood hoops, steel hoops on the tom, and the breather/badge is not centered neither is the consolette.
My Ghost Kit-turned-Rustic Mahogany Club Dates have everything mis-aligned, everywhere. It's a hoot! In order to get the badge at True North, one of the spurs has about 3 inches of length on the other. I should take some pictures...
Anyway they sound fantastic, like butter.
Mitch
[QUOTE=K.O.;351968]... they always were five lugs from the beginning. Other drum companies (WFL for one) also used the 5 lug setup but eventually stepped up to six. Gretsch never changed.[QUOTE]
Thanks KO!
I'm a bit tired of hearing about the quality control issue with Ludwig after the The Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan show. Most of the Ludwigs I've owned were from this time period as is the one I have now. Never had one bad sounding kit or had any problems tuning them. I'll take a mid 60's Ludwig over any kit from the same time period.
I can empathise, and maybe one-up you on the "tired of it" issue. Many of the members here know that, for thirty years, I was a manufacturer's rep for a major American maker of guitars, electronic gear, and drums. How many times (thousands) do you think I had to listen to yet another self-appointed authority "educate" me about the company I represented? I had plenty of time to learn how to be diplomatic while educating them about the real facts.
I can empathise, and maybe one-up you on the "tired of it" issue. Many of the members here know that, for thirty years, I was a manufacturer's rep for a major American maker of guitars, electronic gear, and drums. How many times (thousands) do you think I had to listen to yet another self-appointed authority "educate" me about the company I represented? I had plenty of time to learn how to be diplomatic while educating them about the real facts.
Respectfully, isn't the post-Beatles-on-Sullivan rush on Ludwigs and the resultant QC issues a well-documented phenomenon? What I mean is - I thought it was. :)
Is it then just a widely accepted myth?
Mitch
