Thanks for all of the replies and info. I did originally think it was faded, but if it is it is the most perfectly faded drum I have ever seen. I did change the top head and the yellow is consistent. If it was re-wrapped it is an amazing job, the seem and edges at the bearing edge are perfect. I do agree, though, and have even searched the Ludwig catalogs from the 60's and don't see a yellow pearl wrap.

Either way, it is a great drum and a unique color. Tuned up really nice as well.

And, yes, the inside is painted white. The drum really looks like it hasn't been out of the case in the last 30-40 years.

I will pull a lug off this weekend and check the wrap. I will also take a few more photos and post

Thx!

Some vintage wraps change color (fade, yellow, turn greenish, etc.) due to exposure to UV light, some oxidize, and some just change color overall, apparently due to some sort of internal chemical reactions.

I'm not sure which is the case here with your snare but Ludwig didn't offer a Yellow Pearl nor do I recall it being available elsewhere or as an aftermarket wrap (at least not until relatively recently).

In the case of my WMP club date set the yellowing is even on both the drums (bass and small tom) and has a beautiful butterscotch tone to it. The fact that both drums match each other so well and that the fading is so even overall on both drums leads me to believe that this particular batch of WMP was predestined to do this somehow by one of its ingredients, or, perhaps, how it was made. Not intentionally intended to yellow of course, but I have seen several other mid-60's WMP drums that look like this so maybe a batch or two of wrap had something unique about it that caused this to happen. Other WMP drums have been known to evenly take on a very slight greenish tint in much the same way. The only downside is that it makes it tough to find drums that match and my added-on floor tom is much whiter than the other two.

Now if I could just find a matching snare....Hmmm? Might need to look into a new Ludwig in that aged onyx Pearl.

Jbama, you mentioned the seam of the wrap on your JF; if it's the original wrap, then the WMP will come out of the scarf joint. When you remove the hoop, look at the top edge of the shell & you should see where the wrap is overlapped at the scarf joint. I'm guessing it's all original, but that's how you can tell for sure..........marko

Examples of pre 1968 scarf joint and wrap interface in the color which can add the most value to a drum if it is original (the Ringo effect). The wrap looks like this because it was put on the plywood when it was a flat sheet. Then the flat sheet with wrap on it was put into the mold and became a round drum.

Thanks for that info on the scarf joint, I will check it when I get a chance.

You're going to find that the wrap goes into the shell and that this is indeed WMP. Nobody has been able to re-create that pattern like that and Ludwig only offered White Marine Pearl which was gleaming white when new. This drum obviously took on some kind of oxidation process to turn it this shade of yellow. Fortunately it's uniform all the way around and looks decent. removing a lug should hopefully show you how white this wrap originally looked.

Nice score!

I am just curious but if it is an oxidation process and even all around wouldn't it be yellow under the lugs also?

Nice snare and love the color but agree it started as WMP and ended up this nice yellow.

Wayne