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Old Calf skins, worth keeping?

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So I an new to drums and have been banging around on a very old set of ludwigs, pre 50 that I have barrowed from the wife of a deceased relative. The Ludwig heads on the toms are really darkened by stick marks and even some possible liquid. They sound ok but I am cleaning up the set so that when I retun it, it will have more value if she wants to sell it.

So question is, do the old heads add or take away from the value?

Here is a picture of the set before I started cleaning it.

Amazingly all parts, tension rods and springs are practically like new so far I have cleaned all of drum parts and only one rod had a few small spots of rust on the screw part. All the chrome parts are near mint except the rims but they polished out really well with chrome polish.

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Posted on 6 years ago
#1
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If this isn't a joke, that drum set is extremely rare and worth thousands of dollars....stop playing it and sell it. Google Ludwig top hat and cane...

Posted on 6 years ago
#2
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Oh....and leave the original heads. Even though they're dirty they'll add more to the value than new modern heads.

Posted on 6 years ago
#3
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Holy crap yes, that’s a very rare kit. New heads might sound better but keep the calf skin heads in case your deceased relative’s wife decides to sell them. I’d love to see some more photos of the kit.

Posted on 6 years ago
#4
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Do trolls wear top hats and carry canes?

Stop stringing and tuning your instrument, make music now.
-fortune cookie

Vintage Drums:
1970ish Ludwig Standard Avocado Strata downbeat
1970ish Star Acrylic 22,12,13,16
1950’s Gretsch tympani 26.5
19?? Sonor roto-tympani 13x12
70’s Ludwig Standard alum 14x5 snare
90’s Arbiter Adv. Tuning 12x5 snare
90’s Ludwig blackrolite 14x5 snare

Modern Drums:
Erie Drums 1-ply sycamore shell kit 18,10,13
Erie 1-ply maple 14x5 snare
Tama S.L.P. Acrylic 14x6.5 snare
Posted on 6 years ago
#5
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Absolutely keep those calf skins! I would not change anything, just give them a good cleaning and only if you know what your doing. Jimorlando is correct they are very rare.


Thank you!
Jeff C

"Enjoy every sandwich" Warren Zevon
Posted on 6 years ago
#6
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Assuming this is a real post...

keep the heads.

That kit there is very rare. Extremely rare.

Please be gentle and don't bash on them =)

-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
Posted on 6 years ago
#7
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Here is a pic of the toms that I cleaned the wraps up with windex and used chrome polish on the parts. Also included some pics of the date stamps for you unbelievers. Which is fine because before wednesday I did not know what I was practicing on. I have now stopped hitting these and put a carpet under the base drum. The snare is looking good as well but the bottem head is a plastic one and it was all crumbly on the edges so tomorrow I will get something else to put on it.

Here is an important question, on the snare, the heads have what look lilke aluminum rims. they are weatherking ambassadors. The aluminum had left some fine grey powder in the drum and also seems to be dulling the inside of the snare rim where they touch. What would be a better heads to put on the snare that won't cause the same problem? I don't need professional level, just something that holds up to occasional playing.

Posted on 6 years ago
#8
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I'd recommend contacting Steve Maxwell about the kit. Google his contact info. He would be interested in knowing that it exists.

Might be better if you contacted him before cleaning anymore or changing anything else about the kit.

Posted on 6 years ago
#9
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Mo gave you the best advice yet. Contact Maxwell's and don't mess with them any further. Your cleaning efforts 'could be' removing value as well as dirt. Contacting Maxwell's is a must. You don't know what you have there. A lot of heads are exploding on this end...

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 6 years ago
#10
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