If it were all original, i'd prefer the WFL; it'll sound as good as the others, but the "collectible factor" you mentioned doesn't figure in as much. Seems like they would all work. Post some pictures when you get them...........marko

Originality is everything to most collectors.

The 13, 16, 22 is a VERY common configuration, so the collector-value will depend on originality and condition and rarity/desirability of the finish.

Blue sparkle and Silver sparkle are VERY common finishes, so the condition and originality is what you have left to consider for collector resale value.

If you like the sound of one better than the other and collectibility doesn't concern you, then go with the sound you like.

My favorite vintage kit is my '69 Jazzette....just because it's a '69 Jazzette! ;), but my favorite snare (by FAR) is my 1964 Pioneer because of the way it sounds and feels.

Well, the WFL kit is likely built to a bit higher standard than the later drums. They weren't selling near as many drums at that time so they spent a little more time building them. Also the bare mahogany interiors that most of them have (not the painted bass drum though) really seem to give them a special low end rumble. The ginger-aled look is a matter of taste. Some love that look while for others it can be a turn off. The mods probably make the drums more practical for gigging but would be a strike against their value if you ever went to resell. Although maybe you could get your money back out of them if the work was done well. The original hardware was a generation back from the stuff Ludwig started using in the early 60's and can be a little bit clunkier to use, although it still can get the job done, but the mods were probably a definite improvement .

Really no down side on any of them that I see based on your descriptions for a set you want to actually use. The Blue set is probably priced near the upper end for such a set, but if it speaks to you...well it's only money. Nothing wrong with the silver sparkle sets either if your budget prefers either. Kind of a tough decision.

I have a mid 60's Blue Sparkle super classic and it's a great set of drums. The blue color plays no actual part in the sound obviously, but they sure are pretty.

I always loved blue sparkle. So did many people...I think it was the biggest selling drum finish of all....I could be wrong...just seems like I read that somewhere once....maybe it was here! ;)

Who could have foreseen that Citrus Mod or Mod Orange would make a set of drums more valuable, today?

It wasn't a popular finish, so they didn't sell as many, now they're looked upon as the Holy Grail. I suppose drummers back then had better taste. I put the pysch red and mod orange in the same catagory as the butcher block, ugly.

Pretty sure that honor would go to White Marine Pearl since that was a popular color back in the 1930's, before the sparkles were even available, and has remained reasonably popular into the present day. Black Diamond was also a good seller although more so back in the day. Ludwig sold trainloads of Oyster Black drums in the 60's during the Beatle boom. Blue and red do seem to have been the most popular sparkles though, with silver and gold not too far behind.

When I was young I was biased against either red or blue sparkle sets because those were the only two colors that were offered on the MIJ sets sold by Sears, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Wards, etc. I didn't want anyone to think that my set might be one of those so I wanted to be sure I had one of the "pro" colors. That bias is gone, I have the blue set pictured above and two red sparkle Ludwig sets now.