A friend of mine's got what I believe to be a WFL Buddy Rich Super Classic Kit with the keystone badge dated between 1948-1952 installed on all of the shells.
Would one of you WFL/Ludwig gurus be kind enough to let me know if this particular model of kit was available in the following sizes: 14x22 bass, 8x12 rack tom, 16x16 floor tom and 5.5x14 snare? I can't seem to find these sizes in any of the catalogs I've researched.
THANKS in advance for your help!
Oldschool, absolutely all these size where available during this time period! did the snare drum measure 5 1/2 x14" exactly??
Oldschool, absolutely all these size where available during this time period! did the snare drum measure 5 1/2 x14" exactly??
I'll be heading over there today and will measure it again. I'll definitely let you know. Based on my research, the 5 1/2 x 14" Buddy Rich Super Classic snare would be "period correct" for that time-frame.
oldschool. cool can't wait for your report, Yeah your correct about the BR super classic snare drum, what I'm asking is most of these don't actually measure 5 1/2 x14 exactly, they are usually a little larger? check it when you get to!
Gary!...
The "gray area" with your query is that the "WFL Buddy Rich Super Classic" wasn't offered in those particular sizes during those years... well, at least not in cataloged outfit form. One COULD substitute a 14X26 for the 14X24 bass drum!... and/or a 61/2X14 for the 51/2X14 snare drum, but that was it. The set came with a 9X13 and a 16X16 for toms... no other sizes were available. What does it all mean?... nothing really, as I suppose one "could" make those particular substitutions.. ( as those other sizes were being manufactured by WFL ) .. but then what would be the point as it would no longer be the "Buddy Rich Super Classic"... or perhaps that's just splittin' hairs! LOL!!
Tommyp
Hey OldSchool,
You described my kit almost exactly, same time frame 1948-1952.
14x22, 9x13, 16x16, 5 1/2 x14
(The 16x16 FT I bought new in 1965, so it's not exactly period correct)
oldschool. cool can't wait for your report, Yeah your correct about the BR super classic snare drum, what I'm asking is most of these don't actually measure 5 1/2 x14 exactly, they are usually a little larger? check it when you get to!
vintagemore2000: The current owner allowed me to remove the batter side head on the snare drum to re-measure it. It measured very close to 5 1/2. If it was in fact larger than that it was minimally so.
[QUOTE=Tommyp;86961]Gary!...
The "gray area" with your query is that the "WFL Buddy Rich Super Classic" wasn't offered in those particular sizes during those years... well, at least not in cataloged outfit form. One COULD substitute a 14X26 for the 14X24 bass drum!... and/or a 61/2X14 for the 51/2X14 snare drum, but that was it. The set came with a 9X13 and a 16X16 for toms... no other sizes were available. What does it all mean?... nothing really, as I suppose one "could" make those particular substitutions.. ( as those other sizes were being manufactured by WFL ) .. but then what would be the point as it would no longer be the "Buddy Rich Super Classic"... or perhaps that's just splittin' hairs! LOL!!
Tommyp: ALWAYS an honor to hear from you. Valid point, as usual. Perhaps this particular kit doesn't have a specific name. Maybe it's just a WFL kit with a Buddy Rich Super Classic snare!
The more I research this one the less I seem to know about it. From the research I've done, the WFL keystone badges on all the drums were issued between the years of 1948 and 1952. The WFL #778 "Clipper" rail consolette on the bass drum was issued between the years of 1949 and 1957 while the WFL spring-loaded bracket and straight legs on the floor tom were issued between the years of 1949 and 1955. The #1303 bass drum mounts and spurs were issued between the years of 1953 and 1984 while the muffler on the Buddy Rich Super Classic snare appears to be a Ludwig P-4066 (introduced in the early 50s) in lieu of a WFL P-40, issued between the years of 1938 and 1954.
There's also what appears to be a factory-installed L-arm mount on the bass drum which I can't seem to find in any catalog I've researched. I've attached a pic of this particular piece, hoping that someone might be able to identify it.
On a separate issue, I finally got a chance to use those Slingerland Buddy Rich-style cymbal stands that you were kind enough to sell to me at a "more than reasonable price" some time ago. They looked great with my Slingerland Green Glass Glitter kit that I recently put together and functioned even better. THANKS AGAIN for all of your help!
Hey OldSchool,You described my kit almost exactly, same time frame 1948-1952.14x22, 9x13, 16x16, 5 1/2 x14(The 16x16 FT I bought new in 1965, so it's not exactly period correct)
BATTERHEAD: Period correct or not that's a great looking kit! Thanks for sharing.
vintagemore2000: The current owner allowed me to remove the batter side head on the snare drum to re-measure it. It measured very close to 5 1/2. If it was in fact larger than that it was minimally so.
thanks Oldschool, Myself and a few other wfl Br super classic owners have noted how many are generally towards 6" than 5 1/2" If I'm answering this wrong and you already know the answer the metal round piece is a bass drum mounted cymbal holder!
