Ludwig went to a springless design about 20 years ago, however you can still get them with springs by special order.....they are used on the marching drums still. Just order the drum with large classic marching lugs (not the long extended lugs). To be honest, there is no difference in strength. The springless design works as well if not better than the spring design. The main difference is there is no spring to rattle in the springless design.

Funny you should bring this topic up.........Just yesterday I was replacing two Imperial lugs on my Ludwig hammered bronze I bought in 1990, when I too noticed this change. At first I thought I had the wrong replacement part, but then realized this is the new improved version.

I don't know how much this changes the whole " original parts" thing, but I'm saving the old lugs just in case. I figure I could just get a longer screw and re-install the originals. Worse case scenario, I replace em all with the new ones. Sheese, this drum thing is an expensive disease!

Rogers went with springless lugs in 1976, and I've got early 80s Tama Superstars which are also springless. Seems like this was a fairly common changeover during this timeframe.

Yeah, I don't know...On the one hand, it is cool not to worry about the spring rattle, but I always isolate them anyway. On the other, these are much less forgiving when trying to line up heads and rods. I get it, on many levels, but still...I think I personally prefer spring-loaded to the rigid insert. Coffee Break2

Yeah, John, I'm with you. I usually just throw a small cotton ball into the lug before screwing it back onto the shell and it pretty much eliminates any spring rattle problem. But now I'm trying to put back a 20" BD together and I have to deal with a seriously less than desirable set of lugs and inserts. See pics.

BTW, does this look like a Star BD or is it possibly one of the Hoshinos? Interior is not painted gray, lugs are a little big different. Oh, and the lug and insert pic was taken after the lug had been soaked in Dawn and after the insert had gotten the Whink's treatment, twice. What to do, what to do?

I'm thinkign those may need to be replaced with some Star lugs. Those look like a Pearl derivative to me, but I just don't know. Any good lugs you got, or hit Mikey up. He could have some of those, and I would bet he does.

Yes i do have them the lugs.They were used on the first made "Crown" drums made by pearl in the 60s,these lugs were also used on 20 or so other names//non-names too..just P.M. if you need replacements..Mikey

Is there anything you don't have Mikey?

Hi,Just a few thingsYes SirLaughing HLaughing H....Mikey