I know what you mean, Wayne. These drums are s-i-c-k. I just got back from my gig and I used my 80's era B/O badge (rounded corners) that Andy Knifel (R.I.P.) GAVE me a few years ago. It has a non-original top rim (a newer one) and two or three of the snare wires are bent pretty badly. The heads are several years old. It shouldn't even sound okay, by all rights...but guess what? It sounds GREAT! -It sounds great in any tuning range and it feels like a Ludwig snare drum -comfortable! I don't worry about scratching it...and even when I'm not that careful with it, it never really suffers. It just endures! I never feel the need to be careful with it or pamper it in any way. It's like the rare employee that everyone wants to hire! And Wayne, don't worry, they are consistent throughout the eras in which they are made. They ALL sound great and they are ALWAYS available on Ebay -NICE ones!

24 hours later and the Acro is mine,at a cost of about 35 bucks by the time you add it all up.Jumping2...This drum stood out among drums 10 times the price...What is the magic with the Acros??

don't tell anyone but it's called .. ludalloy,,,,same as the non-COB Supra's ..anyone out there know the exact mix of metals ??

Respectfully,Mr Ludwig may have taken that secret with him:2Cents:

O,Lugs...Your definition of the Acro reminds me of a loyal dog,serving his master and never wanting anything but a little attention and a hug now and then.Loyal to the end!!...I love this drum though,it reminds me a lot of that 60,s era...wh...............OH YEAH...Is there a 50,s acro???

Wayne, last year I put together a little something on the 404, which should answer your question.

You can find it here.............

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30000

LVDC

Very helpful,thx very much.Now i know...One thing is strange though.The price really hasn,t gone up that much in over 40 yrs!!..I still hear them going for 60-80 bucks on e bayViolin

That's because they are VERY common. They are everywhere. It's surprising only because when the custom snare drum craze hype hit a decade and a half ago, those "builders" had to charge out the...umm...nose Burger Kin ...for their comparatively simplistic snare drums. They sold everyone a bill of goods for drums that couldn't even compare to the complexity of the Acrolite. It's just one of those strange things that happen sometimes.

Ludwig had built the machinery to make them. Once that machinery was in place, they could spill Acrolites out like water. They didn't have to be sent to be chrome-plated and they used fewer pieces than the Supra or SS. So, they were less expensive for Ludwig to make.

But...just TRY to get ANY custom drum builder to make you a drum with the same specs as an Acrolite. A spun seamless alloy shell with components specific to the manufacturer, i.e., lugs, throwoff/butt, snare wires, etc....Just try! And IF you find someone, then let me know what they will charge for the work. It ain't gonna be 60-80 bucks, I can tell you that much! LOL!