I bought my Ludwig Downbeat Kit new in '65 or '66. It is Sparkling Red Pearl in color. I proceeded to add a 9x13 and a 16x16 to create the kit that I wanted. I used the same mounting hardware for the 9x13 as came for the 8x12. This made the upper tom toms completely independent of each other. I didn't want the Hollywood mount. Since the set was new ordering the mounting hardware was easy. I bought hard cases to keep and protect them. They are still put away in the cases. They are original and in excellent condition almost all of the original drum heads are intact. I replaced the original cymbals with Zilgian's in the early '70/'71. Mike
Hey Mike...that's really cool...congrats...and welcome to the old ****'s Forum! Welcome
I bought my silver sparkle Ludwig DB in 1964 and since December '07 have also added a 16" floor tom (pre-serial) and a 13" rack tom (circa 1968) plus a 1966 Super Sensitive 6.5" deep snare drum (circa 1966).
Even though I already had an spare rail consolette decided to forgo drilling the 20" bass drum; instead have the rack toms outfitted with Ludwig Vibra-Bands and mounted them on '80s Tama Titan cymbal and tom stands (these are massive and quite heavy, thus are best suited for this particular task).
To top it all...my son gave me yet another Ludwig 14" floor tom and a 13" piccolo snare drum (both pre-serial and finished in silver sparkle wrap); they were included with bunch of other stuff that came with a burgundy sparkle Gretsch RB kit he bought early last year! Excited
Since I really like the way his 10" Yamaha Stage Custom rack tom sounds, and since I just couldn't bring my self to shell out several hundred Dollars for a new silver sparkle Ludwig Legacy tom, decided to have John Riolo up in Oregon build me a 10" tom wrapped in silver sparkle (what else! Cool Dude); this one is also mounted in the same fashion as do the 12" and 13" toms.
So what once was a simple small Ludwig DB kit now has grown to be a monster set Mind Blowi...and am loving it! Jump For Joy
By the way...still have the original Zildjian 20" rides (4), 15" hi-hats (two pairs), and hardware (cymbal, hi-hat, and snare drum stands, plus drum seat and two Speed King pedals). Must include hard fiber cases dating from the era too!... :)
-elcid
