I have a JFest that's with a DEPTH slightly more than 5.25" (x 14"). We all know that with Ludwig especially there's a graph of different DEPTHS between 5" & 5.5". DEPTHS range all over the place between 5' + 5.5".
Is that 5.25 (or 5 3/8" in my case) a "5 inch" or a "5.5" depth snare?
Cymbals are normally rounded up or down; at least I think that's how folks normally measure them.
There's more info here than I'm providing ... so stay tuned if you got any interest.
Chris
I've had some 5.25" Jazz Festivals as well. They were marketed as 5" drums. I'd probably refer to it as a 5x14.
Mike
I've had some 5.25" Jazz Festivals as well. They were marketed as 5" drums. I'd probably refer to it as a 5x14.Mike
Happy Thanksgiving Mike!
That's how I would as well. I have an OBP slightly above 5.25 + we all know Ludwig wasn't making precision shells in the 60's. I have a suspicion it probably is the same above 5.5 (even 6")???
So with Ringo's at 5.5" depth is anything other than that NOT considered a Ringo snare?
For me, 5.5 is definitely preferred, BUT what's more important is the wrap, condition, etc. (& it can't be that hideous late 60's/70's wrap).
Someone commented that if it's not pre-'64 + 5.5" in depth then it really isn't a Ringo JF.
Thoughts?
I have a JFest that's with a DEPTH slightly more than 5.25" (x 14"). We all know that with Ludwig especially there's a graph of different DEPTHS between 5" & 5.5". DEPTHS range all over the place between 5' + 5.5".Is that 5.25 (or 5 3/8" in my case) a "5 inch" or a "5.5" depth snare?Cymbals are normally rounded up or down; at least I think that's how folks normally measure them.There's more info here than I'm providing ... so stay tuned if you got any interest.Chris
Here`s the thing. It has to do with the note length. That half inch shortens the note or makes it a bit longer.
5 3/8 is over the 1/4 so it wont be the quarter model, it`s the half within the tolerance to keep the note length.
if you put it next to a true 1/4 size, you`ll hear a noticeable difference in the note length.
Someone commented that if it's not pre-'64 + 5.5" in depth then it really isn't a Ringo JF.Thoughts?
Well if you could convince the people with one to sell of that so they drop their price to that of a "regular" Jazz Festival then I'd be all for it.
Nobody really knew with 100% certainty that Ringo's was a 5.5" until Gary Astridge was actually able to measure it a couple of years ago. It had been suspected for years but no one had access to check it out. It is a subtle difference, at least visually.
It seems that ANY 60's Ludwig snare wrapped in Oyster Black gets a boost in value no matter how far removed they might be from anything that Ringo played. I suppose that if the very few that are exactly like Ringo's (5.5" depth with the badge on the panel next to the throw and the red BB muffler with pre-serial KB) are supposedly worth $10-30K then the next best thing (being the same model but with some production variations such as the depth being 1/4" less and the badge having moved over another panel) can still be worth the typical $2-4K.
At least I'll tell myself that, having paid pretty serious money for the one I have (although it was a relative bargain, purchased from someone who had three of them).
As to the original question they were cataloged as a 5" drum so I'd consider it to be a 5" drum because if it's not a Jazz Fest what is it? Even Ringo's drum was supposed to be a 5" shell but they also had 5.5" shells floating around the plant for other models. Did they grab the wrong size by mistake or were the Super Classics just not selling and they had a bunch of 5.5" shells in various wraps they needed to move? Or did the worker just not care? I suppose we'll never know
Well if you could convince the people with one to sell of that so they drop their price to that of a "regular" Jazz Festival then I'd be all for it.Nobody really knew with 100% certainty that Ringo's was a 5.5" until Gary Astridge was actually able to measure it a couple of years ago. It had been suspected for years but no one had access to check it out. It is a subtle difference, at least visually.It seems that ANY 60's Ludwig snare wrapped in Oyster Black gets a boost in value no matter how far removed they might be from anything that Ringo played. I suppose that if the very few that are exactly like Ringo's (5.5" depth with the badge on the panel next to the throw and the red BB muffler with pre-serial KB) are supposedly worth $10-30K then the next best thing (being the same model but with some production variations such as the depth being 1/4" less and the badge having moved over another panel) can still be worth the typical $2-4K.At least I'll tell myself that, having paid pretty serious money for the one I have (although it was a relative bargain, purchased from someone who had three of them).As to the original question they were cataloged as a 5" drum so I'd consider it to be a 5" drum because if it's not a Jazz Fest what is it? Even Ringo's drum was supposed to be a 5" shell but they also had 5.5" shells floating around the plant for other models. Did they grab the wrong size by mistake or were the Super Classics just not selling and they had a bunch of 5.5" shells in various wraps they needed to move? Or did the worker just not care? I suppose we'll never know
Appreciate the insight K.O.
5 (or in between) 5.5", I agree should make a difference only if it's 5.5" as it was hit or miss on the pick from the stack. I know of 2 at 5.5" with the throw, badge, muffler in the right place : Ringo's + a friend of friends. They're probably are no more; and out of the no-more's a proportion will sit at 5.5".
Mine, I just completely detailed ... 4-5 hours Novus 1 + 2, Simichrome ... and is now very near showroom. Some cat in town messaged me that my showroom snare is worth - let's just round to $800. We had a nice enough convo about it, grass today (saying he must've been smoking something, "care to share?"; him saying I couldn't handle what's in his bag - about the only thing in which we were in agreement).
Whoa, that drum is stunning!! Cool1
Appreciate the insight K.O. 5 (or in between) 5.5", I agree should make a difference only if it's 5.5" as it was hit or miss on the pick from the stack. I know of 2 at 5.5" with the throw, badge, muffler in the right place : Ringo's + a friend of friends. They're probably are no more; and out of the no-more's a proportion will sit at 5.5".
Gary Astridge has one or two that are just like Ringo's. Bun Carlos had one with the badge in the right place (not sure on the depth) at the last Chicago show that he had just acquired. Not sure how many are out there in total but probably not a lot more. Even the later 1964-69 models with the slightly different build are a bit tough to find although not nearly as rare as people used to think ( in the pre-internet days the rumor was that less than 200 OBP JazzFests were made in total, that was one reason they were so expensive, even then, and the fact that it's now obvious that there are a LOT more than that number has never really brought the price down).
Here's a not so great picture of mine....5.25" deep if I remember correctly.
I have a JFest that's with a DEPTH slightly more than 5.25" (x 14"). We all know that with Ludwig especially there's a graph of different DEPTHS between 5" & 5.5". DEPTHS range all over the place between 5' + 5.5".Is that 5.25 (or 5 3/8" in my case) a "5 inch" or a "5.5" depth snare?Cymbals are normally rounded up or down; at least I think that's how folks normally measure them.There's more info here than I'm providing ... so stay tuned if you got any interest.Chris
My circa '61/'62 jazz fest is around 5.5" deep. Essentially a Super Classic shell with a P83 throw-off. When describing it to others I would just call it a Jazz Festival. You only need to refer to the depth if you're planning on selling it or discussing the drum with those with similar interests, as you did here. If you're selling I would just indicate the same info you provided in your post.
As always : appreciate all your comments!
Chris
