To me, it looks like the rod tabs are larger than the bottom. The hoops are probably the same, but check the tabs.

Pulling a ring down over a cylinder evenly, you have to be at 180 to center or it wont tune right.

Tabs are the same oddball. Thanks for the suggestion though--that is a good thing to look at for sure. Check out the angles and imagine more rod showing on the bottom though. I think if it wasn't taller on top it would be un-noticeable.

I don't know man...the drum tunes up fine and sounds so good that this whole thing is really making me just wanna keep it and skip the headache! :^)

Adam

There's another Jazzfest on eBay. Same year--10,xxx serial, same price, same angled rods. There's also a newer one. Serial 331,xxx with the same angled rods....and all original even heads. So...lets get to the bottom of this, huh guys? Could it be that's just how they are? Could it be that arguing about this is just a big waste of time? I'd say yes, but you never know.

Adam

Also a pre serial. Same.

In fact virtually every single Jazzfest I see on eBay looks like this one in terms of rod angle. Take a look. Even the $2,000 burgundy sparkle. Man...

Although I didn`t go look at any yet,.. that`s interesting and may be why they are for sale. I`ve never put much thought into it.

It`s nothing to me because I solved my drum problems when I bought my Phonics.

and, Not one has a splay of any kind.

Could be, but I find it hard to believe that virtually every one on there is being sold because of this one minor thing that they all seem to have varying amounts of. Especially the 100% original drums. I've sold probably 5 or 6 100% original drums so far and never once discussed it or even noticed it. It seems more likely that it is a common characteristic of Ludwig snares from this era. This however is exactly why we dork out about this stuff so much...there's always something to learn and or dissect that hasn't been obvious before and quite frankly I think that's pretty cool.

I'm going to go back and check pics of past Jazzfest drums I've had/sold.

-Adam

Here's a 100% original factory 48-52 Ray McKinley. Cob hoops (obviously). Angled rods and this is with a shorter distance to span than a jazzer. I have pics of other jazzfests but not handy on my phone.

Adam

Hard to see but here's another 100% original wfl. Same angle.

Oh I get what ya saying, I see top and bottom on the Ray snare and the top of the Duco, Maybe it`s not the size of the tab and where on the tab they drilled. Or, maybe the incert is a crooked.

It`s just something I noticed because I don`t see it on mine.

I thought it might be the camera but yours is yes on top no on bottom.

It don`t make sense to have splay on what a casing and T-rod do.

Maybe someone needs to call Ludwig. VM2k can prolly go knock on the door.