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60's Ludwig Tom - Strange Wrap Issue & Edges ?

Posts: 10 Threads: 5

I am cleaning up some 60's Ludwigs. This is my first time really dealing with Ludwig Drums. With the exception of the resonant edge of the floor tom needing some major tlc, the rest of the kit is really just a clean up operation.

But -

When I take a look at the 13 inch tom (Dated Aug. 7 1965), I see two strange things.

1) the wrap is part of the shell. The wrap is like embedded, or fused into the shell and then goes around the whole shell. I've never seen this before. Does anyone here know what I am talking about? Is this common on Ludwig toms of this era?

2) The drum looks great, and is clean with nice interiors, no major signs of damage, etc. There is a faint hint of re-ring separation on the resonant edge, but nothing that could even be glued at this point, everything is still tight. However, this drum would easily fail a flashlight test. Don't even need the flashlight really. I just set it on a flat surface and it easy to see some gap.

But the drum seems so clean and seems to be in round I wonder if it came this way from the factory? I am not really considering having the edges redone by anyone as I'd like to keep these as close to original as possible.

But it makes me wonder - How many 60's Ludwig drums came out of the factory without the precision edges that we expect to see on a mid- to upper - end kit made by a modern company today? Is the funk in my edges what the drum was born with, or did this come with age?

I look forward to your thoughts -

P

Posted on 14 years ago
#1
Posts: 816 Threads: 72

During the time period your Ludwig tom was manufactured, Ludwig applied the wrap before forming the shell. It's one of the things about 60's Ludwig drums that perplexes me. In most cases, it seemed to have no negative effect on overall roundness and quality of the drum.

A former Ludwig sales rep I spoke to many years ago thought it was a crappy idea, but it saved time and money.

Posted on 14 years ago
#2
Posts: 10 Threads: 5

Nice - thanks for that info!

Posted on 14 years ago
#3
Posts: 3972 Threads: 180

Yes. The Ludwig lump. It can mess with roundness and how heads fit. As far as the bearing edges are concerned ... Ludwig did a pretty good job on them. I've had them spot on and I've had them rocky. There's a truth to Ludwig vintage drums: Most sets are pretty cool, but every once in a while you find that Magic drum that just sounds perfect. That's the one that the lump is minimalized and the edges are spot on and the wrap is trimed just right. Hold on to that one. They are fairly rare.

Posted on 14 years ago
#4
Posts: 5 Threads: 1

What is the best way to get the wrap off? I am fixing up some early 60's Ludwigs and I took the wrap off all the way to the seam but the last inch or so is tucked into the seam of the shell. Should I just trim the old wrap at the seam of the shell?

Posted on 14 years ago
#5
Posts: 161 Threads: 24

wow thats sad that you took the wrap off. the wraps on these drums are not just a "wrap". it is tucked into the seam and is actually structure. you ruined that drum bro. if i were you and the original wrap is still is relatively in one piece and still attached at the seam i would contact cement it back down. but even then its been molested. i would love to see some pictures anyway. call it...morbid curiosity.

"Time fly's like an arrow. fruit fly's like a banana"
Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 5 Threads: 1

So there is really no way to re-wrap these drums?

Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 5173 Threads: 188

Well, yes...they can be re-wrapped, but, as far as removing the part of the old wrap that's presently part of the scarf joint structure, you can't remove that part.

What you have to do to re-wrap them is to cut off the old wrap along the seam and then when you apply the new wrap, you'll have to try and butt the end of it against the old wrap as close as possible. But, yeah, generally speaking it's better not to try and re-wrap old Ludwig 3-ply shells.

"God is dead." -Nietzsche

"Nietzsche is dead." -God
Posted on 14 years ago
#8
Posts: 5 Threads: 1

I did just that - I peeled the off the old wrap until I got to the place where it tucks into the seam, and then I cut the wrap off along the seam. Luckily I didn't do anything to ruin the structural integrity of the shell.

Posted on 14 years ago
#9
Posts: 776 Threads: 114

What type of wrap was it?

Posted on 14 years ago
#10
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