Got the color to match the area under the removed lugs fairly easy with a chemical guys head light restore. Made sense to me to use this since it is a layer of stuff I didn’t want on there ... plus I had it in garage. Worked better than I could have hoped.

Wow that looks great, I wonder why if the wrap is in very nice condition why the bearing edges are so rough

https://drumsonsale.com/parts/lugs/ludwig-p2243b-large-classic-tension-lug.html

Well I’m dealing with a few issues it appears slightly out of round but it does accept a standard drum head with no real problem. So it can’t be to bad.

On my table (not perfect and flat like say granite ) there is a slight wobble. So they must not be perfect flush. They also have some minor splintering that maybe some sand paper will fix. I’m torn on what I’m gonna do. I don’t wanna recut and ruin such a classic drum but I want them playable because I’m gonna beat the hell out of them.

I doubt I’ll sell um ever.

Well then I would put them together and see what they sound like before you do anything, even sanding, the old Ludwigs may surprise you. Sometimes the rough old shells are the charm of the old drumsKeep on Pl

Agreed. I've been very surprised with stuff left alone.

Mike

Here’s a question. So the bass drum interior was painted black. It needs the wood work around the Tom rack port. I have found someone to do this. Clean up what it needs as far as any wood work but what about the black ? He advised that in the past he has painted shells. To make it “original” should I have him refin the white interior ? I mean it was already painted black ... why not ?

The number of your bass looks to be very late 1968,so it might have been white but could also have been clear wood, Ludwig went to clear wood in 1969,I have an early 69 tom that is clear, I'm not sure why people painted them black but they didn't come from Ludwig that way.

FYI, my July 1968 kits are clear interiors with large damper knobs.

I’m gonna pull the hardware soon and I’ll find out what’s under there and report back. But white seems like it will match better than its current situation. I mean since it’s going under the knife per se. I also notice the current legacy ludwigs (3 ply ) have 30 degree bearing edge ... is that what these drums had from the factory. Last we’re these maple blend or mahogany ?