It was a mystery Ludwig kit on C/L for 150.00. It was 200 miles away. I was the first one to contact them. It had a virgin bass drum two concert toms on a stand , two floor toms and probably a supra snare. All atlas stands , about six plus hi hat stand. several cymbals big and small, the seller did not know what kind, they were her dads. All she knew that the drums were Ludwig. An oh, silver sparkle. I told her I would take them but it would be a few hours before I could get there. When I called to say I was leaving to come and get them she informed me that somone else wanted to come and get them right away. Oh, and they were Siver sparkle. Il never get over it!

Jeff C

Two decades ago, when I was first learning about drums, I turned down a Zildjian Snare for $200. I try to live w/ no regrets, but this one is hard to forget. (I've since had many once in a lifetime finds !).

My tale is one that still haunts me to this day. I was out and about and came across an Estate Sale, there was a set of late 50's early 60's BDP Ludwigs, stands and cymbals, complete. The price was $235, they asked me what I'd pay, I said $50 - $75, they said $75. I put a bid in for $50. The next day I drove back out to buy at $75 and when I got there someone was loading them in their car. Well when I got home there was a message on my machine and they were taking my $50 bid. I was so mad but still my loss. That will never happen again.

How timely! I missed out on a Killer deal yesterday, when I thought I had it in the bag. Pawn shop had an early 70s Ludwig kit (14-16-18-26) for $1100. Here's the kicker - thrown into the deal was a TAMA bell brass snare drum! I was the first to contact them, and he vowed that he would hold it for me, as I was looking at a 2.5 hour drive each way.

I get there, and the guy informs me that he had sold the snare an hour and a half before I got there. Some dude offered them $500 and they couldn't say no!

I was so ****ed off! Then they offered the Ludwigs for $875, but their were to many issues and I returned home with nothing to show for my 5 hour drive.

About a year-and-a-half ago...

An "Old Ludwig" kit that "needs work" posted on Wichita (KS) CL. Evidently owned by a school district in a small town in central Kansas. The description was vague, but the pictures showed what looked to be a mid-to-late 60s Ludwig Hollywood set with a Supra SD in fair-to-good condition. Stands and cymbals included (no idea what kind), plus a box "full of spare parts."

$75, and the owner would deliver to Wichita! (I have grown kids there.)

Contacted the owner right away (about 45 minutes since it had been listed) but he had already sold it and just hadn't cancelled the ad...

Just last fall...

A script era Rogers kit posted on Tulsa (OK) CL. Again, pictures made the set look good, and it was described as 14x24, 9x13, 10x14, and 16x18 with metal Dynasonic SD. Plain white finish, and no hardware.

$200. No phone number, and by the time the owner returned my email it was only to inform me the set had been sold.

On a smaller scale, just missed one this week...

Springfield (MO) CL. 8, 10, and 12 Slingerland concert toms plus a 16x16 Slingerland FT. All original hardware intact.

$100. I called, but again already sold...

Hate to miss 'em like this, but I've also scored big on some as well!!

3 piece Rogers 60's pink ripple w/ non-matching snare = $200. I was the 2nd caller & seller was class act who said he'd hold it for #1. #1 was a dad looking for cheap kit for his kid. Long story ... seller advised of value by some interloper in Iowa & I had a chance at it but well over 1k & let it go since it wasn't quite the collector quality I was hoping for.

I could have easily offered $500 or so, trumping #1, & picked it up that night - but I've had jokers do this to me any number of times & believe it is w-r-o-n-g, so chewed my nails instead.

Say "la vie" Hobbs

missed out on a storage shed of snare drums with cases and stand for $25 a piece...missed it by an hour.

From the pics I saw Supras, Acro's, etc

Hey Shawn! I remember that!!

I could have gotten Billy Gladstone's 7x14 gold plated/gold lacquered snare drum...this was his personal drum that he used at the Radio City Music Hall...I was 2000.00 off...but this was many years ago.

Mike Curotto