Late 70's Converted LUDWIG Piccolo

Thought I'd Share this with the forum. This is a 14" X 4-1/4" LUDWIG Piccolo snare I built out of a 14 X 13 Concert tom. It's 6-ply Maple Poplar Mahogany shell with Clear Maple Interior.

I picked up this 14 X 13 Concert tom off of ebay a few months ago. It was originally 10 lug with a clip mount. But someone NOT ME drilled out the bottom for 10 more lugs but did a real bad job of it. Then for some reason drilled the top out for large lugs. So you had large lugs on top, small on the bottom. Also a modular mount was drilled into it just a couple of spots away for the badge. Pour shell was really butchered. So I took it and cut out the undrilled centre portion out of the shell. Was only able to get 4-1/2 out of it but lost almost a 1/4" of an inch when the shell was trued up and new baring edges where cut. I did all the measuring, mapping out and drilling for the hardware myself. Baring edges and snare beds I had done professionally.

I think it turned out really well. I was inspired by the 60's Down beat Ludwig Piccolo snare and the Slingerland piccolo Buddy Rich used in the late 60's. All of the hardware is Vintage Ludwig. Except for the throw off and Snare wires. They are new. The wrap is the original white cortex wrap, and the Badge is the original Badge. I gave it a few quick taps and it sounds pretty good. I'll have to take it to practice and give her a good test. Hopefully I will be able to sell it down the road.

Here's a few more shots.

[idrum4fun]

Beautiful! You brought a sad drum back to life! I was also thinking "Buddy Rich" when I saw it. Again, a fine restoration on a drum that might have ended up in the trash heap!

-Mark

[vintagemore2000]

cool looking indeed !

Originally Posted by idrum4fun

Beautiful! You brought a sad drum back to life! I was also thinking "Buddy Rich" when I saw it. Again, a fine restoration on a drum that might have ended up in the trash heap!

-Mark

Thank You For the kind words. When you said Trash Heap I got a cold shiver up my spine.

[clubdate64]

I'm considering doing this with a 10x14 concert tom I have that has been drilled for multiple mounts as well.
Did you use a table saw to cut the shell down?

Great save! Looks really professional.

Originally Posted by clubdate64

I'm considering doing this with a 10x14 concert tom I have that has been drilled for multiple mounts as well.
Did you use a table saw to cut the shell down?

Great save! Looks really professional.

YEP!!!. That's exactly how it was done. Just put the shell against the fence of the table saw, push the shell into the blade and spin the shell.