I found a early 1969 keystone badge super classic kit in blue sparkle for $1499 plus $200 shipping. They are in excellent shape from the photos. I was wondering if these are worth the price? I primarily want these to play but the collectible factor is something I want to keep in mind. The same shop has a '65 kit in silver sparkle, which is a color I like a lot (blue is my favorite). That kit, I would say is in very good, not excellent shape, and is priced at $1199. Is the '65 a lot more collectible than the 69 as far as years go. Were they thought to be better sounding or better made in 65 vs. 69? I see the '69's rolled over to the olive badge later in the year, and the ones I'm looking at have the keystone badge. Thanks for any help you can give me.
1969 Ludwig super classic
Different wood if 69 is clear interiors those are maple the white interiors are mahogany
Both are nice and price points are inline with super classic what size is silver kit
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp
once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Both are from Ludwig's glory days. Gary mentioned the difference in the interior plies. But both are 3 ply shells with re-rings. Both have center poplar plies and both probably have mahogany exterior plies. Just a matter or personal preference really.
Mike
Thanks for the info. The silver sparkle kit is also 13, 16, 22 kit.
Oh, and the blue sparkle have a bare wood interior, not painted white. There are no photos of the silver sparkle interior. When I call I'll check that out.
Generally speaking the late 60's/early 70's clear interior drums are considered to be better made than the mid 60's Beatle boom sets when production was rushed. However I've never run across a mid 60's set that sounded bad. There could be a maple interior ply under the white paint on all or some of the silver drums. Ludwig had a mix and match philosophy with woods, the white paint was there so they'd look the same regardless (but it was always maple or mahogany, or one of each, over a poplar core). The clear interior drums always had a maple inner ply but, as Mike mentioned above, wrapped drums still typically had a mahogany outer ply to glue the wrap to. People often to refer to drums of this era as "maple Ludwigs" but that's misleading as usually only the thin inner ply is maple and more than half the shell is always going to be poplar (as with all Ludwig 3 ply drums).
I don't think you could really go wrong with either set. The concern on the Silver sparkle is whether the wrap has "ginger-aled" meaning yellowed to a duller color. Blue sparkle can also yellow and lose it's vibrancy. Pricing seems within reason although the blue set would need to be nearly perfect to justify that price, at least for me.
Thanks a lot for the information!
Generally speaking the late 60's/early 70's clear interior drums are considered to be better made than the mid 60's Beatle boom sets when production was rushed. However I've never run across a mid 60's set that sounded bad. There could be a maple interior ply under the white paint on all or some of the silver drums. Ludwig had a mix and match philosophy with woods, the white paint was there so they'd look the same regardless (but it was always maple or mahogany, or one of each, over a poplar core). The clear interior drums always had a maple inner ply but, as Mike mentioned above, wrapped drums still typically had a mahogany outer ply to glue the wrap to. People often to refer to drums of this era as "maple Ludwigs" but that's misleading as usually only the thin inner ply is maple and more than half the shell is always going to be poplar (as with all Ludwig 3 ply drums).I don't think you could really go wrong with either set. The concern on the Silver sparkle is whether the wrap has "ginger-aled" meaning yellowed to a duller color. Blue sparkle can also yellow and lose it's vibrancy. Pricing seems within reason although the blue set would need to be nearly perfect to justify that price, at least for me.
How timely. KO and I just had this exact discussion concerning Ludwig 3 ply shell composition this past weekend in Chicago!
Well a third opportunity has presented itself. A local guy who buys and sells a lot of vintage kits has a “wfl” keystone badge kit in silver sparkle that has that ginger ale look for $800. It’s a 13/16/22 kit that has been modded with more modern hardware, but still looks great, it hasn’t been butchered. I like the look of it and, like I said, my primary goal is to play it, so I don’t necessarily min that it has been modded. The interior of the bass drum has been painted black. Opinions on this kit?
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