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Ludwig snare identification and restoration Last viewed: 26 seconds ago

Posts: 48 Threads: 3

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and quite enjoying reading some of the threads! I found a Ludwig snare drum in a storage container and found this forum as I was doing some research on it. From what I have found so far I believe it is a 1960s Ludwig Jazz Festival snare. The one confusing thing is that it has a black vinyl overwrap. I did some research on the elusive Black Panther snares to see if this might be one, however I believe it is a re-wrap job as the badge has been a bit mangled on the interior and the grain of the vinyl does not look like the pictures of the black panther drums I have found. The wrap is peeled back a bit in one place and there is blue sparkle underneath. Here are a few pics, let me know what you guys think and some tips for restoration!

Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 48 Threads: 3

Here's a pic of the badge

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Posted on 13 years ago
#2
Posts: 442 Threads: 102

Hi and welcome to VDF, good to have you here!

What you have there surely looks like a Ludwig Jazz Festival. The Badge suggests that the drum was made in the early 1960s (no serial numbers between 1960and 1963). Is there a date stamp visible inside the drum?

I am guessing that the blue sparkle is the original wrap, and the black has been applied later. From looking at the rear of the badge inside the drum, it might have been a non professional job, and you should be able to remove the black easily, make sure not to damage the badge...

What you have will be a great looking and surely amazing sounding drum!

Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 48 Threads: 3

From mschrant

Hi and welcome to VDF, good to have you here!What you have there surely looks like a Ludwig Jazz Festival. The Badge suggests that the drum was made in the early 1960s (no serial numbers between 1960and 1963). Is there a date stamp visible inside the drum?I am guessing that the blue sparkle is the original wrap, and the black has been applied later. From looking at the rear of the badge inside the drum, it might have been a non professional job, and you should be able to remove the black easily, make sure not to damage the badge...What you have will be a great looking and surely amazing sounding drum!

Thanks for the welcome! I stripped off all the hardware to clean and polish it and inspected the inside of the drum. I cannot see a date stamp. The black vinyl came off quite easily and I spent a few hours yesterday removing the rest of the adhesive and starting to clean and polish the hardware. The blue sparkle is in great shape! I need a couple parts and I'll be able to put this drum back together. Any recommendations for heads and snare wire for this drum?

Posted on 13 years ago
#4
Posts: 442 Threads: 102

Cool! I told you it will be a great drum!

If you don't have the original wires, i would try puresounds, the sound great.

As for heads, i would stick to the classic Remo Ambassador coated on top, and the Remo Ambassador hazy as the resonant head!

Looking forward to see the finished drum!

Michael

Posted on 13 years ago
#5
Posts: 1311 Threads: 9

Hi and welcome to the forum.Just a few other things.It looks like someone recut your snare beds,and replaced the original P-83 Strainer,with a P-85..I hope the blue sparkle is in good shape.Yes Sir

Steve B

Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 48 Threads: 3

From tamadrm

Hi and welcome to the forum.Just a few other things.It looks like someone recut your snare beds,and replaced the original P-83 Strainer,with a P-85..I hope the blue sparkle is in good shape.Yes SirSteve B

Yes it does look like a few modifications have been made. The blue sparkle is in fantastic shape! I cleaned it up and polished it today and it looks brand new.

I do have a couple questions as I continue cleaning this drum. I want it to be as original as possible but I am missing a couple parts. One of the internal lug screws is missing and a number of the tension rods are missing washers. I also noticed that the butt plate for the snare wire has W.F.L on it instead of the Ludwig scroll. According to my research this era of snare should have the Ludwig scroll writing on the butt plate? Also when I took the butt plate off there were no washers on the internal side. Should there be washers there? And final question at the moment, did Ludwig drums of this era have gaskets between the lugs and the drum or do the lugs go straight on?

Posted on 13 years ago
#7
Posts: 442 Threads: 102

The parts you need should be easily available on Ebay if you want originals, or maybe even through forum members here, all nice people to deal with, who know what you need ...

i looked at one of my drums, and yes, there should be washers in the inside of the drum, on all the screws.

Gaskets: there are NO gaskets, the lugs go straight onto the wrap!

The Buttend being a WFL Butt is original. What you have is a drum that was made right after the transition from the WFL drum company back to Ludwig. They were using leftovers from the WFL days back then, so it's not unusual to have a mish-mash of Logos.

Michael

Posted on 13 years ago
#8
Posts: 48 Threads: 3

From mschrant

The parts you need should be easily available on Ebay if you want originals, or maybe even through forum members here, all nice people to deal with, who know what you need ...i looked at one of my drums, and yes, there should be washers in the inside of the drum, on all the screws.Gaskets: there are NO gaskets, the lugs go straight onto the wrap!The Buttend being a WFL Butt is original. What you have is a drum that was made right after the transition from the WFL drum company back to Ludwig. They were using leftovers from the WFL days back then, so it's not unusual to have a mish-mash of Logos.Michael

Thanks for clearing up those questions! I cleaned up the shell and lugs today and put 7 of the lugs back on. Do you have the same drum? Would someone be able to provide me a picture of the external knob for the internal muffler? I'm trying to figure out how the washers go on that one.

Posted on 13 years ago
#9
Posts: 442 Threads: 102

no i don't have the same drum, just a similar Ludwig Pioneer and Superclassic, both have Baseballbat mufflers though.....

Posted on 13 years ago
#10
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