185xxxx is typically later 70's. Please post a picture of a badge with serial.

The badges have pointed corners so I doubt they are late 70s. Rack tom is clear maple interior finish 182xxxx and floor tom interior is gray 185xxxx. Will post pictures later as I'm not home right now.

Pointed corner B/O badges were definitely in use in the late 70's and even appear in the early 80's. Late '69/early 70's (~'72) pointed corner B/O badges do NOT have the registered trademark logo above the "g" in Ludwig.

You are right, there is a Registered logo above the G. However, they shells starting with 182xxxx are cleat coated, have re-enforcement rings with 3 ply shell. The one starting with 185xxxx also have re-enforcement ring with granitone paint.

From what I've read, from 1976, Ludwig switched to the Classic serie with no rings and 6 plys BUT in 1978 they made a "combo serie" with old 3 ply shells with granitone until they were used up. So my bet is that my drum are from that "combo serie" from 1978.

Ok, the drums sound great, but I was sold that they were from early 70s. I'm wondering if 1978 drums worth less than 71 even if the construction is similar.

And btw, https://www.ludwig-drums.com/en-us/ludwig/serial-guide are wrong, they repeat the serials from 67-68 to the 78-79 column. Good serial timeline is here: http://www.vintageludwigdrums.com/70stimeline.html

To add to the confusion, in searching the forum, I found an old post saying this:

"Ludwig made Combo drums in 1980 these drums were the three ply shells with painted insides these shells were the same ones Ludwig made the top of the line sets out of..When Ludwig change to the 4 ply clear maple shells in late 1979 they came out with sets of Combo shell sets these drums were only sold in the sizes of 12",13",14",16" toms aand 22",24" bass drums...Also these drums had a black and silver badge that said Combo on them Combo dums never has a blue/olivo badges...."

So those combo drums were supposed to have black and silver badges, not b/o badges like mine. Honestly I have no clue what to think...

The online chart at Ludwig's site was copied out of Rob Cook's Ludwig book and is not very accurate. The most accurate information has been gathered and published by Rick Gier in his book on the topic. The book is available for around $10 from Rebeats and worth the investment. Rick has amassed more data than anyone else to base his estimates upon. Estimates is as good as it gets as Ludwig themselves kept no records of the serial numbers used on their production.

The transition to 6 ply shells was more like 1977/78. I toured the Ludwig factory in late 1976 and they were still churning out 3 ply shells at that time.

Neither of those charts are complete or accurate. As K.O. stated, Rick Gier's "Serial Number Based Dating Guides for Vintage Ludwig Drums" is what you want to use. It is also not advised to date drums by serial numbers alone, all of a drums attributes should be considered. If you can post pictures of your drums here the Ludwig experts (like K.O.) can provide more detailed information.

Thx, will start another thread with a more precise title "ex. Late-70 Ludwig with 3 ply?", so will maybe attract more information on the subject.