What you have is a "3-ply" Ludwig shell. It is a VERY thin ply of maple and a THICK ply of poplar in the center and then another thin maple ply. It's not considered a maple shell. You can't get them anywhere anymore because Ludwig now uses a completely different shell. Nobody even makes the 3-ply anymore. Your drum was made in about 1976.

No idea about the Tamas

Well thanks a lot man. Looks like im gonna have to begin the search for a real maple ludwig set then. I was kinda hoping it was all maple since im trying to build the standard bonham set. But oh well. Is it like one of ludwigs standard wood toms then? Like one you would get in just a regular ludwig kit? Also, does it have any value at all? Thanks again!

Just thought I'd chime in here. Hope you don't mind.

All of the wood shells Bonham played WAS a 3ply shell with re-rings. That includes the green sparkle 70-73, maple Finish kit in 1969-70 and the silver in 75.

The maple kit you are referring to is owned by Paul Thompson and he states that it is clear inside with Re-rings. It does have the maple finish though.

He didn't use the 6ply all maple shells that Ludwig started making in 76.

Some of thier COMBO series used the left over 3 ply shells in 78 but they were sprayed with granitone.

If you are looking for that Bonham like kit, then stick with the 3plys with clear maple interiors (69-75). Some have mahogany outer plys and some are maple. I have some 1974 large toms with the mahogany outer ply that is wrapped and a 69 bass with a mahogany outer ply. They are the "sought after sound" for those who wish to emulate Bonham.

Maple cortex exteriors were offered from 72-78 and since yours is 3 ply it was probably born before 75. Seven digit serial numbers started in 71. (not necessarily in sequential order though, but it can give a ballpark)

Hope that helps

Tom

7-digit serial numbers were started in 1976.

Cool thanks for that info man! Yeah, the thing that sucks for me is that in order to buy a kit like that(3-ply vintage maple) I have to sell my tama, and id have no practice set until I found and bought the ludwig. Damn money to hell!! However, I have found out that the imperial stars are made of relatively thick mahogany, so its not bad for a free kit, and I really dont "need" the maple kit, plus the tamas are big, so they have a relatively large sound.

Also, can anyone give me an estimate on what my slingerland kit may be worth? It is a 4-piece, with a 12x8-10{i cant remember the damn dimensions!!!!:() top tom a 15x14(i think? I know the first figure is right) a 20x14(probably wrong too:( ) bass and a 14x51/2 matching snare. All drums are in perfefct condition and the kit is sparkle silver(kinda green but not really) and all the drums have "MAR 65" stamped and easily readable, and the shells interior and exteriors are perfect(aside from slight rim marks on the snare), almost like new. It has some replaced hardware, but most is original. Ill get acurate dimensions in a few days, but since I have the snare here, the serial number is 18618. Thanks for any info you can give me, as I dont know much about what the drums are made of etc.

Hate to disagree but B/O badge seven digit serial numbers started in late1971. Page 176 of "The Ludwig Book" by Rob Cooke. I also own a 1974 3ply ludwig kit with original badges with 7 digit ser. numbers.

Tom

Blue & Olive Badges

1969 765xxx - 834xxx

1970 out of sequence,unnunmered

1971 835xxx - 895xxx

1972 896xxx - 916xxx

1976 917xxx - 1290xxx

1978 xxxxxxx

1979 xxxxxxx - 2013537

http://www.vintagesnaredrums.com/serial_numbers.html

Hmmmmm....okay, you're correct, I guess. Doesn't this chart seem a bit odd?

http://www.ludwigdrummer.com/Date%20Guide/Date%20GuidePage4.html