I just received an awesome 1959 Ludwig drum set. 14x22, 9x13, 5.5x14 super classics in white marine pearl. I was removing the heads just to inspect the drums and I found something startling. The 9x13 has a clear maple interior with maple re-enforcement rings. At first I thought the worst and that someone had pawned off a newer Ludwig 70's shell as a late 50's transition period tom. But the badge and grommet look good and the date stamp is as clear as day. The bass drum has the mahogany interiors and the snare (keystone badge without serial numbers) has the white paint. Pretty cool to have three different finishes on a matching kit. The store owner said that the prior owner had passed and his grandson brought the drums in. The story is that they were all purchased together in 1959-1960 and that there was never a floor tom. Included with the kit was Zildjian A hi-hats (very thin and 13 inch). An 18 inch Zildjian A crash that looks older but has a faded ink stamp that says medium and another even older Zildjian A 18 inch crash that has a key hole that is too thin for a modern cymbal stand's mounting hardware. The set also included a red Ludwig seat, two cymbal arms for the bass drum, hi-hat stand, speed king pedal and a flat based cymbal stand. Any thoughts on the solid maple tom interior?
Ludwig head scratcher
Nothing unusual I've had several kit's from this time period and WFL's also with clear interiors and the same color wood as yours is.
Nothing unusual I've had several kit's from this time period and WFL's also with clear interiors and the same color wood as yours is.
Really? That is awesome. I will say that the tom sounds amazing. The snare is date stamped January 1961 so I guess it is possible that the kit came together if the toms were sitting in the factory for a year and a half. The snare is as crisp and bold as any snare I have ever had. The bass drum sounds odd to me but that is because of the calf skin heads. Cool sound but not what I am used to. The snare has a weather master orchestra batter that sounds amazing.
Another possibility is that the set was sitting in a music store for a year or two and then someone wanted a WMP snare and they sold the snare they had in stock and then ordered in a replacement for the kit....or...the set may have had a metal snare (Super Ludwig) and the customer comes in and says he'll take the set but wants a matching wood shelled snare, store orders one in to make the sale.
As far as the different interiors nothing that unusual there.
Needs bigger photos! :-)
Mostly I'm curious about the snare. Is it a Jazz Festival, or Pioneer, or what?
-Erik
______
Early '70's Slingerland New Rock #50 in blue agate (20-16-13-12)
Late '50's WFL Swingster/Barrett Deems in black/gold Duco
'70's Slingerland Gene Krupa Sound King COB
early '70's Ludwig Acrolite
'80's Ludwig Rocker II 6 1/2" snare
Rogers Supreme Big "R" hi hat
Needs bigger photos! :-)Mostly I'm curious about the snare. Is it a Jazz Festival, or Pioneer, or what?
I just uploaded the photos from my work computer. When I use my laptop from home, the photos are never the same quality. I am not a tech guy so I cannot explain why the same photos uploaded from different computers show up differently. Having said that, the snare is an eight lug with the baseball bat throw off. The snare seems to have chrome hardware.
The snare is the Ludwig Super Classic. Unbelievable shape and stamped January 1961 with white interior.
- Share
- Report