Because Ludwig sold so many more drums during the 60s than the other three, they were enharently of better quality (sound is subjective and really should not be discussed here).

Absolutely false.

It was precisely the high number of kits made that caused a slight decline in overall quality during the 60s for Ludwig.

Ringo chose Ludwig Downbeats because he liked them and they were the best drums.

According to Ivor Arbiter,who distributed Ludwig in England, Ringo pretty much only chose the colour-he passed by some Ludwig colour swatches on Arbiter's desk wanted jet black but they only had oyster in stock.The downbeats were chosen so Ringo would look big behind them and even the logo on the bass drum with the Ludwig so big was organized by Arbiter and his associates----probably along with Brian Epstein. The Beatles and Ludwig became a rock solid brand almost completely by serendipity.

Myth:

“Unlike Gretsch's equally-famous guitar line, the drum serial numbers offer little clue to the actual dates of manufacture.”

Gretsch used serial numbers in a very systematic way, but in part because Gretsch restarted serial number sequences (at least twice), it is very confusing. Production records were apparently lost in one of two fires in 1973, but the drums remain to tell the story. I acknowledge that not everyone agrees with my theory, but then not everyone has looked at over 5,000 drums as I have.

Some early Tama catalogs as in 76 and 77 state that Superstar shell were "rock maple".Proponents of this error who try to back up this claim state that one of the finishes offered by Tama was Natural Maple.Tama also offered Natural Walnut finish.There is no walnut in my 77 9600 series Superstars,and there is NO maple in Superstars either.The entire series was made with 100 % Japanese birch..period.

The use of the descriptive "rock maple" shell was an example of one hand not knowing what the other was doing.Tama to this day sends out catalogs with uncorrected errors.They state in their newest catalog that the stagstar series has an available 11(diameter)x9 tom.They of course ..do no exist.

A 12x9 tom is available only,reguardless of what the printed material says.

So..the use of the words natural maple..refer to the name of the finish ONLY,and not the shell material.

Steve B

Rogers SuperTen Chrome over Steel Big R Transition period

Myth: If a Big R SuperTen COS has both the Rogers Script Logo and the Big R Badge, it is from the 1976 transition period.

Truth:

The Big R era COS 5x14 SuperTen was built using existing shells throughout the Big R period. All 5x14 COS SuperTen snare drums have the Rogers Script Logo and the Big R Badge (in the old oval badge location, including the two screw holes for the O. B.). Snare drums built in 1980-81 with the No Serial Number USA Big R badge support this. Snare drums built after that, wearing six digit late number range badges, also support this. 1979-1983 USA and Japanese language Rogers catalogues support this.

The 6.5x14 SuperTen COS Oval Badge shell stock ran out in 1978 or 1979 and subsequent 6.5 drums were built on a Big R spec shell. The badge on these drums is located two panels to the left of the throw off, and there is no script logo on the drum.

Camco drums are worth Big Money

DOH

They are not, because I say so...

Laughing H

"The Beatles and Ludwig became a rock solid brand almost completely by serendipity."

Really CALFSKIN?? I'll bite about Ludwig, but the Beatles - serendipity? I always thought they were kinda good. Am I missing something?

I believe he was referring to the brands tied together ... the close association of The Beatles and Ludwig. The pair are synonymous somewhat due to that very serendipitous moment in Ivor's Music store.

Well ... that's how I read it anyway.

See, I just learned something here. I assume that the Fullereton drums were CBS and the others were pre-CBS because CBS had Fender in Fullerton at the same time...

Thanks for setting me straight!