I decided to pass on these. Although I like the idea of a matching snare, the more I have talked to the seller, the more obvious it is to me that the kit has a lot of abrasions, scuffs and rust spots. This of course is okay on a $400 kit, but not on a $800 kit. I have switched my focus to a Slingerland Studio King that I have posted pics in a different post. Thanks for all of your feed back guys. It really helps.

For a $100 more I would buy the Studio Kings without question.

Just to add a late comment about the Standard interiors:

Standards can be found with Reso-Cote (white paint), Clear Varnish and Granitone interiors.

I do not know the basis of the seller's claim that the Reso-Cote was used "for the first month or so." I do not believe it to be true. I did not want this "helpful knowledge" to become considered fact without someone questioning it. (Note that this was the seller's statement, not that of verminator.)

I have documented examples of Reso-Cote interiors on Standard model drums with date stamps from December 1968 through April 1969. I have documented examples of the Granitone interior on Standard drums with date stamps as early as September 1968. This indicates to me that:

1. Reso-Cote was apparently used for more than the first month or so, and

2. there was some overlap between the two interior finishes.

Of course, many Standard drums did not possess date stamps or at least do not possess them today. The extent of the overlap of multiple finishes and the start and stop dates of any particular interior finish are difficult to accurately estimate. I continue to gather examples of Ludwig Standard drums with date stamps and will continue to refine the estimates based upon the growing amount of information available.

Rick