Thank you for your input. Please forgive my ignorance as I am sure what you are saying makes sense but I need some clarification on a couple of points. Your comments with my questions:

Thanks for your comment. Please forgive my ignorance, but you used some terms I am not familiar with. Here is your comment with my asking you to clarify:

I would keep the original head as long as it is not stretched all the way.

*** You are referring to the front drum head I believe. You believe it will be superior to a ported head? It certainly looks vintage with that big "LUDWIG" name across the top. How will I know if it is stretched all the way?

As a Bass axe player, you will appreciate the sizes

as opposed to jazz players. I play C-Toms, and love them. Tuned to the lowest note, they will carry a note, tuned high, they will be heard for miles.

*** So you are saying (after I learn to tune the drums) to tune them low as opposed to high? And when doing so they will be more "in tune"?

There is always a "sweet" spot that makes them sustain as a T-T would if pointed down.

***So my concert toms should be pointed more downward than a double headed tom (is that a T-T?)?

I don`t know why people don't value them. If all those were not square and had another head, You could get 5, easy, because they have been kept well.

*** What do you mean if they were not all square?

Thank you and again, please forgive my ignorance. I was going to PM you but I figured there are other newbies out there that may not have understood and they could benefit from this as well.

1, No, I have a center ported head on mine. That would be a preference thing. It`s original first, it`s gonna sound vintage also would be more what I meant.

Best way to tell is the inside of the hoop. If the head sits deep inside the hoop, it`s not that stretched. If the head is close to top of the inside of the hoop, it`s stretched a lot.

2. Kinda, Most jazz and soft player use two rack drums for everything. Example,.. I tune my 13 and 14 high, and 15 and 16 lower, this lets me do what my era calls "bring it down". Kinda like going up the bass fret board, and, you accent the smaller toms with the larger. which you can`t do if you don`t have the drum.

More in the Groove than in tune.

3. If you want to hear a sustain in the note, at the floor works best, if you want that thud sound, up and out will kill the sustain.

3. Looks like they are 18x18, 16x16, 15x15, 14x14 and 13x13 with 12x10 and 10x8. My big rack toms are square. ( the ludwig guys will fix that if I`m wrong )

4 Ask later how to fix the buzz those will give your snare. There are plenty of threads on that. It`s a long story of why it buzzes.

I like to keep things in the forum myself for the same reasons.

Ah yes the Ludwig "Power Factory" set model 2024. I have one in solid black Vistalite, not nearly as nice as yours, but in good shape. Mine has the 22" bass drum, 24" was an option. They came originally with a 402 snare, they are 10,12,13,14,15,16 concert toms, 16x18 floor tom and 14x22 bass drum. I really like pinstripe heads on mine or black dot. Nice kit; http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/images/ludwig_sets/power_factory/1980_power_factory.jpg

Good deal but you always have to look at resale value. Big kits in like this just aren't "in" anymore. But if you intend to keep forever go for it.

Yes, I agree. I personally would have no intention of playing such a large kit. I will keep it simple with a kick, snare, two rack toms, and floor tom. That leave me with 4 extra drums. Better to have extra drums than not enough. If I ever do sell these I could sell it as a 5 piece then part out the four remaining toms. I see 5 piece vistalites going for well over what I am paying for the whole 9 piece kit.

No one click that link!

I have a smoke Vistalite in 24, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 floor tom. Mine is not quite as nice as yours, but still in good shape overall.

Here are my observations on my kit:

1. The clip style mount does not allow for great positioning for a smoother flow of movement, IMO.

2. Concert toms. I would prefer if mine were double headed. But, they sound great as-is and are super quick and easy to tune.

3. The big stand mounted toms can make it impossible (and uncomfortable) to have a low mounted ride cymbal. If you have shoulder issues or short arms, these may be concerns for you.