Only Admins can see this message.
Data Transition still in progress. Some functionality may be limited until the process is complete.
Processing Attachment, Gallery - 137.08559%

Any info on Ralston drums?

Loading...

Here's a couple more pics.

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 13 years ago
#11
Loading...

From jonnistix

Welcome! Your drums are wonderful. I would love to hear some of the stories behind them. Do you have any recordings of Dad gettin' busy?Anyway, to the drums~what you have are indeed a Japanese "stencil" brand. These stencils are all identical kits, from the same factory, but have something like 100+ "brand names" owned by various American and European distributors. They would actually compete against themselves in the same town, at every music store by offering "exclusive territories" to each of the stores. Say I am the rep and you own Fred's Drums. I sell you Apollo and give you the territory of 25 miles. I go 3 blocks down the street and offer Joe's Music a territory on Stewart drums, knowing they are the exact same drums, but you and Joe don't really know that. I get paid no matter where the brat decides to buys his drums. Cool way to tie up the market, eh? These are from Star, the company we know today as TAMA. Your wrap is called Red Agate Pearl. These drums, from Star, were typically modeled after Slingerland, however yours are modeled after Sonors' teardrop lugs on the bass, and Slingerland Sound Kings on the toms and bass. This is the first time I have seen this, a mixed set of lugs from the factory. But it is an 8 lug snare, so maybe that is why they used the teardrop style on the snare. Many people today, unscrupulous ebay sellers, take these and strip the parts and sell them to unsuspecting buyers as the real deal. The lugs are almost identical and many people who are not really well versed in parts buy them and either never know or end up in a fight with the bad sellers. I would love to see close up pix of certain parts. The strainer on the snare, the interior of the bass or snare, and close up of the bass lugs and T-rods. This will give us the era, unless your dad remembers when he bought them. These old drums have a sound all their own, and we have developed some preservation techniques that also help "clean up" the tone and make them actually playable in public venues in today's world where everything is mic'd and tweaked.Those are some sweet drums. I would like those pix as I am using all of the early MIJ stencils for research and every kit I can get info on makes my life easier, and when they are linear, from one family member to another, it makes the research that much easier because there is no guessing as to provenance. Another member and I are collaborating on the possibility of writing something on the lines of the books on Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers and Gretsch. Anyway, cool drums, you should like playing them and if you would like, I can give you some pointers on how to deep clean and restore/preserve these wonderful old drums.

Jonnistix - were any of the photos of helpful to you?

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 13 years ago
#12
Loading...

Hey D! The drums themselves look to be in really good condition and would well be worth cleaning up since the chrome appears to be rust and pit free. The Ralston name is likely a regional distributors' "name brand". NO STEEL WOOL

Now, to the cymbals: are there any engravings in them? If so, are they Kingstone? Or are they Zildjians? Some other brand? No name at all?

As far as value, you will have much more sentimental value in the drums themselves than cash value. I, personally, like the sound of these thin shells over the later, thicker shells. Are all the stands in similar condition to the hi-hat? Those flat base stands look so cool with these vintage, no matter American or MIJ, they just show off the drums better.

My next question to you~what are you planning to do with the kit? Before you answer, knowing what the cymbals are should be a known. If you need the money, a deep cleaning and a a not so high expectation would be inline. If you are well enough set to not need the money and want to make room, I would suggest finding a deserving (jazz) student at a nearby drum school. If you want to clean them up and play them yourself, you may be intrigued by the tones you will get from them. Playing them lightly, like a jazzer, will yield better results than pounding a rock beat.

Lots to consider.....

"Ignorance may be overcome through education. Stupidity, however, is a lifelong endeavor." So, educate me, I don't likes bein' ignant...
"I enjoy restoring 60s Japanese "stencil" drums...I can actually afford them..."I rescue the worst of the old valueless drums for disadvantaged Children and gladly accept donations of parts, pieces and orphans, No cockroaches, please...
http://www.youtube.com/user/karstenboy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee...16613138379603
Posted on 13 years ago
#13
Loading...

I plan on keeping them and playing them again once I get my drum room completed.

I think most of the cymbals are Zildjian. Some have no names. Most with flat-bottom stands.

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 13 years ago
#14
Loading...

The pic of the old hi-hat stand has W&A on the bottom of it which leads me to believe it's Walberg and Auge - which was in Worcester, MA where I grew up.

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 12 years ago
#15
Loading...

Here's some pics of the cymbals. Only one is marked as JAPAN.

1960s Ralston (Star) set in Red Agate Pearl 12/12/16/20
1961 Ludwig Cocktail Lounge drum 24 x 16 in blue sparkle
1966 Ludwig Hollywoods in Sky Blue Pearl 12/13/16/22
1971 Ludwig Super Classics in Blue Sparkle 13/16/22
1976 Ludwig Vistalites in Blue 13/14/16/22
70s/80s Ludwig orphans in Black Cortex "Bonham" style 14/16/18/20/26 (B/O Badges)

Many snares
Posted on 12 years ago
#16
  • Share
  • Report
Action Another action Something else here