Hello. I found this place today when I googled ludwig black panther. I voted yes as desirable because....to me they are! I own 3 kits, date stamped 71-73, clear interiors with minimal finish damage. They are not mint, but above average for a vintage players kit. I outfitted them with after market rims because the originals were in bad shape. To me, they are unique and made me an affordable, EXCELLENT sounding gigging kit (many compliments from sound guys). Currently the gig line up is 10/12/14/16/22 and 70s 5x14 supra or 90s acrolite. I rotate the kicks as volume requirements change.

Bass: 24, 22, 20

Fl. tom: 18, 16, 14

Tom: 14, 13, 12, 10, 6 (6&10 have gray interiors)

snare: 6x15 (needs to be refurbished)

shell w/o hardware: 9x13, 10x14

Recently, I committed a sin with the 10" tom. As you know, it is a concert tom...or was. As a single headed tom, it was useless to me as an instrument. So I converted it to a double headed tom to match the rest of the drums aesthetically and tonally. It is no longer a dusty shelf dweller. I figured, it is mine as long as I'm alive...let the next guy complain.

Now, I'm keeping my eyes open for an 8" concert tom and possibly a second 22" kick.

lvd

That's not a sin. I would have done the same thing. Now, when concert toms become a heavily desired comodity for collectors ... Never mind. It'll never happen.

I love it, classy, dark, modern and old at the same time...looks like those unfinished paint cars from "Mad Max"...I just love it!!!!!!!Bowing

I have two sets a B/O and a KS.

Vinny

Here in Sweden they are very common. I don´t know why. Maybe the distributor liked the finish?

When it comes to Slingerland, Chrome, Blakrome and Copper is very common over here, but kind of rare in the US? Am I right?

Actually, concert toms never really went away. Have you heard/seen Terry Bozzio? A big portion of his drums are single-headed. As far as vintage concert toms in drum sets go, I would have to say that they very well might come back into style. Why? Because they represent a specific era in drumming and drum set evolution. That's a fairly good part of the collecting aspect.

For example: I suspect there will be a fad of collecting "giant" drum sets like the Ludwig Octa-Plus and whatever comparative giant sets the other manufacturers were marketing at the time (and they were marketing BIG drum sets at the time! -Every company had a giant). They will be exceedingly rare to find in any kind of complete condition and in well-kept condition (because most owners "rocked" them!)

I could be wrong.

However, I think the same thing holds true for the "weird" finishes like BP as well as all the "puke" colors like Psych Red, Citrus Mod, Mod Orange, Oyster Black, Oyster Blue, Oyster Pink. The weirdness, alone, will make them collectible, because that weirdness factor gives them the exclusivity that collectors like.

I like blue sparkle, myself. But, as a collector, if I saw two identical Ludwig snare drums and one was blue sparkle and the other was BP -and if they were the same price, then I would have to opt for the BP drum -even though I don't care for it, because, I know I can always sell that BP drum to someone who really can't live without it....*ka-ching!* Cool Dude

Awesome. Just like you I also own 14 original Black Panther drums. May we see a picture of your converted 10" tom, and anything thing else you might like to share?

Ah hah! You're the one that ended up with the 15" black panther snare from ebay! Bowing

I have a newer Ludwig kit...black. I've been gigging it for two years. always in cases, always take caution with them. But they show scratches and dust very easily. I have to clean them off every few days to keep them looking nice. Although I'm going to keep the kit when I get another one, I don't think I'll buy another black kit again. That's not to say that The Black Panther kits aren't nice kits. I really do like the strata and sparkle finished though.

The Band

[COLOR="Indigo"]This is a good question....because, well y'know...not EVERY vintage finish is particularly attractive. Someone said Samsonite luggage.....that's about the speed. (I was thinking more like the roof of my old '74 Mustang II....)

I think it's a hideous drum finish....even in stellar condition......[/COLOR]

I did get the 15" snare off ebay. It was maybe 2 or 3 years ago? There was another one on ebay 5 or 6 years ago that ended on a holiday and I missed out on it. I wish it were a jazz fest instead of the school fest. It is rare either way. I spent as much for it as I did on one of the 3 piece kits.

I'll work on getting some pics of the various drums this week.

lvd