Welcome to the forum!!

Since you have a tumbler you are set. I do the tension rods by themselves. Unless the springs are really bad don't tumble them. I wipe the parts with 99% isopropyl Alcohol to remove the walnut oil polish and wax. Done.

Congrats on a great find.

Creighton

Welcome to the forum! Great score on the Ludwig Rockers! I got a similar deal but the cymbals that came with my kit were low end....yours are some very nice vintage zildjians. If you ever want to recover the drums, it's not too bad of a process. Here is a pic of mine before and after I recovered them. They are Ludwig Rockers as well.

Ketchup? No matter what the subject is you can always be surprised.

I know one of the finest luthiers in the country and he suggested...spit to clean your guitar. I have not yet had the necessity to try that suggestion!

It is really great to have such knowledgeable people to be able to identify both the drums and cymbals with such authority and specifics. Thank you all for your suggestions. Leaving the patina on the cymbals makes so much sense that I feel a little foolish for not having that option cross my mind.

As for recovering the drums, I was considering...fake fur from a craft store! You know, pure '60's vibe...!

Lame

So am I corrected in assuming that the ride with the broken center is one that "obviously" needs replaced? I was looking at the prices for a ride and discovered that most, and I do mean most, were more expensive than what I paid for the kit. (Guitar Center) Used? Use it? Just subtract it? Buy new (cheap foreign? Eye Ball )?

I'll make up my mind on the method of cleaning of the hardware once I get it apart and am able to inspect it closely for signs of damage. Thank you for the heads up in regards to the lug inserts. I will be extra careful with them. I think that where I might have some trouble is with the hi-hat stand as it is frozen in place. The pedal works but it sits on the pedal and the 3 legs are up in the air. I see "Blaster" in my future!

Thank you all again!

Cool1

There is nothing more telling then a photo. The reduction of size sacrificed some clarity.

Here are 2 more.

Looks like that cymbal is shot. The player probably had metal to metal contact when the cymbal was mounted on a stand.

In my opinion, Ebay and Reverb are the best places to find deals on used cymbals. When looking at photos of cymbals, I look for cracks at the bell of the cymbal; oblong center holes (keyholing), and for chips around the outer edge of the cymbal. Some cymbals could be warped and wavy. I stay clear of cymbals with those defects.

Regarding polishing cymbals:

I prefer polished cymbals because they have a brighter, crisper sound and the cymbals cut through music better. I use Zildjian cymbal cleaner and have used Brasso in the past with great results. Polish will remove logos though, so place a piece of painter's tape over the logo if you want to keep them. Ketchup won't remove logos, but it won't remove a lot of oxidation either- it's a happy medium. You might try wiping ketchup all over the cymbal, letting it set awhile, and then wiping it off with a soft cloth or sponge.

As others have mentioned, many folks who own older Zildjians tend not to polish them and remove the patina. Those cymbals would have a darker and more mellow sound.

I'm a little late to the party (any beer left?) and can't add too much to what everyone else has said.

As for getting a quality ride cymbal... Ebay is a good source. Also, keep an eye out on your local Craigslist site for ride cymbals. You can find nice used rides, crashes, and hats for decent prices. Much cheaper than new ones. Around the Houston area right now, Zildjian A Series Medium Rides are posted from $80-$150, to give you an idea.

Post photos later on once you get them cleaned and reassembled. As you can see, we LOVE photos around these parts!

If I ever make it to Ohio, I wanna see the studio!!!