My vintage gold sparkle Ludwigs (and a couple questions) - Page 1

My vintage gold sparkle Ludwigs (and a couple questions) Last viewed: 4 hours ago

Posts: 8 Threads: 1

Hi everyone, this is my first post!

Short info about me: I have been gigging and touring steadily as a drummer now for about 5 years, although it's definitely not my main source of income haha. Anyway, I got a great Craigslist score the other day in the form of (what I think is a) '67 kick and rack tom and a '69 (very early B/O badge) floor tom for $100.

Here's a picture:

[IMG]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs275.snc4/40098_10100482360592321_2002702_70611974_5223219_n.jpg[/IMG]

They are in good condition, but a lot of the hardware is not original, as you can see, not to mention the mismatched floor tom.

I plan to at least try these out for gigging (I also use a birch PDP kit and a '78 Vistalite kit), but I would like to eventually restore them and mayyybe find a matching floor tom, so I will likely have more questions, but:

My first question is, can anyone tell which model these are just by eyeballing them? I think they are Down Beats, but even though I'm a working drummer, my knowledge of vintage instruments ends with Fender and Gibson.

I am not at home currently, but can provide more pictures and SNs when I get home.

Thanks in advance and I'm excited to be a part of this community.

Chris

Posted on 14 years ago

vintagemore2000

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Joined 15 years ago

Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

chris first off Welcome to the VDF, man for $100.00 you did good, here's a link for you to find the year of your drums,this will be a great kit to gig with! http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/serial_numbers.html

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!

Posted on 14 years ago

jonnistix

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Joined 15 years ago

Posts: 4715 Threads: 299

You definately scored big. What are the sizes? A Down Beat is 20-12-14.

"Ignorance may be overcome through education. Stupidity, however, is a lifelong endeavor." So, educate me, I don't likes bein' ignant...
"I enjoy restoring 60s Japanese "stencil" drums...I can actually afford them..."I rescue the worst of the old valueless drums for disadvantaged Children and gladly accept donations of parts, pieces and orphans, No cockroaches, please...
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Posted on 14 years ago

drumbum3131

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Joined 16 years ago

Posts: 1064 Threads: 152

Nice little set for cheap....the floor tom is worth triple the price you paid. I have the original tom-mount for the bass drum if you want it....PM me.

By the looks of it...your set seems to be a 22, 12, 16. Judging by the fade, I would say the 12 inch tom and 22 inch tom were a factory pair...but the set is missing the other 13 inch tom and the matching 16 inch floor tom...what you have is a "hollywood set"

Recent Purchases
-1961 SBP Pioneer Snare Drum
-1962 SBP Super Classic w/ Matching COB Supra

Working On
-1963 Red Sparkle Hollywood w/ matching Super Classic Snare

Recently Completed
-1964 WMP Super Classic

Posted on 14 years ago

chillman4130

Member

Joined 14 years ago

Posts: 8 Threads: 1

Wow thanks for the quick responses. Yes, I do believe the rack and kick are from a matched set--the serial #s are very close (again, I'll check on this when I get home.) The B/O floor tom uses a different wrap with finer flakes, would that be a rewrap job, or did they switch the wraps in the B/O era?

Good to know that they are a Hollywood outfit, thank you, although I'm disappointed that I'm missing 2 of the original toms now. Where do Hollywood drums fit in the desirability range?

drumbum, I may someday be interested in that tom holder, but I haven't decided whether to restore these or just play the hell out of them yet.

I'll check the SNs and take more pictures when I get home.

Posted on 14 years ago

drumbum3131

Member

Joined 16 years ago

Posts: 1064 Threads: 152

Play them out man! They are considered a players set right now(un-original parts, pieced together, etc)...

Mind you...this set does have some value in it! The floor tom is worth maybe $250, bass drum $250, rack tom $80-$100...you probably wouldn't be able to hit $600 if you sold them together. You would need to split them up..and maybe keep the tom and bass drum together for $350.

The wrap did change from the 60's-70's though...

Hollywood sets are considered just as collectable as the others....but they do tend to sell for less then the downbeats(20,12,14) and super classics(22,16,13)...but more then the clubdate(single tension 20,12,14).

In my opinion...keep them and play them. If you get the time and money restore them...

I just love gold sparkle! That is the next set on my list!

Posted on 14 years ago

vintagemore2000

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Joined 15 years ago

Posts: 10714 Threads: 579

with the bass drum and mounted tom being 60's the floor tom being late 60's to 70's the bass and tom have white painted Interiors, does the floor tom have a natural or clear Interior?

Your drummers not much good is he!? What you need is someone that's as good as me. ! John Henry Bonham !!

Posted on 14 years ago

drumbum3131

Member

Joined 16 years ago

Posts: 1064 Threads: 152

By the way vintagemoore I found a wfl 8 lugshell that is gold like your drums....