Well...without seeing heads off shots....I'm guessing either a smoke vistalite, a maple shell with black cortex covering, or some other mongrel cobble up job. The supersensitive throwoff and b/o badge in the center of the shell is throwing me a bit. A real black beauty would have a beaded metal shell. I'm not sure you could special order the vistalite or maple shells with a supersensitive throw though.....that could be a retrofit if it is a real ludwig drum.

Ok, I'm going with black vistalite for now. I just added the bottom head photo

and the bearing edge looks like a vista edge.

I also asked for a heads off shot to see and make sure.

David

Black Beauty would also have IMPERIAL lugs .

I'm not so sure about it being a vistalite now.....the edge looks like wood ply to me.....just painted black inside. But it is hard to tell with the pics provided as they are rather poorly shot.....

Must be a Vistalite painted black inside . No other 6.5 was offered with these lugs and the Supersensitive strainer .

I agree on the photos, but the edge near the heads looks like dust, crust, etc...

So until I get the photos we are 50/50 on this shell...

David

Updated that it is a plastic shell.

Imagine being called a Black Beauty!

Thanks

David

Hi All,,Ludwig did make supersensitive snares in vistalites,,The 5 1/2 deep ones are rare to come by..But the 6 1/2 ones are very rare..About 95% of the 6 1/2 ones i have look at are cracked at the throws. If its not crack i would buy it david if i was you..Its a cool drum to have...mike

We've already established Ludwig made SS Vistas . The few Vista snares I have played sounded like crap . Add the possibility of cracking , etc...Typical of USA 70's ...Crap cars , drums , fashion ...QC went out the window . Remember the Vega and exploding Pinto ? :D