Please bear with me as I give some background to my question. As a young teenager in the late 60s my parents got me a red sparkle keystone Ludwig kit with a Supraphonic for Christmas (it is one of my most cherished childhood memories and I will be forever grateful to them for starting me down this road). I taught myself to play and eventually found a group to perform with through high school. Unfortunately, I sold the drums to pay for college tuition and did not play for the next 40 years. The bug never left me and last year I saw a Ludwig Accent Custom Elite set on Craigs List so I finally indulged myself and jumped on it. I have been amazed how things came back and how much I enjoy playing. I now have a desire to try and replace the original kit I played as a young man. This forum has been a great source of information on my addiction so I need a little information. My original kit (boy, I wish I had never parted with it especially since they seem so sought after now) was purchased about fall of '64 or '65. There are a couple of red sparkle kits on ebay right now that are close to what I had back then. Is there any appreciable difference in quality or sound in kits made from 1964 through the early 70s? I graduated high school in 71 so that would be a nostalgic date for me as well as the original purchase date. I am not locked in to red sparkle, WMP also appeals to me as do other wraps, but red would sure hit the spot. Also, what price range should I expect to pay? I have a set of Zildjian A Armands and a Beautiful Baby ride to try to replicate the sound of the 60s. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ludwig Question Last viewed: 7 hours ago
Mike, Welcome to the forum. I (as well as a bunch of other people on this forum) could probably go on for days about this, so here's a quick and dirty answer:
Luddy quality control could be spotty in the '60's. After Ringo Starr played a Ludwig kit on the Ed Sullivan show, sales skyrocketed and the company put production into overdrive. As a result, quality control sometimes took a backseat.
I have been collecting, repairing, and playing vintage Ludwig kits since 1994, and while I have never had a terrible kit, I have had a few kits with some quirky hardware and shell issues. However, I've never had a Ludwig kit that sounded bad.
Basically, the shells were 3ply maple/poplar/maple with white interiors up until '68 or so when they went to clear interiors, and then switched to thicker shells in the mid (?) 70's. I do know someone that inherited a kit from his dad, who was the original owner of a kit he bought in '65; during a restoration, it was discovered that under the white interior paint was a mahogany shell, which the company used for decades before the switched to maple in the late 50's/early '60's.
I can tell you from personal experience that the best Ludwigs I've ever heard was a '68 kit with clear interiors and re-rings, and a mahogany kit from 1956, when the company was known as WFL.
Due to the economy, prices on vintage drums have come way down. Right now, a red sparkle 60s Ludwig kit in nice condition is going to run you right around $900-$1000. Rare colors, like burgundy sparkle or mod orange, will run you more. If someone is desperate to sell, then you can pay a bit less.
In short, it's a bit of a grab bag with old Ludwigs. I always recommend to people that are squeamish about old drums that they stay away from vintage kits online unless they can go and physically inspect them.
Buzz
Welcome to the forum! I can tell you from personal experience (inconsistency aside) 1971 is one of the good years. Good luck with your search. There's nothing like turning back the clock.
'71 Ludwig B/O Badge 20/12/13/14/16
'72 Ludwig B/O Badge Jazzette 18/12/14
'65 Rogers Holiday 20/12/16
Hello! And pleased you're on the forum.
The kit pictured below is a '66 and sounds wonderful. It's amazing, full and responsive (sounds like a horse?). You won't go wrong by putting together a kit like you had.
You asked how much? Well, it depends on how long you're willing to wait for a deal. Right now, as mentioned in another thread, prices on good vintage drums are lower than they have been for a while.
I shouldn't tell you, but I bought this kit, less the snare and cymbals, for $60.00 at a yard sale in '09.
Oh yeah, I graduated the same year!
I have what I thought to be a 76 Ludwig in red sparkle. But after sharing photos with the smart fellas on here, I found that it is a late 60's to early
70's!! This site is a wealth of information, it's absolutely awesome!
Keep your eyes open for deals. I purchased my red sparkle for $200.00 from a friend that didnt play drums. They crusted with dust and grime and everything you can imagine. I took them apart and put in some elbow grease and they look pretty dang good now!
Good luck on your search!
Justin
"People might look at you a bit funny, but it's okay. Artists are allowed to be a bit different."- Bob Ross
"After silence, that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music..." - Aldous Huxley
Basically, the shells were 3ply maple/poplar/maple with white interiors up until '68 or so when they went to clear interiors, and then switched to thicker shells in the mid (?) 70's. I do know someone that inherited a kit from his dad, who was the original owner of a kit he bought in '65; during a restoration, it was discovered that under the white interior paint was a mahogany shell, which the company used for decades before the switched to maple in the late 50's/early '60's.
Hi all, I'm new here (first post), and no expert, but I thought my '61 Ludwigs were mahogany/poplar, like the Slingerland snare that I bought along with them.
Now that I think about it, I don't know that from examining them, but someone told me that.
Maybe I should take a closer look at the drums...
Hi all, I'm new here (first post), and no expert, but I thought my '61 Ludwigs were mahogany/poplar, like the Slingerland snare that I bought along with them.Now that I think about it, I don't know that from examining them, but someone told me that.Maybe I should take a closer look at the drums...
According to the Ludwig site, mahogany / poplar / mahogany shells were used until '68, so my dates were off. I thought they went to maple much earlier.
As many have aleady said, Welcome to the forum!
And, let me chime in here on the 3-ply Ludwigs of the 60s and 70s... to me it don't matter much between the clear or painted interior, as MOST of us can tell little difference. They were (are) the best!
Now IF you're interested, I've set aside some orphans in not-so-good shape that sooner or later were going to end up being another 60s BOP rewrap like the one I did last year:
http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=27167
They could be red sparkle just as easy as BOP!
Good luck in your search,
Bill
Cherryvale, Ks
"Redrums - Ks" on FB and Reverb
(also "billnvick" on eBay)
- Share
- Report