Hi,
I’ve had this one for a while but I never did an article. This drum can be found on pages 24-25 in my book: VINTAGE SNARE DRUMS THE CUROTTO COLLECTION. I heard about this drum from my good friend Bill Wanser. Bill put me in contact with the owner (a percussionist in Los Angeles) and a short time later we did the deal.
1929-30 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 5 x 14 DeLUXE ENGRAVED STANDARD-SENSITIVE MODEL
HISTORY/FACTOIDS:
--The Fall 1929 Ludwig Drummer Magazine featured 4 new models (although the magazine says at the top of the page, “THREE MODERN DRUMS”): 1. the Super- Sensitive 2. the New Era-Sensitive 3. the Super-Power and the model in this article, 4. the Standard-Sensitive.
--For those of you that are not familiar with 1920s-30s “Sensitive” models all that you have to remember is that the “Sensitive” mechanism is the set of snares that are internal and under the top head with the exception of the New Era-Sensitive that has two sets of internal Sensitive mechanisms.
--The Super-Sensitive (1929-39) outlived the other three models that fell by the wayside and were only around for a year or so.
--Standard-Sensitive models are extremely rare, they were offered in mahogany, nickel over brass and some un-catalogued pearl finishes.
--The DeLuxe finish was always a Ludwig option.
--As of this writing, this is the only DeLuxe engraved Standard-Sensitive model that I have ever seen or heard of. It goes without saying that there had to be more than one of these made but I have yet to see or hear of one. As always I welcome any photos of another one of these ultra-rare snare drums that may surface.
DESCRIPTION:
The shell is the single piece spun shell with the “sparse” 10 petal engraving pattern that we see in the post 1930 DeLuxe engraved models. The overall condition of the shell is very good-plus. The DeLuxe hardware is in good shape and shows its age. I left the hardware alone. A little geek-a-tron minutia...most of the Standard-Sensitives that I own or have seen have the “Standard-Sensitive” engraving or stamp on the top rim, this drum has the stamp on the bottom rim. The Standard strainer is the Professional (timepiece) strainer and the other mechanism is the Sensitive mechanism. Of-the-era top and bottom Ludwig calf heads and James Snappi-Snares complete this very rare snare drum.
Enjoy!
Mike Curotto
