I have noticed that there were s few scarfed that got through using up inventory

Not entirely correct. Slingerland employed this same method up to 1956.

Here is a link to the VDG.

http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/drcjw/article_3_shells8.html

I guess that is a valid way the interpret things. Generally when people are talking about shells they just mean the wood portion thereof of which there are three plies. Prior to 1968 WFL/Ludwig did apply the wrap to the plywood before bending in into a shell, so the wrap is part of the scarf joint and I suppose could be considered a fourth ply. These drums are still considered by most to be "wrapped" drums, not because of the physical action of wrapping the shell after the fact, but because they are covered in drum wrap. On the shells destined to be stained or painted they used a maple exterior ply but the total number of plies was still three.

Starting with the advent of the clear interior shells in 1968 (the ones many refer to as "maple Ludwigs") the wrap was applied after the shell was formed and does not go into the scarf joint. This method continued for the duration of the use of three ply shells (about ten more years).

The 50's mahogany shells are my favorite hands down.

The build quality is IMO, much better in the WFL/Transition Badge era.

The sound & tone on these drums is just amazing. Coated emperors and you can't go wrong. I played an amazing gig last night on this 1956 WFL OBL. Projection, tone, sound.. all there. I'm actually quite obsessed with this era of Ludwig now. Just awesome drums & I highly recommend owning a kit...or 4. D' Drummer

Thanks so much for all your feedback everyone. I wanted to introduce you to some new friends. A matching serial 1968 Ludwig Super Classic in Gold Sparkle. Clear interiors, all the shells are in great shape, seams are tight. No extra holes except the on the bass drum. The rail is there but a later tom mount was added - 60s I think. Gold Sparkle is my first choice Ludwig finish. My Dad bought me my first snare drum at 12 and it was Gold Sparkle and that high school set I talked about earlier was Gold Sparkle. They sound amazing. I'm going to find an orphan 12 for the occasional Hollywood set up. Off to play and tune some more!

I know this is a vintage forum, but today's era is the best for Ludwig IMO.

You can get 3-ply/re-ring featuring Mpl-P-Mpl or Mhg-P-Mhg or 6-ply Mpl-P-Mpl, heck if you go "age exotic" you can get some 10-ply shells. A much wider range of finishes including beautiful wood veneers, stains, and wraps. I'd put todays quality standards above yesteryear's (especially during the boom years).

And best yet... no one will have had their booger-hooks all over your drums if you buy a new set in your desired material/ply lay-up!!!

I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with you. My Classic Maple kit has a better tuning range and more projection. They have a warm sound like vintage Ludwigs, but have a better stick response.

For "vintage" Ludwig drums, I really liked my 1966-67 Super Classic kit, in original UNFADED Oyster Blue Pearl, with white interiors.That's my friend sitting at the kit a long time ago. NEVER should have sold it.

My 1970-71 kit had beautiful clear maple interior shells. Excellent bearing edges and tuned up great!

If I really had to choose, I'd probably go with the clear interior shells, that came out around 1968 or so. I will say that I've never had the pleasure of playing a kit with mahogany interiors!

-Mark

Can't argue with you about that. Computer aided equipment, more choices and all...BUT...I just can't get excited about any new drums. Maybe it's because they are all so available now. I guess that's a good thing for many people, but, as a collector, part of the excitement is uncovering a lost or forgotten gem. So, no matter how well computer aided equipment can do things, nowadays, to replicate an old design, it's still going to be a very different product than what a vintage drum shell was/is.

Some would say that a lab-created ruby is superior to a real ruby...and yet there is a vast difference between the value of a real ruby and a lab created ruby.

Well, I can't say what era but..........my 1968 Super Classic and Hollywood kits have scarf joint wraps and clear interiors and are the standard by which I judge all other drums.