Hi VDF pals,
Not having the ability to identify types of wood at a glance, I have been unable to qualify the wood used to make the shell of a 1937 Ludwig 7x14 snare (date stamp 3701). I have been cruisin the internet off and on for days and have become unsure whether it is maple or mahogany as the few sellers of compareable snares are advertising as 'solid maple'. Did Ludwig use both of these woods in '37?
Cheers
Hello.
need pictures
yes, they used maple, poplar and mahogany
My 1941 Ludwig Junior kit is made from all solid maple single-ply shells and it was considered a juvenile drum set in its day! That's why pictures are important
If it is a solid shell from that era, it would be either maple or mahogany. Maple would be lighter in color ad mahogany would be very dark. For some reason, single ply mahogany shells were usually painted white inside (but then so were the three ply shells).
Thanks, I'm having a helluva time because all of the '37 snare brochures are stating mahogany. Here's photos...
great drum. anoher vote for maple.
mike
Sure looks like maple to me.
re: info given in Ludwig catalogs... They shouldn't be taken as the gospel. The company did a lot of crazy stuff over the years, either as special orders or they just used what was in stock at the factory at any given time.
What Buzz said. Back in the 50's and 60's, when most drummers shopped for drums, all they really cared about or knew about was that the drums were made of wood except for some metal snare drums. Of course, we all knew all the time that the cheaper imported drums used lesser varieties of woods for their shells. Some drummers would have preferences for the outer ply if the wood grain was visible on a snare or other drums in the set. I have known many drummers over the years. I never heard any of them obsess about the type of shell wood or number of plies used for top quality drums until a few years ago when I got in to collecting vintage drums, and hanging out on enthusiast forums.
Thanks to all! After studying vintage wood identification websites I was fairly convinced that this shell was maple (due to the lighter color as opposed to mahogany becoming dark red over time) and you guys have confirmed that. Sometimes you need the pros to explain what the brochures fail to claim! ...(I write lyrics too.) Thanks again all!
