Check out the Vintage Drum Guide here.

Click on the Ludwig section, and go nuts..... tons of info.

When you get lost, give a shout... someone will come get you.

Kev

Been all through the Ludwig Vintage section (great info) but no specific info on the specific drum model delineation that I came across. Lots on badges and interior paint but am still confused.

Bret

Did you see the catalogs ??... all the drum models and shell sizes are listed year by year.

I went to the catalog page but must be missing something, I have no idea how to find the catalog images you sent over let alone all the model information by year.

Here's where I looked...

http://vintagedrumguide.com/reference_catalogs.html

I'm happy to do some investigating to get my answer, but I'm confused on where to look - all roads I've tried on here lead me nowhere.

The main web site has the main drum companies on the home page.

Just click on the company of choice.

That will take you to the landing page with all of the different section for that particular company.

Here is the progression (below) and I'm being specific here to help other people as well on how the main web site works.

Go to the home page

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/

Click the Ludwig image in the center section or the link on the left side - and then you will end up on this page.

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ludwig.html

Then look for this

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2][COLOR=#0000ff]Ludwig Drum Sets[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2](Catalog Pages)[COLOR=#ff0000]*[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Go to the top right of the page we are on right now

Click on "Visit our Partner Web Sites"

A drop down will list several options

Click on "Vintage Drum Guide"

Click on Ludwig......

Have fun !!

oops... Webmaster was posting just as I was.... carry on !

First off,ludwig club dates have single double ended lugs,same shells as the top of the line models.the ludwig standards from 1968 to 1971 same shells different lugs, If you are talking 60's thru 1976 the shells were all 3 ply with re rings always a thicker center poplar core ply with the outer and inner plies being maple, mahogany,or a combination of both.At first the shells interiors were painted white,then natural wood with clear sealer,then by 1972 a gray speckled granitone int.At one time in the 80'and 90's ludwig went to a straight no re ring die molded shell and two styles a 4 ply and 6 ply and called them classics and superclassics.It looks like from the catalogue that at one time there was a kit called a superclassic,but it was top of the line ludwig shells in certain sizes and with a pre set hardware configuration.The words classic and super classic in ludwigese can be confusing,they used those words as models shell types/pre configured set ups, throw offs ,lugs etc.But if you want a "classic" vintage ludwig sound the 3 ply shells with re rings are what you are after.The words you are looking for when shopping a 4 peice would be would be terms that people in the vintage drum and drum world use like "Jazz" sizes that would be a kit by any maker with a 14 or 12 by 20 kick drum,with a 8 x12 mounted tom and a 14x14 floor tom with usually 14 inch snare with a depth of 5 inches,but could be 4, 5 1/2 One of the other most popular and common configuration would be a 14x22 kick with a 13 mt,and a 16 ft,people used them for jazz but those sizes are more rock sizes,but a lot of ludwig kits of that era were those sizes.Early 5 piece kits were offered with two 12 mounted toms,but people ordered 12 and 13 a lot and eventually the companies started offering that configuration in catalogues.As far as money goes a sixties up to about 1971 that has no extra holes or modifications should be in the ballpark you named,if you don't mind a granitone later 1972 to 1976 3 ply kit they can be had for much less less,600.00 to 900.00 depending on condition and finish,with the pearl and sparkle 60's type wraps going for a little more than the 70's style wraps like the feaux wood wraps and solid colors.I hope this helps a little,some of us on here have been dealing with vintage drums for such a long time that sometimes we forget how much there is to know when you first start.Welcome to the forum by the way,and hopefully some more folks will be along to help you get a handle on this.

Thanks for clearing up the confusion - duh! I must have had my brain unplugged...

Eamesuser your reply is most helpful, that's exactly what I need to know, because after looking at the catalog pages (which are cool as hell by the way) there was no mention of what I would consider "key" information about shell plys and materials used.

Last night I took the plunge and ordered the Ludwig Book off Amazon and can't wait to get my grubby little hands on it.

On a side note, when I learned to play drums back in the 1980's I was given an old Ludwig snare drum with a set of Tama Swingstars I bought that I have now come to find out is a 1950's model that sounded unbelievable.

Being a stupid kid, I gave away the snare to my bandmates kid brother when I sold him the set for bottom dollar.

Violin

Ludwig has a website with some history, also.