What was the shell construction on Standards? What made them "cheaper" drums?
That's the great part. In order to compete with the offshore budget kits, Ludwig outfitted their top-of-the-line 3-ply shells (the same ones that are so highly prized on this forum and elsewhere) with cheaper lugs, fittings, and stands and sold them as the "Standard" line. Yet in just about every way, they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those top-shelf vintage kits. Also, they only ever offered the strata finishes on the Standards. While they aren't super-rare, they aren't exactly falling out of trees either (or at least they weren't... seems like they are now!)
The snares are well-kept secrets too. On top of the matching wood-shell snares, Ludwig offered chromed and unchromed Ludalloy (aluminum) snares that did not have the center bead like the Acrolite and Supraphonic. I own one of these and it's a great-sounding, versatile and responsive little beast. (I've gigged this "entry-level" snare... it stood up to a three-week run of a rock musical.)
Vintage Ludwigs appear to be more popular than ever before, and the Standards are an economical way into that classic sound. I know I love mine!