I've reviewed the catalogs over on VDG. What's the timeline of Club Dates regarding when they switched sizes?
I see that the '60 and '62 CDs have 13" mounted and 15" floor toms, whereas in '67 they're showing a 12" mounted tom and 14" floor tom. When did they switch to the smaller sizes?
Were Club Dates ever offered in multiple configurations from the same catalog?
Catalog purists will dispute this, but there is an uncatalogued Club Date configuration that has popped up occasionally:
14x22 Bass
9x13 Tom
14x14 Tom
Jazz Festival Snare
My first Ludwig kit was a champagne sparkle set as described above, and I have seen other examples.
Catalog purists will dispute this, but there is an uncatalogued Club Date configuration that has popped up occasionally:14x22 Bass9x13 Tom14x14 TomJazz Festival SnareMy first Ludwig kit was a champagne sparkle set as described above, and I have seen other examples.
Interesting... That's like a hybrid of the two. The bigger rack tom paired with the smaller floor tom. I'm putting together a hybrid, as well, but I want the opposite: 8x12 & 10x15 toms. As I said, the 10x15 is a former marching snare. I prefer the shallow depth, but I would prefer a factory 12x15 floor tom even more! :)
If only I could find one of THOSE in Champagne Sparkle...! Mind Blowi
Jon, as Norman stated there are actually very many clubbie configuration's not cataloged club date That is one of my big problems I have with collectors using the catalog as their main reference, the Wfl catalog from 1951,called the Deluxe clubdate consisted of a 14x24",9x13.12x15" and 6 1/2x14 snare drum,
clubdate drum options where bass drums from 14x20 to 14x28" ,,,toms where 8x12" to 12x15" up untill 1964 when 14x14" floor tom's where offered, snare drum where from 6 1/2x14 to 5x14", Jon this was a good question it's just that I've answered this many times I hope they Put a sticky to this???
So essentially you could get almost every drum ludwig made in a club date configuration. I have a WFL club date Gold Lacquer kit It Consist of a 14x22" bass drum, two 9x13" toms and a 16x16" floor tom Classic not clubbie it was special ordered same color as the rest of the kit and a 5x14" Barrett Deems, now called the Jazzfestival, I have many threads on it.
Jon, as Norman stated there are actually very many clubbie configuration's not cataloged club date That is one of my big problems I have with collectors using the catalog as their main reference, the Wfl catalog from 1951,called the Deluxe clubdate consisted of a 14x24",9x13.12x15" and 6 1/2x14 snare drum, clubdate drum options where bass drums from 14x20 to 14x28" ,,,toms where 8x12" to 12x15" up untill 1964 when 14x14" floor tom's where offered, snare drum where from 6 1/2x14 to 5x14", Jon this was a good question it's just that I've answered this many times I hope they Put a sticky to this??? So essentially you could get almost every drum ludwig made in a club date configuration. I have a WFL club date Gold Lacquer kit It Consist of a 14x22" bass drum, two 9x13" toms and a 16x16" floor tom Classic not clubbie it was special ordered same color as the rest of the kit and a 5x14" Barrett Deems, now called the Jazzfestival, I have many threads on it.
I read your post with interest. I have a set comprising of a 22" BDP Club Date Bass drum, the rest of the kit is Classic. The serial numbers are close and the toms are dated April 1967.
I have been trying to find a Classic 22" BDP Bass drum to either buy or trade.
It's proving very difficult.
The concept behind the Club Date was ease of movement. The kit was to be easier to move because of a few factors. The smaller sizes, less mass for lugs and cymbal holders, tight configuration ... these were all to have an impact in ease of transporting the kit from gig to gig.
Honestly, most believe there were cost cutting motivations driving this kit, but those really don't make good press. So, draining a supply of shells that weren't moving would be an excellent way to modify the kit. Changes in music also morphed the configuration. The switch to the 20,12,14 was inevitable. This provided another outlet for the jazz sized drums that slowed and trickled as the 60s music grew into the 70s music.
If you look at the configs with an eye towards business and current music trends, the progression makes sense. The timeline is just plain goofy without the whole picture.
VM2K is spot on. Some kits just don't lend themselves to catalogue purism.
